Category: General News

The Ramblings of . . .

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During the first lockdown our Men’s Vice Captain, Mike Taylor, started writing poems as a way of passing the time and grew to become an (almost) daily Facebook post to share with his online ‘friends’, the subject matter covers social distancing, restricted travel and most importantly praise for the work undertaken by the many people who selflessly worked on in very demanding circumstances.

At his own expense Mike has had a booklet containing his first 25 poems professionally designed and printed and has so far raised a total of £300 which has been donated to two charities, JPK Project which was formed to provide opportunities for people with learning difficulties and People Matter which provides free information, advice and guidance to local jobseekers, whether or not they are currently working, Mike is a volunteer at this charity.

JPK Project is the chosen charity for the Eastbourne Open Bowls Tournament which Mike runs, the booklet is £5 and can be ordered online via the tournament website https://www.eobt.club or you can contact Mike direct on 07702 244855 or by email email hidden; JavaScript is required

All proceeds going to these two charities, JPK Project and People Matter

Well done Mike, they are a great read.

Member’s Comments

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Letter received 2/11/20

“Dear Mr Chairman. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you, your entire committee and all the volunteers concerned, for the efforts achieved on behalf of the membership in keeping the club open and sanitised, allowing bowls to continue. It is sad there is another lockdown on the horizon, we all look for better times in the future. Thank you all in appreciation and with gratitude” 

The following comments have been posted on our facebook page . . .

“Hi all, I would just like to say a massive thank you to all staff, volunteers and bowlers for all that you have done to make sure we have been as safe as possible while playing the game we all love, such a shame we are having to close but fingers crossed it’s only for the month. Looking forward to seeing you all very soon. Take care, stay safe from all of the Morphett’s x”

“Have our last roll up tonight with friends. Sad it’s come to lock down again. Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard to keep the Bowls club going and in a safe way. Hope to see you in December. Xx”

“Just a quick shout out to all the members who worked so hard to open up the club and make us all feel safe. Much appreciated. See you all soon xx”

“Thank you to Michelle and staff for all the lovely meals they provide for us. Take care everyone x”

Message from the Chairman

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Dear Members

I’m sure your aware by now that the club will shut its doors after the last session of bowls on Wednesday 4th November and hopefully reopen on 3rd December, subject to Government approval. 

Rest assured we will be planning for reopening with a full agenda for the Christmas period including a couple of Mixed Drives and internal matches. Meanwhile detailed below is what will happen with booked rinks , leagues etc.

Leagues

The last league matches will be tonight and when they resume they will restart as shown on the schedule . Outstanding games from the period when we were closed will be played at the end of the schedule. i.e. If we resume on Thursday 3rd December, that will be the team you are already scheduled to play.

Booked rinks

Will stop from Wednesday 9.30pm and start again on the schedule under the correct week.

Ladder league

Will continue for an extended period when we re-open.

Club competitions

19/20 finals will still take place, being played at the beginning of January. The date is to be confirmed. This year’s club competitions will still go ahead from January. If you would like to enter any competition please email us and you will be entered. To remind you, the competitions are Singles, Novice singles, Pair’s, Mixed Pairs, Australian Pairs. If you are an individual player and would like to pair up, please us know and we will try and find you a partner.

AGM

The AGM will now take place on Friday 15th January 6pm

We will keep you updated on any changes, meanwhile please keep safe, follow Government guidelines and keep your fingers crossed that the rest of the Country follow suit and then we can all get back to bowling again. 

Take care

Dave Parks
Chairman 

Annual General Meeting

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Annual General Meeting – Notice of meeting

Notice is hereby given that the 43rd ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the Association will be held on Friday 27th November 2020 at 6pm. The meeting will be held at the bowls club, 5 Hampden Park Drive, Eastbourne, BN22 9QR.

Numbers are limited to 30 attendees due to Covid-19 guidelines, 12 of which will be current management. Therefore, there are 18 places available for members. If you would like to attend, please register your interest with Naomi.

Three directors are to be appointed.

At the meeting, a ballot will be held (only FULL members may vote) The three nominees receiving the highest number of votes will hold office for up to three years.

Nomination forms for the election of Directors are available from Naomi. The nomination forms must be returned to me no later than close of business on Friday 17th November 2020.

Copies of the Agenda, Annual report and Accounts will be available and will be emailed to each member. If you do not have access to email, then please ask for a paper copy. Those members unable to attend the AGM may appoint a proxy. Forms are available at the Green Stewards desk or Secretary. Club Social members may attend this meeting as observers only.

 

By order of the Management Committee

Naomi Davies

Association Secretary/Centre Manager

 

Annual General Meeting – Election of Directors

Election of Directors

There are 3 vacancies for Directors.

The following members have been nominated and seconded for the management committee.

Malcolm Goman – Standing

Teresa Hubbins – Standing 

Liz Parks – Re – Standing

Should the number of nominees exceed three, there will be a ballot at the AGM on Friday 27th November. The nominees will be appointed to serve on The Council of Management for a period of three years.

Sunday Roast Is Back – Important Information Please Read . . .

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Dear Members,

Our Sunday Roast starts this Sunday 25th October, the cost is £10 for two courses.

There will be two sittings allowing 20 people per sitting.

The first sitting will start at 12.30 -2pm

The second sitting starts at 1pm-2.30pm.

