Membership Fee reminder

The annual membership fee is due and Jim Wright will be sending reminders out over the next couple of weeks. 

The fees have been set at:

£35 for a senior individual

£15 for a junior individual

£50 for a family membership (Family membership only available for persons living at same address)

The fees are very competitive when compared with other Clubs and amongst the benefits of being a Club member are entries to National and District Cross Country/Road Relay events, discounted club wear etc.

Please note you should not be running as a Clydesdale Harrier in events unless you have renewed your membership.

Regards

Club Secretary

Money and Sport

It is no big secret that the club has suffered greatly from the decision by the late unlamented Strathclyde Council to evict us from the only 400 metre eight lane track in either West Dunbartonshire or East Dunbartonshire at Whitecrook. Recruitment has fallen away in all age groups and that has been compunded for the endurance runners by the following decision to exclude us from the baths at Bruce Street on grounds of health and safety. The result has been different training venues for Senior Road Runners and young athletes whatever their event. The eventual move for the whole club to the new St Peter's HS can only benefit all sections of the club.

The 'Herald' yesterday had an article on the need to adapt to the new economic climate in Britain by deciding where money should be spent and saying that all sports were seeking money - even the dreaded football. To me, football is the curse of sport in Scotland - there are no good players in the country - not a single Scot would make a European team never mind a World side. Swimmers might, cyclists certainly would, boxers could but football players? Never. The article had the sense to say - "Football clubs that have ruined more aspiring youngsters than they have brought on might have difficulty proving that they deserve public cash." Never was a truer word spoken but when it comes to spending money West Dunbartonshire finds it more convenient to give it to ------- football! It's a disgrace.

Recently the local authority published a sports pitches strategy. One of the findings was that there has been what Gordon Brown would call a "Zero percent increase" in participation in athletics. This has surprised no one in the club: no facilities + no encouragement by schools = no increase in take up! We need to recruit. In the early 1990's when the young athletes team was low in numbers (but still in the top three or four in the league) we asked each child to bring along one friend. This would have resulted in a 100% increase in membership - we only got 80% increase. The point of this post is to ask all members to make it a point to encourage friends and relatives to come along to training at the club. This goes for adults as well. WE NEED MEMBERS - it is not someone else's job. All members are responsible for the strength of the club. Do it.

Club Membership Part Two

There have been several comments - verbal and by email - since the first of these posts and some of the comments will be incorporated into this one, the second and last! I asked what the responsibilities of athletes were to their club and to their coach - I was pleased that one of the emails said 'our club not the club' because how you see it reflects what you see as your responsibilities if any to the club. The phrase that I got from David Bowman when I was a new member was "You do what your club needs you to do." That's fine but different people have different talents and different responsibilities away from the club and they must be borne in mind.If the club is seen as 'our club' then we will want to do what we can for it. Let's take athletes first.

The club provides members with training partners who often become good friends socially, training routines, coaching if you want it, training premises, information about races and often help with expenses and even the occasional social outing such as Brampton - Carlisle. In return for that it is not unreasonable to expect the athletes to support the club in the few races which matter to the club and determine its status nationally. There are seven main races in the cross country season which should be supported by senior club members - the County, District and National Relays, the County, District and National Championships and the Six Stage Relays. My opinion for what it's worth is that all racing members who are fit enough to do so should support the club in as many of these races as you can. It's clearly not my opinion alone as Peter Rudzinski has run in and completed 25 consecutive Nationals and 26 consecutive district championships. All club members used to do the championships. There are people in the club who were at the Brampton trip last year, supported by the club who have yet to run in a championship for the club this year! Club members should also run in club races - the Sinclair Trophy, the Hannah Cup and the Championships. It doesn't matter whether you are 'good enough' -whatever that means. A bulk of club men on the start line helps the morale of those who are the counting runners, they can help the club's position - on one occasion I was fifth club runner in the County Championships and helped the team to first place because I was one place ahead of Dumbarton's fourth runner. The extra point made the difference. Running in major championships also adds a new dimension to your own racing experience that will affect furure racing wherever it is done. Basically I am saying that it is the responsibility of club athletes to support the club in as many championship events as they can, health and work commitments permitting. Athletes working with a coach should always turn up in time, appropriately clad for the upcoming session and be prepared to start the warm up on their own if necessary.

Wider than that, they have the same responsibilities as all club members in any club anywhere. The very least they can do is to attend the Annual General Meeting. This is where the club's committee is held to account, where an oversight of the club's business and activities is possible and where every member can have his/her say in the running of the club. Of course if you have the time and you can help the Committee, ease the lot of existing Committee members, and develop your own skills in that direction, then you should do that but I would suggest not at the expense of your own running.

Club Membership

Some time ago there was a thread on the Scottish Athletics website Bulletin Board about the responsibilities of coaches to athletes. The coach was supposed to organise the coaching, the coach was supposed to have a fast track to physio or medical assistance when required, the coach was supposed to intervene for the athlete with the selectors in the case of unfair selections, the coach was supposed to help the athlete get sponsorship, etc. One coach had the temerity to suggest that some of the responsibilites heaped on his head were really down to the club. Then came a whole new thread: what should the club do for the athlete? The club should get entries in for team events, the club should provide training facilities. coaching, transport (or financial help for transport), advice on training and injuries, the club should this, that and the other.

Although very much an athletes' man (the sport is after all all about the competitors) I sent in a post that asked what the athletes responsibilities were. I expected simple things like turning up for training in time, supporting the club by attending functions, competing in the club uniform and so on. But....nothing came. Like nothing at all. Well, there were two emails to me privately. One said that he would not even attempt to answer the question in public. The other said that I was mad even to put the question. I don't think so. If we are afraid to put their responsibilities as members of a club or of a training group to our members, then we are failing them and failing the club or group.

What are the responsibilities of club members towards the club? I have some answers but just think about this and I'll come back to it in a couple of days - what are your responsibilities to the club of which you are a member?