News from the Club Secretary

Useful information looking forward to the 2025 season

On Monday 10th February the Management Committee met and there were a number of decisions made which affect the membership, details of which are set out below together with other useful information:

Annual Subscription

The Management Committee annually review the level of subscription for full members. The current annual subscription is £70. We still have concerns about future arrangements for maintaining the green given the Green Manager's ill-health (although it has improved over the last year) and the lack of volunteers coming forward to help out. We are still having to continue bringing in outside help on the green. Such an arrangement means the club has to pay for this help although the Management Committee have decided to keep the annual subscription for full members at £70 for the forthcoming year. 

In accordance with the club rules the annual subscription for full members (now £70) is due to be paid on or before the 1st March this year. The payment options are as follows:

If at all possible please pay online, otherwise at the coffee morning on the 1st of March, preferably by cheque. Should any member not wish to renew their membership I would be grateful if you would let me know as soon as possible please.

Opening Day Arrangements

At the Management Committee meeting on Monday 10th February it was agreed that Opening Day this year will take place on Sunday the 13th April. Lunch will be served at 1pm. After a photocall the Green will be officially opened at 2.30pm, followed by a “Spider” and then a mixed jumble. A notice has been put up in the Bower for members to add their names if they require lunch. A further email will be sent out shortly with more details. Obviously much work is necessary to prepare for Opening Day and the ensuing playing season and volunteers will be asked to come forward to help out.

Club Tour 2025

The itinerary has been put together for the club tour this year from the 16th May to the 19th May at a cost of £375 per person (singles £495):

Bacon butty and coffee/tea at Moffat House Hotel at Moffat;
*  Visit to the Riverside Museum in Glasgow. The museum is Glasgow's award-winning transport and technology museum. With over 3,000 objects on display there's everything from skateboards to locomotives, paintings to prams, and cars to a stormtrooper. The exhibits span several eras and one of the highlights of the museum is the recreated street scene, which provides a glimpse into Glasgow's past.;
*  Three night stay at the Buchanan Arms Hotel in Drymen near Loch Lomond, which includes dinner, bed & breakfast;
*  On the return journey we will visit Hopestoun House, a country house near South Queensferry on the shores of the Firth of Forth. There will be a guided tour followed by afternoon tea.
*  Bowls matches have been arranged by Match Secretary Mike Scott with Drymen, Balfon & Vale of Leven BCs and has received confirmation from the clubs that they can accommodate us. Vale of Leven has two greens so we will all be together on that day.

We are restricted to a party of 44 as we only have access to 20 double rooms and 4 single rooms. A notice has been posted in the Bower for people to put their names down if they wish to go on the tour. Currently there is one double room available. 

Winter Social Activities

Just a reminder of the planned programme of social events over the next two months:

Saturday 22nd February – Quiz Night

Saturday 22nd March – Ukulele Music Night

Notices are posted about these events in the Bower for you to put your names down if you wish to attend. It is important that we know how many will be attending for catering purposes.  Please support these events, they are important fund raising events for the club.

No Smoking Zone

Chairman John Proctor had suggested that smoking at the club only be allowed in the car park, not on the green, the green surrounds or in the Bower. Following discussion at the Management Committee a vote was taken on whether the matter should be discussed at the AGM last November and the majority were in favour. At the AGM the proposal was put to a vote and agreed by all the members present. Appropriate notices will require to be put up and this is in hand.

Ladies Duties on Club Nights

Ladies Secretary Ruth Hewetson and President Lesley Hewson had asked for clarification on whether the ladies on duty on club nights should be allowed to play bowls. At the AGM their proposal was that one of the ladies on duty can play bowls if she wishes on the Tuesday evening and the other lady if she wishes on the Friday evening. The proposal was put to a vote and agreed by all the members present. 

Bower Improvements following the break in – 18th May 2024

Following the break-in at the club on Saturday the 18th May  repairs to the door where the break-in occurred were carried out by Carlisle Window Systems at a cost of £120. This included replacing the glass panel with a flat panel and doing the same on the other door out to the green. To replace the two damaged 4-drawer filing cabinets cost nothing as club member Ray Clarke provided the club with one 4-drawer cabinet and two 3-drawer cabinets free of charge from his place of work which they were disposing of anyway. Due to the damage caused to the doors behind the bar the Management Committee decided to  refurbish the whole sink unit behind the bar. The contractor who refurbished most of the kitchen, Jordan Ewbank, has finished most of the work with just one door to replace behind the bar. The refurbishment of the sink units and cupboards and new tiling is a vast improvement. 

Honours Boards

The honours boards have all been updated with last year's winners.

Management Committee Minutes

Copies of Management Committee minutes are available to read in a wall box next to the kitchen. The latest minutes of the meeting held on Monday the 10th February are now in the box.

League Fixtures

Most of the fixtures for the various leagues have arrived and the Match Secretary, Mike Scott, has had the full fixture list for the forthcoming season printed. The 2025 fixture cards will be available at the next coffee morning. 

The various League starting dates are as follows:

Stan Bragg League – Monday 5th May v West End (A) – Team Captain: John Sibley

Eden Valley League – Tuesday 22nd  April v Appleby A (H) – Team Captain: David White

Ladies Cumbria League – Wednesday 14th May v Aspatria/Silloth (A) – Team Captain: Hazel Jefferson

Carliol Thursday League – Thursday 24th April v Subscription A (A) –  Team Captain: John Proctor

Carliol Over 55s League – Friday 2nd May – v Subscription B (A) - Team Captain: Mike Scott

On display on the club notice boards are sheets for each League for members to indicate that they are interested in playing in the league teams. If you wish to participate ensure that your name is down on the league sheet you wish to play in. It is from these sheets that teams will be selected by the Team Captains.