A Message from the President

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I write this first article as I sit on a beach in Mauritius, it is hot and I have had way too much sun - so work it is!

 

As of yet the Committee have not met, so I have no update on any grand plans we may have, I thought I would take this opportunity to introduce you to your new Committee.

 

 

Ian MacLaren - Vice President

 

Ian joined the committee when I did in 2022, Ian is going to look after the Sponsorship Portfolio which will involve him finding sponsors for our events.  We have roughly 26 Events throughout the year and only 5 of them have sponsors. So if anyone reading this feels like helping Ian with this mammoth task, please can you email him by clicking here.  If you do not want to get involved but would like to sponsor an event or know someone who Ian should talk to - please get in touch with him by clicking here.  Ian is also a mentor with our teaching program.

 

Ian plays bridge about 4 times a week, you can catch him at The Willis on Wednesdays, and Online on Tuesdays, Thursday and Saturdays.

 

Jo Ampherlaw - Treasurer

 

Jo is a newbie on the Committee and brings with her a wealth of knowledge on modernising accounting systems.  Jo started her accounting career with Coopers & Lybrand, then Country Natwest, and TCorp and is now a retired Chartered Accountant.  Jo has been treasurer for Sydney Grammar and Ravenswood Parent Associations.  I am very confident that Jo will be a great asset to the NSBC Team.

 

Jo plays online on Monday mornings, Monday afternoons, and Tuesday evenings and at East Lindfield on a Thursday afternoon.

 

Terry Dunne - Secretary

 

Terry is also a newbie on the Committee. Before Terry retired he was the Financial Controller of Terrey Hills Golf Club. Terry has been playing bridge for about 20 years, but has taken the whole thing more seriously since he retired in 2021.  Terry is also part of our mentor programme.

 

Terry plays online on Thursdays and supports all of our Restricted Events and is currently leading the pack for the inaugural Restricted Club Championship event.

 

Jake Andrew - Committee Member

 

Jake joined the Committee 2 years ago.  Jake has been very busy working for the NSWBA as a Project Manager managing the separation tasks.  A lot of people think because Jake was so involved, and instrumental in the change.  I will set the record straight, Jake was employed to facilitate and manage the transition of the change.  Jake is no longer employed by BNSW.  Jake has a lot of experience in strategic planning and I believe he can help us create a strategic plan for the Club.

 

Jake plays online mainly on Thursdays, Saturdays and supports our events.

 

Robyn Rogers - Committee member

 

Robyn is now serving her second year on the committee.  Robyn is helping Ian with the Sponsorship Portfolio and is also one of our Welfare Officers.  

 

Robyn plays at The Willis on Wednesdays, and at East Lindfield on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

 

And, what about me?

 

I have been on the Committee for the last 2 years, and I have to say that I have really enjoyed it.  I am a fairly new bridge player, and I have learned so much about the challenges of organising Bridge events, club sessions, calendars, venues and pleasing all competitors from the supervised player to the Open Superstars.  

 

My background is in Management and IT, I also had a spell as Product Marketing Director, for all my sins.  80% of my career has been in the Telecoms Sector.

 

Currently I have the Marketing Portfolio for the Club, I also help Mike with some of the spreadsheet tools he uses to manage the Club and am on the recently formed Social Committee.

 

I play bridge most days of the week and I have to admit I prefer the online form of the game, but as President I will make a concerted effort to play at The Willis and East Lindfield.  So please feel free to catch up with me then.

 

I would like to remind you all that we are hosting a Cancer Council Biggest Morning Tea and would like to raise as much as we can to help the prevention of cancer and to do our bit to help those fighting this awful disease.  We are hosting the biggest morning tea on Wednesday, May 22nd at 10 am at East Lindfield. I hope that you can join us, if you can’t - you can still help us by clicking here to donate.  Let us come together as a community to help those who are doing it tough.

 

Best wishes

Shaz