Newsletter - BROADBRIDGE HEATH TENNIS CLUB

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SPRING 2013


Dear Members,
I am writing this newsletter in anticipation of some spring tennis despite the weather outside still looking decidedly like winter. The days are definitely growing longer and spring is just around the corner signalling warmer and hopefully drier weather.  Regardless of the weather the good news is that the courts continue to play well. A working party has been organized to tidy-up the scrub around the courts in early April.

New Developments
You may have read recently in the County Times that the cricket club has been awarded a significant grant to provide additional changing room facilities. The Club supported their application and these new facilities together with the kitchen and bar areas will be available for use by our members from the beginning of the new season. We have been allocated two keys to access the club house which are held by committee members and are available to members on request. Related to this development is the possibility that the old path from the club house to the courts could be reopened.  A decent path together with access to the cricket club car park and club house would be a significant improvement for our members especially for those hosting inter-club matches. The committee believes that this project could be majority funded by a Biffaward grant which was used to help fund the court resurfacing project in 2010.

Membership
This time last year I stated that I wanted to see Club membership numbers increase by at least 20% and for the courts to be used by as many members and paying non-members as possible. Last season saw membership numbers at the same level as the previous year (91) with a change in the composition of members with more adults and less family and junior members. This meant an 11% increase in club revenue. Whilst this is good news from a financial point of view it doesn’t address our underlying objective of increasing membership. A source of new members will be from the 800 new homes currently being built south of Broadbridge Heath. With this in mind the committee is reviewing the best way of marketing the club to attract new members and in particular junior and family members in conjunction with our comprehensive website which now includes a twitter page.

Annual Subscriptions
Those of you attending the AGM in November will recall that members voted for a small increase in membership fees (the first in 4 years) on the basis that whilst the subs represent excellent value for money there is a long-term requirement to continue to accumulate reserves for future capital expenditure. Membership fees will increase by 2% for the new season except for juniors and students which will remain unchanged.

Other Club Information

  • Membership renewal forms are available on the website which can be completed on-line, printed then posted to Peter Ballard at 23, Church Road, Broadbridge Heath, Horsham, RH12 3LD; or e-mailed to bbhtc@btinternet.com. Membership subscriptions can be paid either by cheque, which should be made payable to Broadbridge Heath Tennis Club, or by bank transfer for those members with internet banking (contact Tim Shelton on 01403 261342 for internet banking information).

  • Court bookings can now be made up to 4 weeks in advance via the website.

  • Social tennis sessions have been scheduled again this season for men and ladies in addition to our traditional weekly mixed club sessions.  The men’s sessions will takes place on the first Saturday of each month and the Women’s every Monday afternoon, please see details on the website.

  • Junior joint membership with the cricket club is available.

  • Coaching details including booking forms can be found on the website.

  • Wimbledon ballot BBQ and winter mixed doubles final will be held on 5th May from 2pm. Please note, if you wish to be included in the Club’s annual draw for Wimbledon tickets you must be a British Tennis Member and complete the application form, returning it to Ann Lines annlines1@hotmail.co.uk. Tickets for the BBQ will be available nearer the time and details will appear on the website.

  • Club championship will commence in May providing more opportunity to complete matches in time for the finals to be played over the week-end of 7th/8th September. Details will be sent out with membership renewal packs and will appear on the website. Match Scores for club competitions will be posted on the website.

  • Club supper will be organised to coincide with the finals week-end.

  • Engraved trophies will be presented to the Club champions at the Club’s AGM in November.

  • Twitter - The BBHTC twitter page is a convenient way of communicating items of general interest. Club members and the public can view the twitter page on: http://bbhtc.net/follow-us.html .


I do hope that you will renew your membership again this year and will feel able to support the club in any way that you can.

I look forward to seeing you on court; have a great season.

Mike Coombs
Club Chairman


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