Dear Members,
I hope this message finds you safe and warm as we embrace the chilly winter days. This season brings with it a time of increased illness, and our thoughts and support go out to anyone who may be unwell or recovering. As a community, it’s crucial that we remain vigilant and supportive of each other within the Hampton Bayside family. Please don’t hesitate to reach out directly if you or someone you know requires assistance.
Volunteers
I want to express a heartfelt thank you to all our volunteers for your dedication, hard work, and passion in making our club such a welcoming and vibrant community. Your commitment to maintaining our grounds, organising events, and supporting our members is truly commendable and does not go unnoticed.
We recently held a Volunteers Thank You Lunch on June 13th, which was attended by around 40 participants. It was a wonderful afternoon to recognise and celebrate the efforts of our volunteers. We understand not everyone could attend, but rest assured, this won’t be our last event of its kind.
Bowls
We’re off to a busy start in the new year! We’re thrilled to have Phil onboard as Bowls Director and extend our thanks for his dedicated efforts in ensuring the Bowls Committee runs smoothly. Special recognition also goes to Pam and Margaret for their work in the nomination and selection process of the Bowls committee.
Congratulations to our new Bowls Committee members and thank you to all who participated in the nominations. The high number of applicants reflects our strong and vibrant Bowls community, and we’re excited for the year ahead.
Carpet Bowls
This winter activity is on again each Tuesday, starting at 1.00 pm. It has been a feature of the club for more than thirty years. Run by Margaret Radford and Judy Swan, and only $5.00 entry, including afternoon tea, it’s a great way to spend a couple of hours. Be advised, it is not as easy as it looks, and is a challenge even for the best of bowlers! If you would like to participate, please either: text Margaret at 0411 201 175, put your name on the Carpet Bowls list in the bowls office, or arrive at the club on Tuesday’s before 1.00 pm.
Grants and Sponsorships
Securing grants and sponsorships continues to be a significant opportunity for us. Over the past 10 months, we’ve applied for three grants, successfully securing one and awaiting feedback on two others. We extend our gratitude to everyone involved in supporting these applications. A special thanks to Pam for her meticulous and diligent work in ensuring our applications are submitted to the highest standards and on time.
Ivan has done an outstanding job in developing our sponsorship program with current sponsors.
We’re eager to expand our base of contributors to further grow our Grants and Sponsorship initiatives. If you’re interested, please reach out to sponsorships@hamptonbaysideclub.com.
Big Screen
Exciting news! Our new projector, surround sound, and screen are up and running – perhaps the biggest screen in Bayside! A massive thank you to Jason Botterill for his work in setting it all up. A big shout out to Geoff and Rob for leveraging this to further enhance the service delivered under our amazing U3A program.
This addition allows us to host televised sporting events, so come on down and enjoy the action with family and friends. We’re also exploring movie nights, with “Crackerjack” potentially being our first feature – watch this space! Additionally, this setup opens doors to hosting entertainment and corporate events. Please spread the word to anyone who may be interested.
Winter Months
Thanks to Carol’s continued efforts, our Music Nights are thriving, drawing strong attendance, which is crucial for our winter profitability. We’re now serving hot snacks at the bar, which has been a hit and underscores the demand.
For sports enthusiasts, join us to watch the footy on what might be the biggest screen in Bayside! We’re trialling extended Wednesday hours after bridge, hoping to cater to various sporting and social events.
Special thanks to the team currently painting the Bar area and to Jason and others for removing unused TVs. Here’s to a promising, stable, and exciting year ahead.
Strategic Plan
On June 28th, we held our first operational planning session focused on Facilities Excellence. This covered Compliance, Capital & Maintenance works, and Technology needs to support our club’s short, medium, and long-term goals. More updates will follow as we complete other streams of our operational plan.
Due to leave commitments, the remaining sessions will pause until after August 16th, but we remain on track to complete this by November 2024.
Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Building on the past 10 months and following our AGM, we look forward to meeting with the local Member for Brighton this month James Newbury. We’ll express our gratitude for his continued support, review the AGM report, and discuss future plans.
If you missed the AGM or would like a copy of the report, please contact Pam Longley at pamelalongley18@gmail.com for a copy.
Finally, I’m writing to you as acting chair while Kathy enjoys a well-deserved break with her sons in Europe. You’ll be glad to know, she’s been having an amazing time with family and enjoying some warmth. Kathy returns on July 15th.
On July 7th, I’ll be heading back to the UK with the family so Eddie can meet his Grandparents for the first time. Pam will be acting chair between July 7th and July 15th.
As always, if you have questions, concerns, or wish to support the Board, please reach out to me at sponsorship@hamptonbaysideclub.com, Pam Longley at pamelalongley18@gmail.com, or any other Board member.
Thank you,
Rob Chapman