February 2010
M
1
8
15
22
T
2
9
16
Shrove Tuesday
Shrove Tuesday
23
W
3
10
17
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday
24
T
4
11
18
25
F
5
12
19
26
S
6
13
20
27
S
7
14
St. Valentine's Day
St. Valentine's Day
21
28
Quick look
Calendar Dates
Committee Meetings
2nd Mar 7:30pm
13 Apr 7:30pm
Winter League dates
13 Mar 10 - R3
27 Mar 10 - Final
—-------------
Stop Swim
1 Apr 10
Start
16 Apr 10
Calendar Dates
Committee Meetings
2nd Mar 7:30pm
13 Apr 7:30pm
Winter League dates
13 Mar 10 - R3
27 Mar 10 - Final
—-------------
Stop Swim
1 Apr 10
Start
16 Apr 10
CHAIRMAN’S AGM REPORT 2009
Welcome to the 2009 AGM. As always, I would like to start by thanking all those on the Committee for their support, and indeed to all those involved with the Club for their continued willingness to make a much needed and much appreciated contribution.
Once again, I believe the Club has done a good job this year with continued progress in several areas, and underpinning all of that is the stable administration of a sizeable Club – which accounts for 1 in 14 of the ASA members in Wiltshire – and for a modest membership fee. As everyone knows, volunteers run the Club, many are parents of swimmers, many no longer have children swimming, while others teach and help because they support what we do. All those involved should be commended on the Club’s ability to teach children to swim in accordance with national standards and to develop our swimmers and lifesavers.
As always, there is more we can do, but following the good turn out at last year’s AGM and the support of a number of new volunteers, I have been very encouraged by our ability to progress Club matters, which has seen plenty of actions moved forward. We have adopted the new National Plan fully, and have trained new teachers and coaches, all the while with a new intake of young swimmers. We also managed to raise £1000 for Asthma UK with the sponsored swim. Our competition and Masters sections have benefited from coaching initiatives, including video sessions, and rejuvenated land training. The dedicated few have had more opportunities to train, such as with Wilts ASA and latterly ourselves at Bath, and to compete at events. We again saw great Club championships, and were represented on the County team for Hampshire’s centenary. Meanwhile Lifesaving has continued to strengthen activities and with more external connections.
All but the most fortunate clubs are challenged to increase parental involvement. Bringing in new parents has a number of benefits as we have seen – we spread the load, new ideas come forward, and perhaps people are more willing to take on a role if they can see a way of leaving once they have done their bit! We established a Parent Representative as an alternative point of contact to support parents, but with disappointing take up, and the challenge continues.
We have some significant changes in the Committee this year, with some long-standing members stepping down, and a number of new volunteers for which we are very grateful. Karen Hall has been a pillar of the Club since before I first became involved, bringing our eldest son to learn to swim more than 12 years ago. During that time, Karen has made an enormous contribution, from teaching and what must seem the endless administration of running Learn-to-Swim, to arranging courses and sorting bookings for our presentation evening. It is no exaggeration to say we have come to rely significantly on Karen both poolside and behind the scenes. The Learn-to-Swim section in particular is fundamental to our Club, and on behalf of the Club, I would like to say many, many thanks Karen, for your tireless contribution.
While Karen will continue teaching and officiating, I am delighted that Inge Davies, who has already put a lot into the Club, has volunteered to take over this vital role. Secondly, we also have to give an enormous vote of thanks to Iain Dixon. As Head Coach for seven years, and some time after his children moved on, we have also come to rely on Iain’s contribution, both poolside in developing, assessing and coaching our squad and behind the scenes. We have seen improvement in performance as the programmes he has put in place have benefited our swimmers and our Club, and Iain has increased officiating duties including at County competitions. Again on behalf of the Club, our many thanks to Iain.
Iain will continue as a teacher and official, and again I am delighted that, notwithstanding the matter of election, we have such strong succession with the ever enthusiastic Dave Alstowe and with Trevor Adams. We need to support Inge, Dave and Trevor in their roles.
