Ski-Allenheads

NEWSLETTER of the BRITISH NORWEGIAN SKI CLUB

MARCH 2005

Only a month ago I really thought I’d be writing to say the end was nigh. Expenditure was greatly exceeding income and it looked as if the best efforts of the committee were up against another mild, snow - free winter. Well, the weather gods were kind (they must be the Norse gods) and sent us three weeks of good snow, only to take it away again rather too quickly when we were hoping for one more weekend. Never mind, we had seventeen days of good skiing and are solvent again for another year. More importantly many new people as well as existing members enjoyed the best continuous conditions we’ve had for years. You can see some pictures on our website if you missed being there.

The combined publicity of the posters, press coverage and the website has raised our profile and brought in skiers and snowboarders from as far as Barrow in Furness as well as all parts of the northeast, taking advantage of our facilities when places like Weardale and Yad Moss were closed or inaccessible or even just too busy. The huge efforts of Carolyn in publicity and Mike on the website have paid off handsomely and put us on the map again. However none of the skiing would have been possible without the people who maintain and set up the tows, and this year in particular we have to thank Guy Javens who started and ran them every day that he could, no less than fifteen out of the seventeen days.

Allenheads provides the only snow facility in Northumberland. We are encouraged on all sides by people willing us to continue and we have proved this season that, limited though it may be, it is capable of drawing on a wide area and providing a facility that would be missed.

But the club needs a new generation to take it forward. Most of the committee has - how shall I put this? - its best skiing days behind it. Frank Thomson our Secretary and Tom Pattison, Treasurer, want to stand down this year and we must fill these posts if we are to continue. I will be retiring next year as Chairman; we also need a Vice Chairman and more members willing to learn to operate and run the tows. Without them there is no skiing. So please, if you want to have the facility in future, come forward now.

And I hope that those who got a taste of Allenheads for the first time as affiliates will show their support by becoming full members. Memberships are practically our only source of income and we all know what happens when expenditure exceeds income. The best way to ensure that you can enjoy it again is to join at the beginning of the season, so we can know that we are financially safe for another season.

AGM. 21st APRIL

The notice for the AGM is attached, with a slip for nominations. Even if you don’t feel able to put your name forward I hope you’ll come anyway. It is an opportunity to socialise as well and it’s held in the easily - accessible Northumbrian Piper’s upstairs room. People who joined as affiliates this year are also very welcome though they will not be able to vote. There are two important bits of business.

(1) The Constitution. Tom has spent a lot of time this year investigating an application for us to become a Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC for short). This would allow us to apply for charitable status and reduce some of our costs, rates in particular, making our money go further. These things of course have rules, and one of them is that we should have a constitution which includes their model clauses. Discussions on this have led to a draft constitution which is acceptable to the Inland Revenue Sports Club Unit (did you know there was one?). This will also allow us to tidy up some of the bits that have grown on to the present constitution over the years. So we will be asking the AGM to approve this. It may seem odd to do this now but one of the things which it will achieve is help towards our continuingly precarious finances.

(2) Subscriptions. Always controversial I know and there is never a right time. However these were last considered in the early 1990s. As I said above, the ideal is to secure the income for the year at the start of the season and with that in mind the committee are proposing the following new rates:-

Adult members (over 18) £20

Junior members (under 18) £10

Family members(parents and children under 18) £40

(The present rates are £15, £6 and £30 respectively)

Affiliate membership, which allows newcomers one “taster” session on the field, would be £10. On a second visit an affiliate would be expected to make up the difference to full membership.

We think the revised rates are still reasonable. Bear in mind that membership gives access to discounts at various ski shops and at the Allenheads Inn during the season.

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Finally, a plea about clips. The club has a supply of metal clips which grip the rope, rather than gripping it direct with your hand. These are available on loan to those who prefer to use them but the stock has dwindled noticeably this year. They can be replaced but, at a cost of up to £10 each, they are not cheap to us. If you‘ve accidentally gone home with one in your pocket we would be grateful for its return.

Do take a look at our website www.ski-allenheads.co.uk where you’ll find pictures of the recent activities.

On behalf of the whole committee, my thanks for their hard work and for your support - long may it continue. See you at the AGM.

Bev Bagnall

Chairman.