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Secretary’s notes

Back to just being your Secretary now having had a great year as Captain. It is a great honour and I wish David well for 2020.

I have sent out the Subscription form and ask that you all return as soon as possible .As usual the form will show the fixture details with the request that you indicate your interest in the respective fixtures by marking the adjacent boxes. Please where able, give some indication that you might be available at short notice, as this is so important when we have to deal with late withdrawals. We will ensure that everyone gets a game. The returns will be used as the basis of team selection in late March so please ensure you respond by the end of January. It is suggested that you enter your requests in your personal diary to avoid the chance of double bookings and the need to consider cancelling if selected later in the year. We could do with a couple more volunteers to be a match manager so please indicate on the form if you wish to be one. Lastly as many of you now pay on the internet please make sure you put your name on the form as there are always one or two who do not and it is difficult to decide who it is.

If you do not yet use the internet for payment there is a standing order form available on the website for this to make it a little bit easier for the Treasurer. The bank details are on the form.
Stuart Rivett is taking over from David now as Match Secretary and I am sure he will do a great job. Please give him all your support in this.

The annual booklet is now available on the website as usual. You will also see that we have put a privacy statement on the website. We did this last year in response to the changes in data protection. We didn’t really need to do this but felt it was prudent to do so in view of the detail contained in the booklet.

MEMBERSHIP                                                              

Quite a few members said they were taking a year out last year and I hope they decide to re-join. We recruited more new members last year than before but it is still important to try to recruit new and old club captains each year. Age and illness are a factor but it is important that all of us, and especially the Club Ambassadors, do our bit to encourage new members.

There are about 25 non active members and this year I will delete them from the database if they do not rejoin. Please let me know if you do not intend to rejoin but £20 isnt much to pay for the chance have a good day out with colleagues at some really nice venues.
on that subject we are using some of our bank account each year to pick some of the more expensive venues and subsidise the day, Woburn proved very successful and next year we have chosen Sandy Lodge again.

WEBSITE

I still get requests for information which is on the website. For example an application form for new members is on the front page. Also all the information for the matches is on each match which always start at 1pm with lunch at 12 and any difference will be notified. Phone numbers and email addresses are in the Booklet in the memberdowmloads section. The newsletters are available on the front page and go back for a few years. In the matches if you click on the venue you will get their website and on the postcode it will go to the map.

 

Finally please contact me if you have any concerns, issues or requests and I will do what I can to ensure the continuing smooth running, tradition and success of the Association.

Peter Short – Secretary