Newcastle University Boat Club Annual Report: 1. Finance: In 2006 NUBC changed the membership fees structure for 2007 in preparation for the influence of VSU. Competitive membership increased three fold (to $150) and social membership increased by $10 (to $30). This is has been a necessary step to ensure the sustainability of the club and we plan to continue using this structure. This has allowed us to run entirely on the basis that we do not expect funding from NUSport. Direct and indirect effects of VSU continue to influence the running of the club. While we no longer plan to on the support of NUSport we have encountered other indirect VSU affects. In 2007, Australian University Sport passed on competition registration fee increases to competitors. In 2005, rowing fees were charged at $45 per person; in 2006, this fee became $45 per seat (that is, $45 for every boat a competitor raced in). In 2007, the fee was $145 per person. While we do not expect a similar increase for 2008, we are wary of the cost of competing at the Australian University Games. We will be having discussions about the desire to continue to attend this event while the NSW State Championships currently cost $20 per seat. As a result of increased membership fees, NUBC ran at a profit of approximately $1000 this year. The exact figures can be seen in the 2007 auditor’s report. In early 2007 the executive made a decision to use this year to prepare for the future of the club and to build the club membership base in 2008. This has resulted in various successes and failures for 2007 for the club. However, the plan has been put in place and will prove to be successful for 2008. This year NUBC has made some major purchases and changes. Most notable among these are: •
•
•
•
• •
The purchase of a set of quad oars. With the addition to the fleet of a coxless four/quad last year the purchase means a high level racing boat is available for the lightweight men and women’s crews. The purchase of a set of pair riggers for the Ausrowtec double. The purchase of these riggers completes the clubs fleet as it had been the only boat that NUBC did not own. The addition of this class of boat now allows NUBC members competition in any rowing race. The purchase of a cordless drill has opened the way for more in house maintenance of the club and its fleet. The drill has also proved useful in the rigging and de‐rigging process of attending regattas. The purchase of standard metric sized bolts. Previously newer boats have M6 (metric) sized bolts, while older boat use 7/16th inch bolts. For rigging and de‐rigging as well as replacement purposes, standardising the sizes is important. This has also proved useful for the simple replacement of lost nuts and bolts. The purchase included 1.5 times the required amount for loss and replacement. The purchase of new tools. The change to standard bolt sizes and the requirement for some new spanners for the dismantling of the eight for transport warranted some additional tools. The planned purchase in late December of medals. Medal costs increased this year at a faster rate than we expected. In response the club will most likely be buying a bulk batch from China which will leave us without the usual annual buying for 2008 or 2009.
•
The addition of storage in the NUBC shed. A major aim of the executive in 2007 was to clean and organise the maintenance area of the shed. New shelves and a shadow board (for the tools) has been built in the shed and the area above the toilet block is now used as storage after some work to make it safe. This work was done over two days and cost about $400.
2. Membership: With the increase in fees the membership floundered in 2007. Overall membership numbers were up, while competitive membership and actual competing members were down. Early in the year the Saturday training sessions were well attended. While the cost of membership alone was not prohibitive, the sum of membership, uniform and University Games competition fees became so. It was the expectation of the executive that 2007 would not be as other years had been for membership. The greatest cost of our focus for creating a sustainable club from 2008 onwards was the membership of the club. It is the intention of the 2008 executive to move from our focus on the future in 2007 to a focus on building the NUBC membership base in 2008 and onwards. 3. Competition: This year NUBC hosted two regattas at the Berry Park Rowing Complex. These were deemed successful by the competitors, the officials and the NUBC members who ran the regattas. NUBC intermediate and advanced rowers continue to rank high among the rowers of the Central Districts Rowing Association members. Novices from NUBC are well matched against other CDRA novices. This year has seen enjoyable racing for all competitors. Somewhat disappointingly, NUBC failed this year to win the Throsby Gift Sprint Relay. NUBC once again attended the Australian University Games in Queensland. Membership was down on last year with 16 people joining the team. We were happy to see a greater number of external competitors join NUBC to represent Newcastle University. Due to a couple of accidents we did not compete anywhere near our capacity and had a disappointing year on the water. 4. Merewether High School: The Merewether High School Rowing Program continued in 2007 and is welcomed back in 2008. Hugh Dunstan has kept this on track and some new recruits began mid second semester under his coaching. Some of the original Merewether High members have finished school this year and NUBC looks forward to seeing whether any who choose to attend Newcastle University come back to the club as University rowers. 5. Future:
By the end of 2008 or mid 2009 NUBC will have finished paying off a loan to NUSport. The loan is paid at the rate of $3000 per year. Once these payments cease, the club will be able to redirect this money to saving or into maintenance. With the current fee structure the club will be financially sustainable well into the future. A focus on membership in 2008 will increase numbers. The new members will bring a future executive and higher level of competition. The purchases of this year will last into the future benefiting the club for some time. A possible sponsorship deal with the Crown and Anchor will contribute to the prominence of the club and to the financial stability in the short term as the club finished the repayment of the loan. Finally, NUBC ran a test barbeque in mid 2007. This barbeque was very successful as it was not only profitable, but greatly raised the awareness of the club. NUBC intends to continue using barbeques to raise funds and awareness of the club. Stephen Pfennigwerth President 2007