2^nd July 2009

Dear SMRAC member or parent,

I trust you are enjoying the summer and the good weather has spurred you on to new personal best performances.

You may remember that in February I wrote to all club members detailing our many successes and also asking you to consider how you might be able to help the club:

It is three years since Richmond and Twickenham AC moved to St Mary’s University College and became St Mary’s Richmond Athletic Club. Those three years have seen membership grow massively, teams competing at increasingly high levels, and more opportunities being given to people young and old to compete in a sport that we as a committee hold dear to our hearts. With progress, growth and development comes work for the volunteers of the club. It is my opinion though that the work of running the club falls on too few shoulders. If the club is to continue growing or even to remain operating as it is then it is imperative that we engage more people in the processes of coaching and team management. I would urge all members and their families or friends to consider whether they have any spare time to contribute to the club as we aim to keep providing the excellent service we currently provide. Do let any member of the committee know what commitment you might be able to make and we’ll be able to find a role to suit your circumstances. Together we can continue to provide opportunities for people to achieve all they can as athletes.

The response to this note was staggeringly small and things are now reaching something of a head. Too few people are involved in running St Mary’s Richmond Athletic Club and unless more people volunteer to get involved then there is a real chance that key personnel, myself included, will decide they have no option but to walk away from the club and contribute to the sport through other channels. To put it bluntly the future of the club is in doubt if we can’t recruit more volunteers to help us run it.

I would be very grateful if you could read through the job descriptions accompanying this letter and ask yourself if you might be able to help by filling one of the roles. Some of these are new roles and some are roles that current committee members have been carrying out in addition to their main club role. Perhaps you think you might be able to fill part of a role, would like to share it with someone else, or you feel you have some other skills you think would benefit the club. Whatever the case may be, please speak to a member of the committee, ask questions and ultimately let Tim Gutch (Club Secretary) or myself know that you are interested.

Together, I hope we can continue to build a strong future for athletes and the sport of athletics in Richmond and the surrounding areas. I look forward to hearing from you very soon.

Yours in sport,

Noel Stoddart

Club Chairman

noelstoddart@aol.com - 07985 595281