MERRY CHRISTMAS

If you are reading this before Xmas, I hope you have a good one and a happy new year but if it is after then I hope you had a good one and are ready for another campaign. We shall be quickly back into competition.

MEMBERSHIP 2012

Unfortunately, the new year brings the need to re-join the Club. The good news is that the committee have decided not to increase the annual membership fee for 2012. Fees are due on 1 January and renewals must be in to the ASA in March. It has been decided that, due to the costs of affiliation, anyone who has not re-joined by the end of February will have their membership of the ASA ‘lapsed’ which means they will no longer be covered by insurance and cannot take part in competitive activities. It has also been agreed that anyone who re-joins late will be treated as a new member and all new members will be charged an initial administrative joining fee in addition to the annual membership fee. You have been warned!

There will also be some changes to the squads so some swimmers will need to alter their standing order for the monthly training fee if they are moved to a different squad.

ARENA LEAGUE

The League galas are now over for another year. Final results have not been published yet due to, again, some controversy about the Premier League final. With several swimmers in the bottom half of the age group, our main aim was to stay up and not be relegated and it looks like we have succeeded in that aim. Well done, swimmers!

BEACON PROGRAMME

There are still many unknown factors concerning the operation of the new swimming programme in Bristol. However, the important fact is that, to try and ensure its long-term viability there will be a levy (as from April 2012) on each of the Bristol clubs in accordance with the number of swimmers in the club. Whilst still retaining doubts about the long-term viability of the scheme, the committee have agreed to go along with it and see how it develops. The committee will assess its progress on a regular basis and reserve the right to withdraw if the costs are deemed to outweigh the benefits. It has been decided that the levy will, at least initially, be paid out of Club reserves so there will be no increase in your membership fee.

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS

These are now completed and certificates and trophies were presented at the disco. I think all those at the disco had a good time so those who couldn’t make it missed out on a good night. Unfortunately, some trophies were not returned in time to be presented so they and any certificates that were not presented will be passed on as soon as possible. Congratulations to the winners of the overall trophies and annual awards:

Abigail Batt (girls) – Amy Leather

Abigail Batt (boys) – Owen Manley

Ballinger Shield – jointly to Patrick Dore and Sophie Wilkins

Unigate Trophy – Laura Thyer

Junior Girl – Stephanie Cummins

Junior Boy–Sam McKelvie-Warsop

Senior Girl – Paige Gaulton

Senior Boy – Daniel Riordan

SWIM SHOP

This is now up and running and Caroline will be present with a small stock of items once a month on a Sunday at the Dolphin and the following Monday at The Ridings so hopefully everyone will have a chance to see her. Items from the catalogue can be ordered any time but club specific items like hats and bags have a minimum order requirement so there may be a waiting time. Caroline has a stock of the new style t-shirts in a range of sizes but if names are required they must go back to the supplier so there will be a short wait.

COMMUNICATION

The Club has now purchased a mobile phone and it will be programmed with everyone’s mobile number so that messages can be sent on the occasions when the pool is closed at short notice. It would be nice if this was never necessary but I expect it will. When the new membership application form is issued, please be sure to include an emergency mobile number to ensure that our records are up to date.

LOCAL SCHOOLS

The Club is making contact with local primary schools with a view to offering help with the swimming lessons of the children. This may be helpful in recruiting new members and is also a requirement of our Swim21 accreditation. Charborough Road and St Michaels, Stoke Gifford are interested and it is hoped to arrange a gala for three or four schools next term and to include a team of our young swimmers to show what can be achieved. If other schools become interested this could develop into a series of galas similar to the galas at Horfield on Wednesday evenings.

WELFARE OFFICER

Carolyn Conibear has agreed to take over as Club Welfare Officer. We hope she has little to do but if you have any concerns please speak to her in the first instance.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

3 Jan – Swimming restarts

14 Jan – Severnside Tritons gala

18 Jan – School gala

21 Jan – Cotswold League

18/19 Feb – Glos Block