SECRETARIES REPORT 2013

Well, what do I say, knowing that this is my final report for the Association as an Executive Member.

I have enjoyed my time as a Member of a great Association and have been involved with so many people to many to mention but I feel the time is right for me to now pass the baton on as they say and let others have the opportunity to take Soccer in Parkes to the next level and to continue to make it grow.

To the rest of the Executive, thank you for a job well done, and for those members that are not seeking re-election for next season, I wish to thankyou for the time and effort that you have put in, in taking the Association forward. You will be surely missed, but I’m sure you will not be lost to soccer. The time has come yet again for others to step up and guide us through the next phase, once again thankyou for your efforts and it has been my privilege to work alongside all of you and something that I will always cherish.

Our numbers this season were good and it was again a great pleasure to look out onto the fields of a Saturday to see everyone enjoying themselves whether they were players, coaches/managers, referees, spectators or parents.

To our Canteen Manager Vanessa Edwards, her partner Richard and Matt Medlyn, thank you for the tremendous job you have done this season, this was a very big task to take on and you all handled yourself very well, congratulations you all deserve a pat on the back. I hope for the sake of soccer you continue to do this job as you can only get better and come up with new ideas in ways of raising money for the Association. If I have to be critical about anything it is that of the lack of support from some of the junior sides that were rostered to do Canteen duty. The Canteen is there to raise money for the Association and to keep fees down, but this can only be done with the support of everyone not just a few, otherwise it may get to the stage where the Association will have to increase their fees to cover costs associated with running the Association, something I’m sure a lot of parents would not like to see happen, but it works both ways, offer the support and we will support you, don’t give the support, fees will go up and then you will say why is that and you will know the answers. To all those people, Open Ladies sides and Executive Members that helped in the canteen throughout the season, thankyou as well. Remember, the canteen is the life line of the Association with money raised from it, no canteen means no funds coming in, means no funds being available for new equipment etc., and also means a massive increase in fees. The Association doesn’t want to do this but if it has to it will, so everyone needs to really get on board and do their part for next season.

To our referee’s branch, congratulations on a job well done, all games were covered every Saturday.

To the Co-ordinators, Coaches and Managers of all sides including representative sides, well done, enjoy the praises you have received, you deserve it. I feel that if everyone works together, then Junior Soccer in Parkes will continue to go from strength to strength.

I hope that the Open Ladies sides now have an understanding of why games are called off due to wet weather, with the forming of the Grounds Committee being a positive step forward and I would hope that this Committee is formed every season that way everyone has the understanding that it is not the Executive calling the games off but the Committee. The amount of whinging and complaining that was received in regards to why do we have to work in the canteen when our teams are playing, why didn’t we play because it wasn’t raining when the games where due to be played, why do the men play and we didn’t. These are just some of the things that we relayed to me but I am sure now that a better understanding of this has been seen by all those involved. We as an Executive have to take into consideration everyone not just a few. I am quite sure that none of us want to lose our houses etc., because of our decision to let games go ahead when we know it is not safe and someone to get injured and then all of a sudden we receive a law suit against us. Please rethink before you complain.

I felt that a lot of positives came out this season and I hope that there continues to be a lot more in seasons to come.

Like I pointed out at the start of my report, I will not be seeking re-election for any positions on the Association. I love soccer and being involved, but with other commitments and wanting more time to do these things I have decided that the time is right for me to move on.

Once again to the outgoing Executive and those not seeking re-election, thanks for a job well done. To the incoming Executive, I wish them the best of luck for next season and hope they will continue to ensure that Soccer will thrive in the area.

In concluding, I thank everyone involved with soccer and those that I have been involved with over the many years enjoy the off season.

 

David Parker
Secretary
Parkes & District Amateur Soccer Association Inc.