MEMBERS’ HANDBOOK 2017/18 THIS HANDBOOK SERVES AS A GUIDE TO NEW AND EXISTING MEMBERS AND CONCERNS THE GOVERNANCE OF THE CLUB, ITS FACILITIES, IMPORTANT SAFETY MATTERS, SQUAD PROTOCOLS AND CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS HARD COPIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR REFERENCE BEHIND THE BAR STAR CLUB MEMBERS’ HANDBOOK 2017/18 CONTENTS Section Page 1 A Club History 3 2 Management Structure 4 3 Facilities 6 4 Squads & Kit 8 5 Equipment Allocation 11 6 Events and Volunteering 12 7 Sponsors 14 8 Safety 15 9 Appendices 1 Equipment Allocation by Squad 20 Boat Usage Systems 22 Rowing Terminology 23 Constitution Designed by: Ingrid Holder 2 STAR CLUB MEMBERS’ HANDBOOK 2017/18 The Club’s principal ambition has been to provide facilities to enable local athletes to compete at the highest possible level. Star Club was formed by former National Service members of RAF Cardington Rowing Club that had distinguished itself in high performance racing for a number of years. The club won the Jackson Trophy for the Such was the bond between these young men (and fastest provincial crew at the Head of the River others at RAF Henlow) that they opted to remain in Race and has gone on to win the Trophy a further 5 Bedford on completion of their National Service and times; the last occasion being in 2011. became founder members of the Club. The introduction of Junior rowing at the Club, Many are still regular attendees. which with the support of the Poynter The Club’s irst president was W S Robertson CBE. Charitable Trust has lourished to the point where the Ted Poynter was the irst captain and coach. Junior Squad is an important part of the Club and receives enthusiastic support from its members. The Club’s irst premises were a converted timber Thanks to the support from the Poynter Charitable store, about 100 metres upstream from Poynter’s Trust, the Club itself and other charitable donations, Boathouse, the Club’s current site. notably in recent times, the Harpur Trust, the Junior Squad is managed by a full time Junior Rowing Coach. This has helped the Squad to enjoy successes at Another important milestone occurred in National Championships and Henley and for athletes 1972 when the Club merged with Bedford to enjoy international recognition. Ladies Rowing Club to form the irst mixed rowing club in Bedford. In 2001, Miriam Taylor won a Gold Medal in the Lightweight Coxless Pairs at the World Championships. The Club has a proud record of nurturing future international athletes, competing at World Championships and the Olympic Games in Seoul, Atlanta, Barcelona and Sydney, where in 2000 Tim Foster won a Gold Medal competing in the Coxless Fours with Steve Redgrave, Matthew Pinsent and James Today, the Club is a vibrant Cracknell. mix of athletes wishing to compete at the highest level and those that wish to enjoy rowing at a local level or indeed, as a recreational sport. It has a thriving Masters squad and a Recreational squad. Thanks to the generosity of its principal sponsor, Ceetak Ltd, it has an enviable leet of boats and a well‐equipped clubhouse that underpins an active social scene. As its history has shown, it is open to all, and is proud to accommodate all levels of ambition of its members. Designed by: Ingrid Holder 3 STAR CLUB MEMBERS’ HANDBOOK 2017/18 Responsibility for the overall control of the Club is devolved to the Management Board (MB), who meet every third Thursday of every month. They discuss reports received from the principle oficers and other matters brought to attention. Under the Club’s Constitution (See Appendix 9c), the MB comprises no more than 10 persons, including the Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and the Club Captain. The current members of the MB are: Chairman and President Elect Secretary Treasurer Simon White Rebecca Thompson Jo French Club Captain Welfare and Safeguarding President / Elected Member Ally Satchwill Janet Tredget David Dixon Elected Member Elected Member Elected Member David Rainbow Clive Thompson Ian Donald Elected Member Elected Member Nicky Durrant Dominic Hawes Sub‐Groups The MB will also receive reports from sub groups, notably: Rowing Strategy Premises Group Equipment Events Membership Group (RSG) Chair: President Chair: Ivan Higgins Responsibility: Ian Responsibility: Responsibility: Ingrid Donald, George Holder, Sacha Lynch Aendees: Members: Barry Events Secretary: Green, Lyn Parsons, French Nicky Durrant Aim: Annual Club Captain Katrina Payne, Pam membership Swain Umpires: David Squad Captains Aim: The provision subscripons & and maintenance of Johnson Equipment maintenance of the equipment to enable database which Officers Aim: Phased Marshals: Ian each squad to pursue includes important maintenance of the Donald Chairman it’s objecves. informaon detailing boathouse and first members’ squads, floor facilies Race Soware: skills sets & including of the bar & George French & Aim: Understand volunteering kitchen, to ensure Steve Sangster