We have to say a big thank you also to Helen Brown, Secretary for the last three years, to Masters representative Mark Oliver, and to Robert & Valerie Wakeham who have run our shop very successfully. Finally, we must also pass on our enormous appreciation to Mandy Deane and Richie Vickers, who are stepping down from teaching and both of whom have put a huge amount of time and effort into the Club over many years as part of the poolside team, again long after their children have left. On behalf of all the swimmers who have benefited from Mandy and Richie’s efforts, patience and encouragement in teaching and coaching, thank you both.
Therefore, a fair amount of change. However, we have already seen the benefit of adding new members to the Committee in the last couple of years, with good progress thanks to the efforts of the likes of Helen, Binny, Bob Hunter and Dave Page, which is much appreciated. I am also delighted with the support of some of the Club’s swimmers in teaching or assisting poolside and hope that more will go on to take qualifications.
While on the subject of thank yous, we are of course indebted to treasurer Richard Keilloh, who will step down next year, and membership secretary Simon Duhig, who has been ably supported this year by Andrew Evans. The importance of stable membership and financial administration cannot be underestimated, especially in current times. Also to Julie Bloxham, for the work she is doing as Swim 21 Co-ordinator. which remains an important objective for the Club.
Looking forward, the long term future of the Lime Kiln Centre remains uncertain. With the new Wiltshire Council is in place I am delighted that DC Leisure has been able to extend its contract to run the Centre until 2011. DC continues to do a good job in running the Centre and we continue to work with them. However, in the current environment, who knows the future for local leisure provision, and in any case 2011 will come around all too soon. I expect that Wiltshire will look to rationalise water provision in the County, and while the downturn is having an effect on casual use, year-to-date income at the Lime Kiln has increased over last year and pool usage is increased through provision of free swimming to under 16s and over 60s. On a happy note, I was delighted to note that a reconstituted Calne Alpha 4 took part in the Corsham Junior Gala.
Understanding of club needs at national level remains a cause for concern. Following restructure of the ASA, a network of county co-ordinators has been established (albeit yet to be filled in Wiltshire) with the aim of better supporting clubs and members, yet much of the funding is directed into Free Swimming. The County is providing some dedicated support, however there is concern as to how much can be achieved with the limited time and funds available in the face of the need for Swim 21 support, welfare training and teachers courses,, the latter which come at a high cost. Although the county had 20 teaching bursaries last year, the expense is a major issue.
As always, there remain plenty of challenges for the Club but I remain confident that our dedicated group of volunteers can deliver the aims and needs of the club. I would like to take this opportunity again on behalf of all the swimmers and parents to thank all of you.
Tim Magness
Chairman
29 April 2009
Once again, I believe the Club has done a good job this year with continued progress in several areas, and underpinning all of that is the stable administration of a sizeable Club – which accounts for 1 in 14 of the ASA members in Wiltshire – and for a modest membership fee. As everyone knows, volunteers run the Club, many are parents of swimmers, many no longer have children swimming, while others teach and help because they support what we do. All those involved should be commended on the Club’s ability to teach children to swim in accordance with national standards and to develop our swimmers and lifesavers.
As always, there is more we can do, but following the good turn out at last year’s AGM and the support of a number of new volunteers, I have been very encouraged by our ability to progress Club matters, which has seen plenty of actions moved forward. We have adopted the new National Plan fully, and have trained new teachers and coaches, all the while with a new intake of young swimmers. We also managed to raise £1000 for Asthma UK with the sponsored swim. Our competition and Masters sections have benefited from coaching initiatives, including video sessions, and rejuvenated land training. The dedicated few have had more opportunities to train, such as with Wilts ASA and latterly ourselves at Bath, and to compete at events. We again saw great Club championships, and were represented on the County team for Hampshire’s centenary. Meanwhile Lifesaving has continued to strengthen activities and with more external connections.
All but the most fortunate clubs are challenged to increase parental involvement. Bringing in new parents has a number of benefits as we have seen – we spread the load, new ideas come forward, and perhaps people are more willing to take on a role if they can see a way of leaving once they have done their bit! We established a Parent Representative as an alternative point of contact to support parents, but with disappointing take up, and the challenge continues.
