Chair Statement - September 2021
Dear Clubs, Members and Partners,
Well, here we are in September and with the outdoor bowling season coming to an end, some of us will navigate to play indoors, while others will lock away their bowls and shoes for another 6 months. Let’s continue to be mindful of the ‘hibernating’ bowlers and try to keep connected with each other throughout the winter months.
As an organisation, our attention moves from COVID guidance and club support to our Annual Report and preparations for our Annual General Meeting in November, along with planning for 2022. Our Annual Report will detail all the resources provided this year to our clubs, with support for our bowling community being central to our work this year. The report will also highlight our membership levels and the financial impact this has had on the organisation. Similar to clubs, we have had to make some difficult decisions and we will continue to face challenges as we collectively progress out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To help gain insights and reflections from clubs on the 2021 season, as well as gathering information on what additional support clubs require for the 2022 season, we recently conducted a National Club Survey. Thanks to the 375 clubs who took the time to provide feedback, this information is invaluable, and we will publish the survey results along with our support for clubs, players, and volunteers. I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that our team of National Development Officers Stuart, Daniel and Lawra continue to provide support to our clubs. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with your NDO, should you need them.
A key question we all have is what the competitive bowling calendar looks like in 2022. We will go into a Commonwealth Games year with re-arranged international competitions to accommodate as well as the return of our National Championships. I’m pleased to share that our National Championships will run from Sunday 17th – Saturday 23rd July, with the inaugural Youth Championships being held on Sunday 24th July. This will be our first Championships for three years and I’m extremely excited to see everyone back at the National Centre for Bowling, Ayr.
Thank you to everyone involved in the wider Bowls Scotland Team - our Board, our staff, our Presidents and Vice Presidents, our District Co-Ordinators, our external committees and groups, and our network of clubs up and down the country. Thank you for your loyalty, dedication, commitment, and passion for our wonderful game despite the challenges we have collectively faced.
Be Kind, Keep Connected, Stay Active.
Sue Beatt
Chair, Bowls Scotland