Newsletter & Notices

Keep informed:

Historically Velmead Archers has been a Hart District Council sponsored activity. The “coach” initially John Izant, then Richard Stringer, and currently myself was the sole point of contact between the archers and HDC. The coach arranged the shooting schedule, ran courses, and supervised shooting, and collected the fees. HDC provided the venues and booked the courses, in return for the course and member fees. This arrangement has to change. From April 2010 control of the outdoor sports grounds previously managed by HDC will pass to the newly formed Town or Parish Council in which the ground is located. However the management of Hart Leisure Centre (our present indoor shooting venue) will remain with HDC. This split responsibility will require a change to the management arrangement, and HDC have proposed that responsibility for Velmead Archers will pass to Church Crookham Parish Council at the same time as management of the Peter Driver sports field, and that thereafter the coach will continue to organise and administer the club as above. However there is a significant drawback to this proposed arrangement in that, once HDC no longer has responsibility for Velmead Archers, it will be required to charge a “commercial rate” for use of Hart Leisure Centre for indoor shooting. At present it appears that each Sunday indoor session would cost in excess of £150, and would not be financially feasible. I have discussed all this with a number of long-standing members of the club, and we have reached a broad consensus as follows:

• Given the short time between now and the start of the outdoor season we feel that the most pragmatic way forward is to transfer to Church Crookham Parish Council for the outdoor 2010 season.
• However we also feel that the long term future of the club can only be sustained by establishing it as a properly formulated GNAS affiliated club independent of District or Parish Council control.

This restructuring has significant implications for all members:

• We will need to establish an elected committee of members responsible for the day to day operation of the club. Membership of the committee would include (but not be limited to) Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Field & Equipment Officer, Records Officer, Child Protection Officer and Coach.
• In order to meet insurance obligations all members would need to join GNAS.
• The committee would need to identify and arrange shooting venues throughout the year, organising and promoting courses and membership setting annual fees, and generally maintain the successful operation of the club, as specified in its constitution and in accordance with the wishes of members as expressed through an Annual General Meeting.

Our intention would be to establish a “shadow committee” immediately to operate throughout the Outdoor 2010 season with a view to commencing independent operation from autumn 2010 (coinciding with the GNAS annual subscription calendar). This is a major change to the way that the club currently operates, and it cannot happen without the active support of the membership. Things to consider include:

• Are you willing to serve on the committee and take full and active responsibility for some aspect of the club’s operation?
• Are you prepared to support the club with routine maintenance, setting out and taking down, coaching, and all the other practical and administrative tasks which will be required?
• Are you willing to join GNAS? For information, GNAS membership is currently £46 (seniors) which together with Velmead membership fees is likely to lead to an annual outlay of around £120 (similar to the other clubs in the area).
• Are we big enough? Do we have enough active members to form a viable club?

In summary, change cannot be avoided. We can carry on as before for the coming outdoor season, but we have to have a strategy for change if we are to continue thereafter. There are a number of other clubs in the area (Yateley, Guildford, Farnham, Four Marks, Old Basing) perhaps the wisest strategy would be to disband, and for those wishing to continue to shoot to join one of them. I am prepared to continue running the club throughout the outdoor 2010 season, and help as best I can to set up a sustainable independent club thereafter, but only the members can decide where to take the Velmead Archers from here. Over to you!

Russell.