HELP
Have I got your attention now?
 Good !   Because we have a problem!!  Well a problem in some areas anyway. It is the old chestnut of
“COMMUNICATION”

 I know you secretaries are busy people and often you get a heap of material in the mail from this office that needs your attention. Your Club meeting was last week and you have to try and remember to pass on all of this info at your next Committee Meeting or Club Day which seems ages away and it is so easy to forget with everything else you have on your plate. Yes we do understand because we "have been there - done that and bought the Tee shirt".

One solution is for the club to appoint a "NZACA LIAISON OFFICER", someone to lighten the load of the overworked Secretary and whose sole responsibility is to be the channel of communication between the Association and your Club Members. Our communication would then be with this person (rather than the Club Secretary) and they would become our face and our voice at your Club and because they would not have all the hundred and one other things to do and remember they could concentrate on ensuring messages get across, information is made known and required responses attended to. They would be the "hotline" and the "expert" on all things regarding the NZACA.

So why not give this suggestion some very careful consideration?

Why are we re-suggesting this now?   Well this mailing alone has a heap of reading and a number of matters that require attention. Plus of late we have heard a familiar story that grass-root club members in some clubs simply don't know what's going on. Information has not got beyond the Secretary or the Committee. We would like very much to put out a regular Newsletter in sufficient quantities for every Club Member to get one but finances simply do not allow such. This is your members' Association and they have the right, and deserve to know all about, and make the best use of what their Association can offer. Communication is the key.

Here endeth the first lesson!   Seriously though, this matter is of real concern to your Executive and is a matter that needs to be addressed and this suggestion is maybe one way to help achieve the aims. So do not brush it aside but talk about it amongst your mates.

Now carry on and read what all of this mail etc. is all about this month

Thanks
Graeme

First of all we must say a big hello and welcome to the Fishos at the new club in the Western Bay of Plenty. The former Waihi Fishing & Casting club has reconstituted itself as the Katikati-Waihi Fishing Club. I know we will be seeing some of their members in Napier next March. Put them on your Club Newsletter mailing list - their contact address is 2 Carrisbrook Street, Katikati.

Talking of clubs changing names - the Oakura Club has a name change to reflect another aspect of fishing they have entered into. They are now the Oakura Surfcasting & Kayak Fishing Club. I think we may see them in the boating section at Napier next year.

I trust and hope that all of your plans to be at Napier in March are well advanced. You would have had the Entry Forms by now (contact me ASAP if you haven't). I think we are going to have some of those kangaroos hopping across the Tasman to join us so we have to show them how to fish like we do with the rugby, the league and the netball !!!

I had a quick look at the two websites (www.nzaca.co.nz and www.fishing.net.nz) and I am afraid the vision was not good. If I wanted to find out about your club I most probably would have been out of luck - nothing there !
We have been told now that unless we make use of the www.fishing.net.nz site we are going to lose it !
This site alone receives over 20,000 hits a month, and I know many look at the NZACA pages because of the inquiries I get. Look what your club is missing out on !
There is only a limited amount we can do from this office and clubs can have direct access to the fishing.net.nz site to put what they like on there, and we have an excellent webmaster who will assist you in any way possible on our very own nzaca.co.nz site.
So move into the 21st century and make the best of the opportunities modern communications can offer!

Trophies - These now need to be polished and returned to our Trophies Officer, Kevin Pulman, at 24 West Harbour Drive, Massey, Auckland.

Has your Club invited our Visitation Officer yet to a Club Day or Club Meeting?  Ph 07 323 9109

Right now into all of this other mail herewith enclosed.

Most of it is to do with the forthcoming AGM and your ability to cast a Postal Proxy Vote. This means those who cannot get to the AGM can still have a say, and also means the AGM can be shorter because most of the voting items have already been dealt with.

We have a number of matters relating to our Nationals and these are the result of the workings of the Select Committee and your response to the questionnaire that was sent out.

Then there are some proposed changes to the Constitution as far as it affects Association Officers and the Executive.

We would like the actual voting papers back as soon as practical (yes I know your club does not meet over Xmas) and certainly no later than mid February.

 Well that's my lot, except to wish you all a Merry Xmas, a Happy New Year and successful fishing  

 

                                                Graeme Dawber

                                                                        YOUR Association Secretary