Club Secretary's Newsletter
Thursday, 2nd March 2023
News for the beginning of the 2023 season
Annual Subscription
In accordance with the club rules the annual subscription for full members (£60) and social members (£10) is due to be paid on or before the 4th March this year.
If at all possible please pay online, otherwise at the coffee morning on the 4th March. Should any member not wish to renew their membership I would be grateful if you would let me know please. Thanks to all those who have already paid their subs.
Opening Day
Opening Day this year will be on Sunday 16th April. Obviously much work is necessary to prepare for Opening Day and the ensuing season. Members will be notified of the arrangements for Opening Day separately from this newsletter, and also about the work required beforehand by volunteers.
Club Tour 2023
The itinerary has been put together for the club tour from Friday 19th May to Monday 22nd May, at a cost of £350 per person (singles £359):
+ Bacon butty and coffee/tea at Moffat House Hotel at Moffat;
+ Visit to the Falkirk Wheel on the way to Perth;
+ Three night stay at the Royal George Hotel at Perth which includes dinner, bed & breakfast;
+ Bowls matches - matches have been arranged against Alyth and Blairgowrie on the Saturday and at Auchterarder and Crieff on the Sunday. On each day we will split up into two groups of 20 bowlers so we can play either 5 full rinks or 6 triples. Bowlers should ensure they bring 3 woods with them. Non-players can attend whichever venue they choose each day or make their own plans for each day.
+ On the return journey visit to the Britannia Yacht in Edinburgh;
+ High Tea at Tinto Hotel, Symington, near Biggar.
We are restricted to a party of 50 and so far we have 49 names down on the list in the Bower. Should we achieve 50 names then thereafter further names will be on a waiting list. Just a reminder that full payment for the tour should be made to the Tour Treasurer, Pat Backhouse,no later than Opening Day on the 16th April.
Defibrillator Training
For those who are unaware the club has purchased a new defibrillator. The defibrillator was purchase from London Hearts, has been registered with the National Defibrillator Network and the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS). I have been in touch with NWAS to see if they would provide a training session for members. I have now heard from the Carlisle & District Community First Responders who are willing to come to the club to do a talk and demonstrations on what a defibrillator is, how it works, what to do when you have a casualty, how to perform CPR and more. They have said in all probability a date will be arranged sometime in March and members will be notified of that date in due course. A notice will be put up shortly in the Bower for anyone interested in attending the training session. I hope as many of you as possible will attend although there might be a restriction on numbers, I don't know at the moment. Alternatively, London Hearts also sent us a link to a professionally recorded full demonstration training session if you are interested: https://vimeo.com/557677120/e7524918c5. I recommend you take a look.
New Members Meeting
It is quite a while since the club held a meeting for new members, probably some 6/7 years ago. The idea of such a meeting is that you come along to the Bower to have an informal chat with representatives of the Management Committee who will explain how the club works, and answer any questions/concerns you may have. We intend to hold such a meeting on Wednesday the 29th March at 10am in the Bower. Members who have joined the club since 2017 will be notified by email and invited to attend if they wish. Older members may also attend if they wish, effectively it is open house!
Fixtures 2023
The fixture list for 2023 has been printed and will be available for collection at the Coffee Morning on the 4th March. An additional mixed friendly match has been arranged away to Lazonby on Sunday the 30th July. Altogether we have 5 away mixed friendlies at Longtown, Penrith Friars, West End, Subscription, Lazonby, and Appleby. It is hoped that these fixtures will be well supported even though there will be some travelling involved. After the Covid pandemic it is important that mixed friendlies regain their popularity. Playing in these fixtures is the best way to learn about the game.
League Bowling
The various League starting dates are as follows:
Eden Valley League – Tuesday 25th April – Team Captain: David White
Stan Bragg League – Monday 8th May – Team Captain: John Sibley
Ladies Cumbria League – Wednesday 10th May – Team Captain: Hazel Jefferson
Carliol Thursday League – Thursday 11th May – Team Captain: John Proctor
Carliol Over 60s League – Friday 12th May – Team Captain: Mike Scott
On display on the club notice boards are sheets for each League for members to indicate that they are interested in playing in the league teams. If you wish to participate ensure that your name is down on the league sheet you wish to play in. It is from these sheets that teams will be selected by the Team Captains.
Thank you. Enjoy the forthcoming season everyone.
John Sibley, Secretary. February 2023.