A new direction secures a bright future for the Club

Fran Coggins returns in an expanded President\'s role and Toptenn takes on a Management role

This is my President\'s Report, or the Secretary\'s report, or the Treasurer\'s report!!!! Take your pick! Having been a member of the Burwood Tennis Club for over 30 years, it is my disappointing duty to advise that due to a lack of volunteers, I am now back on the Committee of Management as all three of the above positions. Over the last few years, we have had Colin, Greg, Natalie and others hanging in with the Committee in the hope that other people would step forward to give their time to serve as Committee Members. This has not happened, and we now have to follow a new path to preserve the Club we have all supported for so long.

Before moving to the future, I would like to thank all the Committee members from last year, and previous years, for their dedication and professionalism in trying circumstances. We will have a functioning Committee of Management, but many of the tasks previously administered by members of the Committee will be undertaken by our appointed Administration team - Toptenn Tennis Promotions.

You will have noted the extra item on your subscription renewal, being a $30 administration fee. This fee will be passed on to Toptenn to undertake the day to day running of competitions, court and clubhouse hire, and all tennis related matters involving the Club, the Clubhouse and it\'s members. Toptenn will liaise with the Committee on a regular basis, and all financial and statutory matters will be referred through them as per previous practice. In expressing my disappointment on the way things have changed, I am certainly not pessimistic about the future. Toptenn, with Peter Owen at the helm, has some very exciting plans for the expansion and growth of tennis, and particularly our Club. I am sure we shall notice quite a few changes over the next 12 months, and the excitement that Toptenn exudes will rub off on all of us over this time. Better communication with members, is one of their first commitments, more use of our website and email facilities. So, if you have not advised the membership secretary of your email address, please give your details to any of the Toptenn coaches so that they can keep you up to date.

I hope that as members, we are not considering this change as a negative - quite the contrary. I am very excited about it. A Committee has volunteers who give as much time as possible in fulfilling their roles, but sometimes, outside commitments must take priority. Peter and his team are committed to tennis - it is their life and their livelihood. We shall have dedicated people looking after our Club, and our interests, ensuring that the Burwood Tennis Club will be around for many years into the future. If you have any concerns or queries about the new structure, or any questions in general, please do not hesitate to contact me - my details are on our website.

Here\'s to a wonderful new life for our Club.