Penrith Canoe Club AGM – Cross Keys, Penrith, 21st Nov 2014

Chairman’s Report (Tim Mather)

We are now entering the third year of the club, so a quick recap:

The first year we focused on getting equipment and teaching people how to play polo; the second year we were able to enter a National Division 4 (North) team (& came 3rd in the league)and also organised / entered the Cumbria Canoe Polo League Tournaments,( including an afternoon at Duddon Canoe Club in Barrow). Now entering our 3rd year, we have 3 teams, namely a first team in National Div 4 North, a second team in Regional Div 3 NW and a youth / novice team in Regional Div 4. We are now hopefully moving towards a sustainable club structure and are committed to developing the now growing Cumbria League, encouraging other clubs to get involved.

This has only been possible with hard work and support, so a few notable mentions go to:

Paul H – who reliably turns up each week to coach beginners.

Hilary – who has upped the skill level and aspirations of the whole club significantly!

Brocky and Jack – who have taken on the management/ organisation of the teams (very hard work)

Jonathan – handling the finances each week on club nights, sorting the bills and giving general encouragement & banter to everyone who arrives.

Chris – created the website, facebook page, & sends out all the emails; is taking on fundraising, applying for grants and seeking sponsorship; is now a qualified ref and will soon be our first coach to be trained since starting the club!

Twill – Picking up some of the jobs nobody wants to do! Welfare Officer, as well as attending many background meetings, including being a NCL Leisure Centre trustee; brilliant job organising the Cumbria League tournaments.

Jo – For keeping the social side of the club going. Organising tonight! And the club BBQ over summer.

Che – For taking the minutes! (and always smiling!-Tim)

The Future and Next Phase of the club:

We are planning to expand on to Ullswater Lake next summer. The Lake District National Park have approached us asking if they can help with this, so we can encourage local youth in the Ullswater valley to get involved in the outdoors. To this end, we will seek further grants for facilities to use, equipment to keep at the lake and will then plan the organisation of sessions and hopefully summer tournaments on the lake. At present, we are looking at basing ourselves at Glenryding Sailing Centre.

We are going to develop the sustainable structure of the club focussing on progression of members through the teams. This will include: training new coaches (Cumbria Canoeists will pay ½ of the fees); training new referees; encouraging members to play in the teams.

What We Need to Achieve This: (election of club officers)

The only committee member to tender their resignation is Karin, due to leaving the area. Thanks for all your support.

We therefore need:-

Youth rep/co-ordinator (to replace Karin)
Equipment Officer to manage our growing amount of kit.
Teams Organisers (to support Brocky and Jack), but in particular to organise the novice team.
Press Officer – which would in turn hopefully increase publicity and ability to win grants – Caitlin Fox offered to take on this role. Tim also asked team organisers to make sure tournament reports were written promptly and sent to ‘The Herald’.
Coaches to expand our club night support, but also to be trained as polo specific coaches.

Also any help that anyone can offer, particularly fundraising and sponsorship.

All other committee members will continue unopposed in their roles this year.

Finally for a bit of fun and motivation:

It was decided to make some annual awards at the end of the club year in July.

Awards will be given out at a social on the lake at the end of the year.

Categories could include; Most Improved paddler, Best Roll in a competition (or swim) etc …….Need to think up some more!

Treasurer’s Report:

The club has stayed in the black for the first 2 years, while spending all surplus funds building up and repairing club equipment. Membership is steady at over 40. This year, we’ve started a standing order scheme to guarantee income throughout the year. The incentive of making it cheaper overall if paying this way has been introduced. Mon night fees have had to go up to cover increased pool fees. When we introduce summer sessions on the lake, we’ll have to look at costings for that.