strategic objecves of credenals. Payment required staffing is each squad, assess of the subscripon resourced to equipment needs & entles the member maximise the net make to a car parking income, to maintain recommendaons to scker. the MB. the 5* Hygiene Rang from the Local Authority. Designed by: Ingrid Holder 4 STAR CLUB MEMBERS’ HANDBOOK 2017/18 Election of Club Captain The Club Captain is elected each year by members at a Special General Meeting in June/July. At the same meeting, the annual subscription for the subsequent year is also approved. Management Board Elections The MB is elected annually at the Annual General Meeting in October each year. The Chairman oversees each MB meeting and is responsible for the allocation of duties to MB members and is answerable to Club members, notably through questions at the Annual General Meeting. There is no requirement for the Chairman to be the President Elect. The President is primarily responsible under the Constitution for liaison with the Club’s Vice‐Presidents and there is no requirement for the President to be a member of the MB. Membership of the President has varied according to the individuals concerned and the matters affecting the Club at that time. The election of Vice Presidents is at the discretion of the membership. Nominations are made by the MB for consideration at the Annual General Meeting, normally as a result of outstanding service to the Club over a prolonged period. Club Structure You can see below the structure of the club including the Management Board and Squad Captains. Chairman and President Elect Simon White Secretary Welfare and Safeguarding Treasurer President / Elected Member Rebecca Thompson Janet Tredget Jo French David Dixon Elected Member Elected Member Club Captain Elected Member Clive Thompson Ian Donald Ally Satchwill David Rainbow Elected Member Elected Member Nicky Durrant Dominic Hawes Masters Women Squad Captain Masters Men Squad Captain Recreaonal Squad Captain Janet Tredget David Taylor Stephen Crowther Junior Squad Captain Senior Women Squad Captain Senior Men Squad Captain Beƫna Colliver Rebecca Thompson Lloyd Mulkerrins Designed by: Ingrid Holder 5 STAR CLUB MEMBERS’ HANDBOOK 2017/18 Poynter’s Boathouse The Club’s irst premises, Batts Ford, was a converted timber store, about 100 metres upstream from Poynter’s Boathouse operated since 1960. Poynter’s Boathouse was constructed in 1988 when the Club moved from its previous site. The building is shared with Viking Kayak Club (‘Viking’); an arrangement that pre‐dates the move to Poynter’s Boathouse. Bedford Borough Council is the Head Lessor of the premises and the current lease has been granted to Star Club Bedford Limited (‘SCBL’) from inception in 1988 for 50 years. Since 2016, SCBL has been wholly owned by Star Club (‘Star’). The Poynter Charitable Trust previously owned it. SCBL has granted under leases to Star and Viking. A new lease of 99 years is currently being negotiated by SCBL with Bedford Borough Council. Under the terms of the new draft lease, SCBL will again grant under leases to Star and Viking. Viking Tenancy The Viking under lease covers its boathouse bay and connected mezzanine extension. Star’s under lease refers to the remaining three boathouse bays and the entire irst loor of the boathouse. Under an agreement between Star and Viking, the latter is permitted use of most of speciied areas in return for a payment to Star based on an agreed formula. Parking Car park space is limited at the Club. Spaces are likely to be fully used on Thursday nights and Saturday and Sunday mornings. The Club has an arrangement with Bedford Borough Council that permits free parking in the Prebend Street Car Park every evening after 6pm and at any time on Saturdays and Sundays, subject to the display of a current membership sticker. Please note that Wednesday evening parking is restricted to Viking members only. The Club Room Generally, the bar is open to members on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday and Sunday mornings. Currently, Charles Wells Brewery supplies the Club with beers under the Wells, Courage and Youngs labels together with guest beers that vary from month to month. Volunteer chefs and kitchen helpers serve Club Suppers on Thursday nights at reasonable prices. The menu each week includes a meat option and a ish or vegetarian option as well as the staple of Ham, Egg and Chips. The kitchen aims to serve breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings, but is again reliant on volunteers (see Section 6). The irst loor Clubroom is available for function hire for both members and non‐members. Members of both Star and Viking receive a discounted rate. It is an ideal venue for wedding receptions, birthday and anniversary parties and meetings. Designed by: Ingrid Holder 6 STAR CLUB MEMBERS’ HANDBOOK 2017/18 Other First Floor Facilities The remainder of the irst loor is taken up by male and female changing and toilet facilities, the gym and the ergo room.