Newsletter – December 2006

CHC’s Glitz & Glam Night

The Dinner-Dance and Annual Awards evening will be on Saturday March 17th at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Chester. Tickets (£30 a head) will shortly be available from your team’s social rep. This is always a popular BIG night out, so don’t leave it till the last minute, book early!

New Shirts ??

Our current club shirt is now looking a little tired and dated. We have therefore decided to run another vote of players to see if you are in favour of changing the style of club shirt.

Over the next few weeks, captains will be asking your opinion and size preference. Sample shirts will be available for you to judge quality, sizes and design. If 66% of the membership is in agreement, the new design will be adopted.

Shirts will cost £20 each, and will become the official club shirt from the start of next season. Have your say!

Annual General Meeting

Just as exciting is our Annual General Meeting, which this year will be on THURSDAY APRIL 19th starting at 7.30 with team reports for men and women in section meetings, and then at 8.00 p.m. the whole club meeting.

We know that several people who have put in many hours of valuable service are stepping down next season. As well as several captaincies, we will be seeking fixture secretaries (mens and ladies); a social secretary; a publicity officer; youth co-ordinator and mens 5th team captain. Please discuss these roles with the current holders and in your teams and be prepared to help YOUR club progress in the season 2007-08.

Summer Plans

Festival ’07

lanning is well in hand for the 26th Chester Hockey Festival taking place May 25th-28th 2007. Ian Boothroyd has taken on the role of Festival Co-ordinator and is seeking assistance with a variety of tasks. Please see Ian for further details.

North Clubs Tournament (womens)

Chester has been selected as the venue for this prestigious event which is taking place on May 13th. Whilst we do not organise the competition, as host club we wish to make it a successful event. Please see Philippa Brooking or Pat Wells if you are willing to help in any capacity.

Interested in Umpiring?

We have been attempting to run another Level One umpires course for some time now. If you would like to qualify for this, please inform Keith Roper, or any committee member. The course can go ahead as soon as we have sufficient interest.

Youth Bursaries

This season we are again able to offer bursaries to our young players who have incurred additional expenses when playing representative hockey, for example by being involved with regional or national squads. Any junior member can apply by writing an application letter. This should be handed or posted to Geoff Venables by the end of March at the latest.

Sponsorship and Financial Prudence

This season we have enjoyed a higher level of sponsorship than in previous seasons. We are very grateful to the following companies for their financial support;

• BELL DEVELOPMENTS
• MEDHURST
• 3D ALUMINIUM PLAS

Some of our income comes from fund raising, but the main source of income is of course a combination of the annual subscription and weekly match fees.
This season we have been active in comparing the financial arrangements of Chester with other clubs. As part of this process we would also like to hear your views. Please complete the following questions and either print it out (pdf) and hand it to Geoff Venables, or e-mail a copy to Geoff geoff.venables@lineone.net

1. Do you think the balance of annual subscriptions and weekly match fees are at the right level?

• YES / NO / Don’t Know

2. If an increase in the clubs income was necessary, would you prefer annual subs or weekly match fees to rise?

• A raise in annual subs
• A raise in weekly match fees
• No particular preference

3. Alternatively should we reduce reimbursement of travel costs?

• YES / NO / Don’t Know