January 2017 Update

A BELATED HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL VPBC MEMBERS!

Your Committee: Over the Winter volunteers from your committee have been busy dealing with the state of the Greens (mainly Ralph and David), the clubhouse condition, finance and a number of other matters which most members don’t see but which are crucial to the survival and development of Victoria Park Bowling Club.

1)      Greens: These are, as always, the major concern of the committee. Care of Green Two is mainly in the hands of volunteers, and action has been taken to lower the pond and is ongoing to check the drainage. Without this Green Two would remain unplayable. Green One is undergoing extensive treatment in readiness for the new season.

Ted writes: WE ARE GLAD TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE WINTER GREEN (only) IS NOW OPEN FOR BOWLING.
CLEARLY THIS IS ONLY WHILST DRY & NOT FROST BOUND, AND AFTER SWISHING AND
CLEARING THE GREEN OF ALL DEBRIS.
DO WEAR FLAT SHOES AND SENSIBLE CLOTHING!

Andy writes: Green Two now needs to be played on, weather conditions permitting. I am organising a Winter Ladder competition running from start-up to the date the first green opens. This will involve 10-12 members (first to apply to me at hchatster@gmail.com will have preference). If you imagine a ladder or table of 12 members in random order, those lower down the ladder will issue a challenge to those above them. It will be up to the two members involved to organise themselves an agreed date and time to play a singles match 21 up and inform me of the result. If the ‘lower’ player wins they swap places with the ‘higher’ player. £1 per player per match including tea or coffee will go into a kitty, half to the club and half as prize money to the top three players at the end of the competition. I envisage one match per week or fortnight for everyone involved. Interested? Contact me for further details. This competition is open to all members, both male and female, of any ability. If enough members show an interest I will operate two or more ladders.

2)      The AGM: Please remember the AGM on Saturday 18 February at Emmanuel Church Hall Cambridge Rd Southport  at 1PM.

The AGM is a great time to meet folks after the winter and look forward to the new season, sign up for teams, and go through the essential business that keeps a club like us going. In some ways though it is more important to realise that without volunteers, our club will undoubtedly fold.

We will be looking to elect Officers (with Ted, Bryan and Andy indicating their willingness to continue as Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary) and also your committee, but new committee members are essential as we will have places on committee open. Please think about allowing yourself to be nominated as a committee member and giving some time and effort to keeping our club up and running. I will be issuing nomination sheets for all officer and committee positions shortly.

IN ADDITION THERE WILL BE ‘SIGN-UP’ SHEETS FOR VOLUNTEERS AT THE AGM FOR A CLEANING ROTA FOR THE CLUBHOUSE (NO IT DOESN’T CLEAN ITSELF), REFRESHMENTS (A MAJOR FUND-RAISER), GREEN CARE, SOCIAL EVENTS ORGANISERS AND HELPERS, FUND RAISERS AND TO ORGANISE CLUB COMPETITIONS. Please give some thought to volunteering. Our subscriptions, though valuable, simply do not cover the running expenses of our club.

 Diary Note: A CHARITY MATCH will take place on Saturday 25 March using both greens to raise funds for the LIVERPOOL HEART & CHEST HOSPITAL – more later.

 Well that’s enough for now. More to come though……..

 Andy