PRESIDENT’S REPORT - 2012 Season

This year has been an exciting year with the implementation of many new initiatives by the committee, opportunities for our members for training and development, and completion of minor improvements to our sporting complex.

One of our goals this year for the association was to enhance our technology within the association.  We started the year with a new registration process, which involved the compilation of new electronic forms to coincide with NSW Netball requirements. The new forms also assisted our committee with in house management systems, to make it easier for tracking and administration. This initiative was very successful and has reduced workload, minimised errors and assisted our general management for registration in more ways than you can imagine. In moving forward with technology our website was also overhauled and a new fixtures program was put into place and our financial affairs are now on QuickBooks. Our website and new fixtures have provided instant access for our members to view up to date announcements, opportunities within the association, and information to enable all registered teams to track their performance during the season. These initiatives have also boosted our income, as thousands of dollars on advertising in the local paper is no longer a practise, unless absolutely necessary. This is only the beginning and I hope that my desire to improve our communication to our members will continue looking forward into 2013.

At the beginning of 2012 I personally became an accredited Net Set Go Co-ordinator so that Nelson Bay Netball Association could provide the new San Remo Net Set Go program to our 5 to 10 year olds. This program is an Australian Netball Junior initiative.  This program provides the best possible learning and playing experience that enables the children to develop a positive introduction to Netball, ensuring enjoyment and continued participation within the sport of netball. The benefits for association and our members enrolled include:
·              Wonderful participant packs

·         A nationally and marketed campaign to support the program, which in turn has, and will further increase memberships from currently untargeted markets, therefore increasing our revenue.

·         It will provide links to our community as it is also a recognised skill program that we could offer to schools and other community groups.

·         The association received an enormous amount of equipment: playing patches, balls, bean bags, cones etc. that we can use not only for Net Set Go but for all our members.

I look forward to 2013 registrations and hope that this program will flourish and achieve the desired result intended - increased memberships and increased revenue. I must thank Sue Holloway and the 17 years and 12 years representative teams for the efforts in delivering this program to our junior netballers. Without them this program could not be offered.

One point that I have emphasised in the Executive Meetings this year is the need to provide training and development to our players, coaches, umpires and volunteers. I am happy to say, that with the hard work of many, the Association has delivered and provided a Level 1 Umpiring Course, a NSW Netball Accredited Coaching Course, a Babble Clinic and a Shooting Clinic for our juniors. Unfortunately though, our Level 1 course was cancelled due to low numbers, but we were able to direct interested parties to other associations to complete the course.

Another interest I have personally pursued this year is the involvement in a Strategic Forum Group. This Regional group meets regularly to discuss issues with regular netball competitions, NSW competitions and any other issues that may come to hand. Whilst I may not participate face to face, I have been a voice for Nelson Bay Netball over the last year by email and telephone.

As recent as today, I have escalated a concern for the next Agenda.  Each year Nelson Bay Netball struggles to find badged umpires to send to State Championships and State Age. The NSW Netball requirement is that we must send  1 umpire for each team + one extra to participate in the tournament. This is difficult for our small association to provide, as most of our badged umpires are coaching, managing or carrying out some other crucial role to enable OUR girls to attend these competitions. It is quite clear with our limited volunteers, committee members and association officials that they cannot wear more than one hat, creating a massive gap to fill. Each year our Umpires Convenor and I spend at least 2 – 4 weeks trying to gain badged umpires from other associations, until we are successful, or until our efforts are exhausted. Some years we are successful, other we are not. Things have become so difficult that our teams are at risk of not attending State as we cannot fulfil our requirements to send the girls. I am hoping that my email will open up discussion at the next Strategic Forum in Sydney and highlight the need to make alterations to the rules to support smaller associations and promote junior netball development.

Representative Netball in 2012 has been very successful. Although we may not have brought home any prestigious awards or accolades this year, all teams have represented themselves well to the best of their abilities and were wonderful ambassadors for Nelson Bay Netball Association. Thank you very much too all coaches, managers, umpires, parent helpers and other volunteers who assisted to achieve a very successful representative season.

The representative Sub-Committee consists of Debbie Bradley, Anne Cram, Gillian Waugh, Nadina Potter and myself, and on behalf of the association I would like to thank them for their tireless efforts this year. They are valued members of our committee, and thanks need to be conveyed.

Representative netball has come a long way in the last couple of years with many processes and procedures put in place for smooth and effective running. This includes relieving the strain on association funds to assist representative players to attend State Age. The successful management and fundraising efforts have now put the association in a wonderful financial position, being that, that no member funds are distributed to representative netball. An amount of $5,000 has now been saved that can be used for ALL members, whether it be purchase of equipment, capital works, cleaning of the courts (which just happened) or providing training and education to name a few.

One thing that I am particularly proud of is the equality in netball that is provided by Nelson Bay Netball. Our association has been a local leader, with regard to introducing boys into netball. Our recent by-laws will ensure the continued participation of boys in netball and promote the sport without discrimination. Equality in netball is definitely an achievement that the committee can be proud of and an achievement that I feel our members support.

Twilight Netball will again be offered in 2012. This relaxed easy going competition has been supported by many, and the fun environment it promotes, has seen it be very successful in the last 2 years. I would like to thank the Twilight Sub-Committee, Helen Scott, Nadina Potter, Amberley Keating and Joanne Stefanish for their past efforts.

Tonight is the final night I will be sitting at this table, as I have decided to step down as President due to other personal interests. During the last 5 years I have enjoyed being part of the association, as President, a Representative Coach, a Representative Manager, a Sub Committee Member, a Coach of many Saturday Teams, a committee member, a friend and a mum. The one aspect that I have enjoyed the most is of course the netball. I have witnessed many of our children growing as players, developing friendships, promoting sportsmanship and fairness, and in general, just developing into lovely young ladies, many of which I hope I will have lasting relationships with. The memories will last forever and I thank those who have helped to make my time here very enjoyable and at times very comical. The support I have received from many has been overwhelming over the last 5 years, and this has made my job easy and ensured the success of the association.  I leave today knowing that I have made a difference and that I have made many long life friends. Thank you to ALL committee members for the support and hard work over the last 5 years.

For new committee, I hope and trust that you will move forward with the association being the “focal” point of all decisions made, that respect is given to each other with regard to opinions and individual attributes, and that further initiatives will be introduced to our members to provide an association that is up to date and current with processes, procedures and visions of NSW Netball.

Thank you.

Karin McIntyre