Greetings
Let me start this Newsletter off by a quote from the Presidents Message in a recent edition of the Wellington Surfcasting & Angling Clubs monthly Newsletter. This is a well timed message and if every club in the country had a similar resolution then we would see a great move forward. Read it carefully and apply it to your own club’s situation. Thank you Mike.
"Another season is almost over, for me this is a time of reflection, a time to analyse the season past, to think about things that went well and those that didn't. It is also a time to think forward to consider where the club is going and what steps are needed to initiate any change required to keep our club growing. This is an area that is hugely important, for without growth we can become as stagnant as those rock pools we see above the high tide mark. Most importantly of all is our younger membership, colts and juniors, our lifeblood; they must be supported in every possible way. To this end, next year, one of our committee member’s job will be solely to liaise with the colts (and of course their parents) and the junior section of the club."
Your new Executive Committee are working very well with a lot happening between meetings as well as at the meetings themselves. There is lots of exciting proposals for the future as well as trying to refine what we do and where we are going so that the best interests of our recreational fishing members are met. But this committee needs your support. We are hearing too often that requests for information or input appear to fall upon deaf ears and we are just not getting the responses required to make this a viable, alive and dynamic organisation meeting today’s needs.
If you don’t regularly receive or haven’t seen the last issue of the NZ Fishing News we suggest you find a copy. In it is the first of what is going to be a regular column on the NZACA compiled by Greg Smeal. Great work Greg and a big thank you to those at the Fishing News who are giving us this space free of charge. However (and there is that word again!) Greg needs your club input to make this column interesting, readable and relevant. The suggestion is that you nominate someone in your club (preferably with email availability) to act as the contact person between Greg and yourselves. To this end I have included a form for you to complete and return to me - Please please please please do not just put this aside and forget about it - do it now!
Photographs are also an important aspect of such NZACA exposure and the Editors of Tidelines are also requesting such. To this end we have decided to run an annual photograph competition. At the next AGM or Nationals Prize-giving we will give out a prize to the club (and/or photographer) who has supplied what is considered the best most useful picture for possible use in the Fishing News column or Tidelines. So again it is up to you. Don't forget to pass this information on to your members.
In the last Jottings we issued the challenge as put out by the Wairoa North Clyde Surfcasting Club to put up $50 (or more) to assist in the funding of the Members Manual. Not one club responded to this challenge !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do I need to say more ?
A number of people have requested the opportunity of buying a Members Manual in addition to the one they, or their family, were issued with when they joined the Association (and paid the $5 Joining Fee). The Executive have agreed to make these available at a cost of $20 each. Order through the national Office.
Money money money - makes the world go round and this organisation is no exception. Although things have been tight the affiliation fees generally cover our day to day running expenses - although our falling membership has meant less money available and this is a worry. But we need to build up our reserves to cover those unexpected items which crop up from time to time or to fund other things we would like to do. A number of years ago we ran a successful raffle and our Executive Members who carry the fund-raising portfolio are looking at repeating something similar. More about this later in the year but thoughts are at present there will be something in it for clubs as well as the Association.
Another advance notice - Next year is our 50th anniversary year and the Executive have agreed to issue a one-off special lapel badge. This will be a "gold" edition with only a limited supply. The price will be $10 each on a first in first served basis. Next month we will send out design details along with an order form
We hope that at the Nationals next year we will also have available special 50th year shirts and maybe other products as well.
Members of the Executive are also looking at other very special projects to launch during this important milestone year of this one of NZ oldest recreational fishing organisations
Let us be proud of our achievements, our history, of whom we represent, and for our future. As I have said so often this is YOUR ORGAINSATION and it is only AS GOOD AS YOU MAKE IT !
I have included as part of this mailing extracts from the NZRFC President's (Keith Ingram) Annual Report. This contains a lot of very good information. I would urge you to read the total report which can be found on the NZRFC website. The RFC Conference and AGM is being held in Hamilton this month and your Association is very much part of this important Body. Your membership of the NZACA supports the working of the RFC. If your Club (or any individuals in your club) are members in their own right of the RFC and can not make the conference, Bill Cronin (our Senior Vice President and RFC Board Member) is happy to act as your nominated Delegate. But this needs to be in writing and made in advance of the meetings. Contact me urgently if you would like Bill to be your Delegate.
Speaking of meetings, the Minister of Fisheries has agreed to meet with representatives of the NZACA in a one-off face-to-face meeting. We are very grateful to the Minister for making part of his valuable time available and our President, Mike Stempa, and others are meeting with him on the 17th. of this month. This is another example of your Association working to try and gain the best for its members and looking after your interests.
How are your Club plans going for attendance at the Nationals next March in New Plymouth ???? Are you getting the regular information from the Host Club ???? - if not contact me urgently. Your funding plans and maybe even accommodation requirements should be well on track by now to save disappointment.
Have you held a club casting day yet ???? Maybe joined in with some other club for a combined fun day. I know that Feilding, in conjunction with Pania, Wairarapa and others recently had a great day. Rotorua also had a day planned. Postal Casting forms were sent out with last month’s mail out. Let’s make this year’s competition bigger and more competitors than ever. There are great trophies and plenty of recognition of your efforts and the handicap system means all have a chance. Ring Dick Lash on 027 242 2549 if you want more information.
We will soon be publishing "seeding” lists of those who have regular competed at the Nationals, both in fishing and casting. We feel that this will give competitors an added incentive to attend the Nationals to defend their position on the seeding list. Something different but something that will add that little extra to our internal competitions. More about this later.
The “International Trophy” as presented by Bruce Alvey of Alvey Reels is now on permanent display of the foyer of Kilwell Sports in Rotorua. The “Kilwell Trophy” which we thought had gone missing has turned up and Kilwell are looking at revamping this very old trophy to make it more “display friendly”. Kilwell have a very fine and extensive museum of fishing memorabilia – if you have anything along those lines which maybe should not be lost or forgotten consider donating to Kilwell. We thank Kilwell for their agreement to display the new International trophy and update the Kilwell trophy and for their continued support of the NZACA.
Don’t forget to send in applications for any fine catches for consideration for Annual Awards, merit certificates etc and maybe even a record.
Read and circulate the Executive Meeting Minutes and have you updated your club information on the two websites ?
Graeme Dawber
YOUR Association Secretary
