Club Development Workshops – A Continuing Success!

[Dave Robson]

“Our club is a step closer to achieving Clubmark.” – candidate

The newly refurbished BATTS Club in Harlow played host to the Eastern Region Hot Topic Workshop held on Sunday 4th Jan 09. Some 20 attendees took part in a full day of workshops and updates. The BATTS team were a little nervous at the start since this was the first event following an extensive refit of their club premises, but it all proceeded smoothly.

The two workshops (Safeguarding and Protecting Children and the Role of Volunteer Coordinator) were lively affairs with good interaction and debate on the subject matter from the start, making the 3 hour sessions fly by.

“The Safeguarding and Protecting Children workshop gave a clear insight into what is required of all adults working with children.”

During the lunch break there was an opportunity to try out the new playing facilities, although the buffet lunch occupied most people for a large part of the break.

The afternoon saw presentations from Hertfordshire Competition Manager Amanda Robinson and ETTA Volunteer Programmes Manager Martin Ireland, focusing on the impact Competition Managers have had in promoting Table Tennis into Schools and how that fits into the English Schools Table Tennis competition structure.

National Development Manager Diccon Gray gave an update on Clubmark re-accreditation highlighting the need to keep club documentation up to date and if possible in one place. It was agreed by those present that once the hard work of pulling everything together had been completed, keeping it in order was a slightly easier assignment.

The event was closed with a Regional update from East RDO John Andrews emphasizing the good news that the Region was once again operating with an active committee with Brian Davison in the Chair, Mark Dare as Secretary, Treasurer, Barry Granger and Steve Rate, Regional Coaching Coordinator. The next task before them was to pull together a Regional Action plan.

The opportunity to network among TT colleagues, share ideas and best practice was also a key part of the day for everyone.

To find out more or to register for the club development workshop coming to your region soon please email Gina Rogers, Development Assistant, at gina.rogers@etta.co.uk

Click here for the Club Development Workshop leaflet.

By Gina Rogers

[Belisar]

The event was closed with a Regional update from East RDO John Andrews emphasizing the good news that the Region was once again operating with an active committee with Brian Davison in the Chair, Mark Dare as Secretary, Treasurer, Barry Granger and Steve Rate, Regional Coaching Coordinator. The next task before them was to pull together a Regional Action plan.

Decent peeps noted in these positions - shame no venue to hold the Essex Junior 4* and apparently no one to run it.

[Jase]

Mark Dare runs the Wensum club here in Norwich with his wife Lindsey. Absolutely superb people, they have changed the table tennis scene here in a few years bringing on some very talented youngsters, one of which is new member Tony Zeqiri

A top job done by top people!!!!

[TheMoose]

Everything solely depends on volunteers and those who if they do get a reward it is very low in relation the time involved in the running of tournaments or Clubs. The volunteers are sadly getting less and less with many only wanting to play the game rather than put something else into it.

I applaud anyone who puts time and effort into the Administration of Table Tennis, that includes this site which by the way is the best of any i have ever seen on the Net. All of which need some work without reward most of the time.

Well done as Jase has said to those who do top jobs, and others too.

Thats my little rant over by the way.