Chairperson: Eric Donaldson
Vice-Chairperson: Ray Gray Wilson
Secretary: Debbie Donaldson
Treasurer: Pam Gross
GROA Liason: Gaynor Du Toit
PR Coordinator: Kathy Scholfield
Fund Raising: Marion Gray Wilson
Member: Wayne Scholfield
Congratulations to everyone and good luck for the new season.
Chairperson's Address
I’d like to deviate from the traditional format of the Chairman’s report to focus less on the past and more on the challenges ahead - particularly as we move to elect a new committee.
At the outset of our term as a committee, we set ourselves the target to support Bishop Bavin rowing in three key areas viz Growth, Competitiveness & Sustainability.
Whilst the club has seen positive growth, ending the season with 35 active rowers, the loss of an unusually large number of senior rowers who are now in their final year, has reduced this number back to around 25.
However with the remaining rowers now more evenly dispersed through the age groups & with a much smaller number of our seniors moving to Matric in 2009, this is an ideal opportunity to provide continuity in future without incurring large expenses in terms of purchasing additional equipment.
I therefore believe that targeted recruitment, and increased representivity, should be viewed as priorities for the Club in the months leading up to the pre-season camp.
In regards to competitiveness, the Club’s results at Gauteng Champs, VLC Sprints and SA Champs need not be reviewed. What is however noteworthy when reflecting on the season is that each and every rower ended the season better than when they started, and - importantly - was able to have some fun along the way.
With the very real prospect of Roodeplaat being “unrowable” for large parts of the coming season, the nature of senior rowing (at least) is set to change and with this, opportunities arise for us to adapt faster and better than our competitors.
I touched on sustainability earlier in terms of recruitment; however I believe that we need to view sustainability in a much broader context.
In simple terms for rowing to be sustainable whether it be within the school or within the country it has to become more attractive. To become more attractive it has to be properly promoted and to be properly promoted, it needs to be properly funded.
This I see as the key challenge for the new committee in the coming year, and thankfully there are already a number of exciting ideas for the new committee can run with.
Such ambitious ideas are however almost certainly beyond the current capabilities and resources of the committee as it stands.
Therefore I would like to propose the expansion of the committee to include at least one position without a defined portfolio and possibly more in terms of the interest in serving for the new season.
Thereafter I envisage a situation where individual project teams are created which will recruit additional knowledge, skills and muscle from the parent body as and when required.
It is my genuine hope that the response to this call will be positive and result in greater involvement of the parent body in a role where they can make a real difference.
In closing I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the outgoing committee for their efforts over the past year. Through the various challenges that arose during the season, we have certainly grown together into what I believe to be a very effective unit - it has been a privilege to work within a group who are true to the Nike motto – Just do it.
At the outset of our term as a committee, we set ourselves the target to support Bishop Bavin rowing in three key areas viz Growth, Competitiveness & Sustainability.
Whilst the club has seen positive growth, ending the season with 35 active rowers, the loss of an unusually large number of senior rowers who are now in their final year, has reduced this number back to around 25.
However with the remaining rowers now more evenly dispersed through the age groups & with a much smaller number of our seniors moving to Matric in 2009, this is an ideal opportunity to provide continuity in future without incurring large expenses in terms of purchasing additional equipment.
I therefore believe that targeted recruitment, and increased representivity, should be viewed as priorities for the Club in the months leading up to the pre-season camp.
In regards to competitiveness, the Club’s results at Gauteng Champs, VLC Sprints and SA Champs need not be reviewed. What is however noteworthy when reflecting on the season is that each and every rower ended the season better than when they started, and - importantly - was able to have some fun along the way.
With the very real prospect of Roodeplaat being “unrowable” for large parts of the coming season, the nature of senior rowing (at least) is set to change and with this, opportunities arise for us to adapt faster and better than our competitors.
I touched on sustainability earlier in terms of recruitment; however I believe that we need to view sustainability in a much broader context.
In simple terms for rowing to be sustainable whether it be within the school or within the country it has to become more attractive. To become more attractive it has to be properly promoted and to be properly promoted, it needs to be properly funded.
This I see as the key challenge for the new committee in the coming year, and thankfully there are already a number of exciting ideas for the new committee can run with.
Such ambitious ideas are however almost certainly beyond the current capabilities and resources of the committee as it stands.
Therefore I would like to propose the expansion of the committee to include at least one position without a defined portfolio and possibly more in terms of the interest in serving for the new season.
Thereafter I envisage a situation where individual project teams are created which will recruit additional knowledge, skills and muscle from the parent body as and when required.
It is my genuine hope that the response to this call will be positive and result in greater involvement of the parent body in a role where they can make a real difference.
In closing I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the outgoing committee for their efforts over the past year. Through the various challenges that arose during the season, we have certainly grown together into what I believe to be a very effective unit - it has been a privilege to work within a group who are true to the Nike motto – Just do it.