The only way of booking your Sunday Roast is to contact Michelle direct, either by email email hidden; JavaScript is required or phone 07983520461 Tuesday to Saturday. Your booking will be confirmed. Remember when booking that a maximum of 6 people only allowed on a table.

We welcome families, however children must be able to remain seated throughout the meal. 

To comply with COVID-19 guidelines we please ask you:

  1. To sanitise your hands before entering restaurant.
  2. To wear a mask until seated.
  3. Table service only for meal & bar drinks.
  4. Put your mask back on when leaving the table for any reason.
  5. Card payments only.

If you are bowling 10-12 and then having a pre-booked roast you can come into the restaurant to be seated before 12.30 but food will not be served before this time. 

We welcome you all back for our Sunday lunch! Click here to view menu

Weekly Information will be written up on the big board in the restaurant informing you of the roast for the following Sunday including a vegetarian option. 

Kind Regards 

Michelle 

Restaurant Manager/Cook

Bowlswear Direct

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Bowlswear Direct will be at the club on Tuesday 20th October 10:30 – 14:30

The shop will be in the boardroom and it will be a one in, one out system.

Should you want to try clothes on you will have to buy them and try them on at home. You will be able to exchange them on their next visit if they do not fit.

We Welcome Back ‘Memory Lane’ Dementia Group

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We were really pleased to welcome back visitors from ‘Memory Lane’ Dementia  group, returning for the first time after many months away.

In addition to our volunteers we are thrilled that one of our highly qualified coaches, Denise Smith, offered her services and equipment to enable the group to play a variety of games, followed by tea and cake of course !!  

Next session: To Be Confirmed subject to Covid restrictions . . .

Club Competitions 2020/21

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Welcome to the new season and a brief intro to how we hope the new season will run. This year, the only internal Club competitions will be Singles and Pairs initially, with Triples and possibly Fours being introduced if the Covid situation allows. Last year’s competitions are still active, aiming for a Finals Weekend on November 7th/8th. However, the Bowls Committee have decided that the new national Rule of 6 means that the 2 Fours competitions, Mens and Mixed will both have to be cancelled totally.

As well as the regular Leagues, the Ladder League and the weekly roll-ups, players are encouraged to enter a variety of competitive knockout formats played over the whole season and culminating in the Finals Weekend in April 2021. Last year, over 200 players entered one or more of the Competitions.

There will be 10 competitions starting in November, 4 Singles and 6 Pairs. An Entry form is attached to this email, with further copies on demand. There is a closing date in early November so the early rounds can get under way soon after. There will be an entry fee of £3 per person for each competition and one person will be asked to be responsible in each pair for communication. As well as a handsome Cup or Trophy, (as currently displayed in the Restaurant), there will be prize money for both winning and losing Finalists.

The Singles matches are played as first to score 21 shots. Each player has four bowls, and an independent Marker needs to be arranged to keep score and do any necessary measuring. The Men’s and Women’s Championship are open to all full members. The Novice competitions are for all members in their first 3 years of playing indoors, but only if they have not won any Competition or other recognised award, either at Eastbourne or any other club either indoor or outdoor. The Mixed singles has not proved popular and is dropped.

Pairs matches are played over 21 ends, with four bowls for each player. The Leads play all their four bowls before the skips. In the event of the scores being equal when all ends have been played, an extra end or ends will be played until a decision is reached. There are 5 competitions, Men’s, Women’s, and Mixed, and 2 Senior competitions where both players must be aged 65 or more. We are also introducing a new Australian pairs competition, with a weekly Australian League to be introduced later in the year.

Full rules about arranging matches, substitutions, dead ends and play-by dates can be viewed by clicking here.

COVID-19 SAFE Praise from local MP Caroline Ansell

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We recently had a visit from our local Member of Parliament Caroline Ansell.
Our Chairman contacted Caroline several months ago to ask her to lobby the government on our behalf when the club was unable to open. She has communicated with us over this period and came in for a cup of tea and chat. As her video shows she was full of praise for all the measures we have taken to ensure we are COVID 19 safe.
 

Membership renewals 2020/21 – A message from the Chairman.

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Dear Members

I am writing this message to appeal to you to pay your full subscription for the 2020/21 season whether you intend to return to the club in October or not until a vaccine for Covid-19 has been found.

Like all businesses we have ongoing costs and still want to invest in the future of the club.  Now is not the time, I believe, in offering discounts or rebates but hopefully when “normal service” is resumed the club may be able to do something to recognise the support of its’ members.

We will have a much better idea of our financial position going forward when we know the level of subscription income. It is quite clear we will have no or very little income from other normal revenue sources for the foreseeable future.

Club matches, social functions, room rental and private functions that have raised revenue to support the club finances are unlikely to happen for some time.

This is an extremely challenging time for the club and we all want to see it survive and prosper and be in a secure financial state for the years ahead. Full subscriptions will allow the Management Committee to invest where possible so that our facilities and levels of service are maintained.

The Management Committee really does appreciate the continued support and loyalty of its’ members during this difficult period but do know that the right course of action will pay dividends in the future. It is, I believe, the only realistic course of action for the clubs continued success, enabling the club to bounce back from this terrible pandemic.

Both the Bowls and Management Committees are planning ahead to provide both bowling and social opportunities for the new season. Matches and some external competitions may not take place at this time and social events will be scaled down in numbers attending, ensuring that social distancing is adhered to.

Stay safe and I look forward to seeing you all in the club soon.

Dave Parks                

Chairman 

11th September 2020