Monday 25th November 2013
President's Report / Secretary's Report
It has been another good year for Southern Table Tennis with participation numbers steady, finances under control and the club running smoothly. We continue to move forward having installed a solar power system, looked at ways to reduce our power consumption and been innovative in the running of our competitions. The one area in which we still struggle to be effective is in promoting table tennis in the southern community and thereby increasing our participation numbers. Next year will see a big change for the executive committee with the resignations after 33 years of Beverly and Brian JAMES who will still be involved with the club but pursuing other interests.
For the last 3-4 years the participation numbers for both our competitions and social play has been pretty steady. However some of the social sessions have seen a slight decline in numbers which has the danger of then losing the interest of the people who have been attending them. Our competition numbers have been around 90 players per season and when we split that between our two competition nights the stadium is being used well below capacity and we could accommodate another 30 players per season. We have looked at different ways of promoting our club but have struggled to find anybody with the interest and time to follow up on the ideas that we have generated. This is something that we have to address as we should be striving to have the centre used to its full potential.
With the ever increasing cost of electricity we spent a bit of time looking into power reduction initiatives and the installation of a solar power generation system. Some of the Fluorescent tubes around the stadium have been replaced by LED tubes and we have even tested one of the playing courts with LED tubes which unfortunately did not turn out to meet our playing requirements. We now also have a 3kw solar power generation system installed. I would like to thank Geoff GOSS for all the effort he put in liaising with council and several installation companies to get this project completed.
I am always amazed at how efficiently the club is run by a small number of volunteers who all make their contributions without complaint and this year has been no different. I really would like to thank all those that do help out around the club for the great work you all do. The retirement of Beverly and Brian JAMES from the executive committee takes away over 60 years of committee experience but will be lessened by the fact that they will continue to perform most of the roles which they had been performing. We are well set with the current group of volunteers to be able to continue running the club in an effective manner but it would be great to see a few new faces join the executive committee to contribute their ideas.
I am looking forward to seeing what we can achieve over the next year to keep Southern Table Tennis both evolving and growing.
Marcel STORKEN
President Southern Table Tennis
As identified by our President, Southern remains healthy both financially and in respect to player numbers and social participation rates. While we have significant potential to increase our level of activity and enhance our presence in the community, sadly we cannot do this simply utilising volunteers. Alarmingly, the average age of our volunteers is in excess of 60 years old, many being life members. Succession management is a real concern.
So what ‘out of the ordinary’ happened at Southern during 2012 / 2013:
We had floor resurfacing dramas, trying a new water based product, however players found the surface both slippery and dangerous, so we resorted to a previous proven product. All is well again, with the stadium completely resurfaced.
More recently community groups have shown an interest in hiring the Southern facility as a social activity for their membership. Some have returned and sought a subsequent hire of our facility.
Unfortunately the Executive has had to step in to manage player bad behaviour impacting on other players and match night. Please be considerate of others.
A solar system has just been installed as a measure to counter increasing electricity costs. Southern is also exploring other energy saving initiatives.
Southern’s junior program boasts probably the only junior competition existing in South Australia.
Sadly, life members Bev James (Vice President) and Brian James (Member
Delegate) have announced their retirement from the Southern Executive Committee effective the 2013 AGM. Fortunately, both are currently prepared to continue their volunteer roles re managing the Southern web site and
coordinating competitions and related computing activity. Both Bev and Brian have dedicated
in excess of 30 years to the Southern Executive. A massive contribution to Southern
Table Tennis
It has been my fortune to have spent 20 plus years working with them on various
activities, both on behalf of Southern and also at State level. On behalf of
Southern and personally, I thank them for their contribution to the running and
development of Southern and countless hours they have given to the sport of table tennis.
As mentioned, both are prepared to continue in their voluntary roles. However,
the succession management I mentioned above now becomes even more important so
a transition process can occur and the batten can be handed to someone else who
is prepared to take over these key admin / management activities.
Finally, to our volunteers, those opening the facility for competition and
social play, our coaches, our cleaner, the Executive, our players, supporters and sponsors,
once again I say thankyou, your efforts are truly appreciated.
Maurice Quinn
Secretary