From the President:

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Dear Members

As your new president, I value our club's nearly 100-year history. It's important to me that we keep the friendly, welcoming, and inclusive vibe we've always had. With new board members and six new members joining us in July alone, plus the excitement around our new bar, BBQ area, and the Studholme Trophy games, there's a real buzz in the air! While we cherish our past, we're open to small changes that can make the club and the game even better for everyone. We're proud of our history and excited for the bright future ahead for our members and community.

One way we're honoring our history while making small changes is by reviewing the rules for the Studholme Trophy. This year’s fierce competition highlights the tournament's spirit, but the current rule #2 doesn’t clearly define what playing for your area means. This lack of clarity could lead to imbalances in teams over time as new boundaries are drawn to represent the changing population within the Upper Clutha area.

The Stadium Committee will soon meet to discuss two key items on the agenda:

The Studholme Trophy: Define “various areas,” as the current rules don’t stipulate what that means.
Club Tournaments: To accommodate our members who work, we aim to ensure that club tournaments are held on weekends whenever possible. This includes reviewing the format of club tournaments—Mixed Pairs, Triples, and Fours.
If you have any ideas that could help address these points, please email, call, or text Mark Daniels or contact any Stadium Committee member—Margaret Parker, Tom Malcolm, Murray Finn.

1) Introduction to Volunteering at the Club

I'm proud to inherit such a well-run and vibrant club, thanks to our dedicated volunteers. Our smooth operations and successes are due to the countless hours and effort of our members. Your commitment is essential to maintaining the high standards we all cherish.

Situation Vacant(ing)

We’re on the hunt for someone to take over as treasurer from Marilyn, who has done a fantastic job but is ready for a well-deserved break. With over 160 members in our club, we’re confident there’s a great volunteer out there. No finance background needed—just a passion for taking on a new challenge! This role is a fantastic way to make a meaningful contribution to our club. If you’re feeling a bit unsure or worried about support, don’t be! The board is here to offer full backing and training, ensuring you’re never left in the lurch. And if, after learning more about the role, you feel it’s not the right fit, that’s perfectly okay—just let me know.

Call Mark 0272202786 for a no-obligation chat.

Volunteers Social Hour

Hey, amazing *volunteers! The board is throwing a social hour just for you. Join us for drinks and nibbles on us as we celebrate the fantastic work you do. It’s our way of saying thanks and having a good time together. See you there!

Friday, September 27th, 5:30 PM at the club rooms — Look for RSVP closer to the time.

*Wondering what is a Volunteer at Wanaka bowls club?

If your name appears in our current WBC bowls handbook under responsibilities or has any of the following next to it—Volunteers, Controllers, Convenors, Delegates, Managers, or Committee—or if you have been part of any building or renovating project, you're definitely one.

2) Summer Program

I know it’s still winter, but I can almost smell the sausages cooking in our new BBQ area, which means one thing—summer is just around the corner!

As our town evolves, so does our club's demographic. We’re excited to welcome more first-time bowlers and members with busy work schedules. To accommodate these changes, we’ve got some great new offerings:

Weekly Coaching & Games with Simon: Join Simon every Wednesday from 5:30 to 6:30 PM for coaching sessions and friendly games. It’s a fantastic opportunity to practice your skills or enjoy a match against fellow members. Kicking off October 2nd!

Junior Coaching Sessions with Marilyn: Marilyn is bringing back her popular coaching sessions for both women and men (Jrs 1-5) every Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 AM, starting October 4th. We provide the bowls—just wear comfortable flat-soled shoes and clothes.

A big thank you to Fin McRae, who is passing the baton of the Men’s Match Committee to Murray Finn. We appreciate Fin’s dedication and skill in this crucial role. We’re excited to see how Murray will bring new ideas to running tournaments, and if you have any suggestions or ideas on what you’d like to see, please reach out to him. I’m sure he’d love to hear from you!

Looking forward to a fun and active summer with everyone—of course, we have to finish winter first.

Good Bowling
Mark Daniels
Club President
...and if you’ve read this far—A special shout-out to the Hawea supporters at the Studholme Trophy: colourful and noisy, which is exactly what we want more of.

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