We have some significant changes in the Committee this year, with some long-standing members stepping down, and a number of new volunteers for which we are very grateful. Karen Hall has been a pillar of the Club since before I first became involved, bringing our eldest son to learn to swim more than 12 years ago. During that time, Karen has made an enormous contribution, from teaching and what must seem the endless administration of running Learn-to-Swim, to arranging courses and sorting bookings for our presentation evening. It is no exaggeration to say we have come to rely significantly on Karen both poolside and behind the scenes. The Learn-to-Swim section in particular is fundamental to our Club, and on behalf of the Club, I would like to say many, many thanks Karen, for your tireless contribution.
While Karen will continue teaching and officiating, I am delighted that Inge Davies, who has already put a lot into the Club, has volunteered to take over this vital role. Secondly, we also have to give an enormous vote of thanks to Iain Dixon. As Head Coach for seven years, and some time after his children moved on, we have also come to rely on Iain’s contribution, both poolside in developing, assessing and coaching our squad and behind the scenes. We have seen improvement in performance as the programmes he has put in place have benefited our swimmers and our Club, and Iain has increased officiating duties including at County competitions. Again on behalf of the Club, our many thanks to Iain.
Iain will continue as a teacher and official, and again I am delighted that, notwithstanding the matter of election, we have such strong succession with the ever enthusiastic Dave Alstowe and with Trevor Adams. We need to support Inge, Dave and Trevor in their roles.
We have to say a big thank you also to Helen Brown, Secretary for the last three years, to Masters representative Mark Oliver, and to Robert & Valerie Wakeham who have run our shop very successfully. Finally, we must also pass on our enormous appreciation to Mandy Deane and Richie Vickers, who are stepping down from teaching and both of whom have put a huge amount of time and effort into the Club over many years as part of the poolside team, again long after their children have left. On behalf of all the swimmers who have benefited from Mandy and Richie’s efforts, patience and encouragement in teaching and coaching, thank you both.
Therefore, a fair amount of change. However, we have already seen the benefit of adding new members to the Committee in the last couple of years, with good progress thanks to the efforts of the likes of Helen, Binny, Bob Hunter and Dave Page, which is much appreciated. I am also delighted with the support of some of the Club’s swimmers in teaching or assisting poolside and hope that more will go on to take qualifications.
While on the subject of thank yous, we are of course indebted to treasurer Richard Keilloh, who will step down next year, and membership secretary Simon Duhig, who has been ably supported this year by Andrew Evans. The importance of stable membership and financial administration cannot be underestimated, especially in current times. Also to Julie Bloxham, for the work she is doing as Swim 21 Co-ordinator. which remains an important objective for the Club.
Looking forward, the long term future of the Lime Kiln Centre remains uncertain. With the new Wiltshire Council is in place I am delighted that DC Leisure has been able to extend its contract to run the Centre until 2011. DC continues to do a good job in running the Centre and we continue to work with them. However, in the current environment, who knows the future for local leisure provision, and in any case 2011 will come around all too soon. I expect that Wiltshire will look to rationalise water provision in the County, and while the downturn is having an effect on casual use, year-to-date income at the Lime Kiln has increased over last year and pool usage is increased through provision of free swimming to under 16s and over 60s. On a happy note, I was delighted to note that a reconstituted Calne Alpha 4 took part in the Corsham Junior Gala.
Understanding of club needs at national level remains a cause for concern. Following restructure of the ASA, a network of county co-ordinators has been established (albeit yet to be filled in Wiltshire) with the aim of better supporting clubs and members, yet much of the funding is directed into Free Swimming. The County is providing some dedicated support, however there is concern as to how much can be achieved with the limited time and funds available in the face of the need for Swim 21 support, welfare training and teachers courses,, the latter which come at a high cost. Although the county had 20 teaching bursaries last year, the expense is a major issue.
As always, there remain plenty of challenges for the Club but I remain confident that our dedicated group of volunteers can deliver the aims and needs of the club. I would like to take this opportunity again on behalf of all the swimmers and parents to thank all of you.
Tim Magness
Chairman
29 April 2009