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Steve T · Last edited by Steve T on Wed Oct 14, 2009 2:47 pm; edited 1 time in total

Recent discussion elsewhere on the forum has prompted some thoughts about the club which I thought it would be worth sharing. I’d appreciate comments as I think we need to be careful how the club develops, and we all need to have some input to this.

First the history lesson so you can see where I’m coming from:
I have been a member for six years – I decided to get back into paddling after a break of about fifteen years so did a bit of a web search and emailed the Bolton, Wigan and Westhoughton clubs. None of the websites were very detailed, but my preference was for Westhoughton for the single reason that they went to moving water (OK, Burrs) each week while the others met on a reservoir. I figured that if I couldn’t make weekends at least I’d have a proper paddle midweek. In the event, I had no response from the other two but Graham rang me quite quickly and the next week I was at Burrs. Of the current regulars, only Graham B, Chris H & Paul M were active then, Carl & Jason had I think only recently joined, as had Mick, and we saw more of Allen then. The then Chairman lost interest about that time and Graham was running the show on his own. Apart from regular Wednesdays, the club wasn’t very active and I think only three Sunday events happened over the next year. There was one 60-minute session in the pool each week and were lucky to get seven or eight paddlers there, even including the Shufflers. People came and went but basically the six or seven of us were the club.

I nearly left in 2004/5, as I was frustrated and wanted to get out at weekends onto proper rivers, although I enjoyed paddling with what was then, as now, a good bunch of people. Things changed for me however as I took over and updated the website, started the forum (although it wasn’t initially used much and I closed it for two years) and got more involved with the club’s organisation which is something I enjoy. We then formed a committee which, admittedly, was in fact the entire active membership. The website started to attract new members, some of whom actually stayed with us.

The membership has ballooned since then; we run many more official and unofficial trips than I have time to attend and we even held an AGM this year. Since I’m quite sad and enjoy stuff like that, I’m also in the process of drafting a complete set of club documentation: policies, rules, risk assessments etc. We need all of this as the membership grows, but it’s in the background and we still manage to maintain an informal, friendly culture.

This culture is probably the most important thing which separates us from other clubs which are often much larger, more organised and more formal. There is a place for this, and some people prefer it, but having spoken to a number of recent new members and newcomers who have looked around at other clubs, this is one reason they come to us (and stay). There are even people out there recommending us as a friendly group who welcome beginners. Other clubs have been described as “cliquey” or unwelcoming, sometimes expecting beginners to complete a course with them before being allowed to join events. It’s also one of the reasons I’m still here as I’d rather have a laugh with a group of mates than parade in front of a nice clubhouse with a crest on the front.

It’s a fact that we are getting bigger, so we will inevitably have to become more organised – Chris T has suggested some formal coaching sessions in the pool and it’s probably the way forward. Our policies will have to better control how we lead and coach on events as the people on the trips won’t know each other as well as we have in the past. There are other implications to getting bigger – we will need more gear and there’s only so much space down the side of my house and on committee members’ roof racks.

My questions to all members are:

How do we manage this without turning into one of the other clubs?

Or:

Do we want 200 members, our own clubhouse and a Captain’s hat for Carl?

Or even:

Am I wrong? Are we just as cliquey as the rest and I can’t see it because I’m in the clique?

I have my own thoughts but I’d like to hear yours first. If you don’t put your two-penn’orth in now you can’t complain if the club changes into something you don’t like.

Steve
_________________
Steve Thomas
Secretary & Website Editor

www.westhoughtoncanoeclub.org.uk
website@westhoughtoncanoeclub.org.uk

Dave W · Joined: 12 Mar 2009 Posts: 96

I was introduced to Kayaking to paddle with 14th swinton scout group as a helper to paul M whilst he had the kids on the water. I had no intention of taking it up seriosly. Paul took me along to burrs for a few sessions where I met a fantastic bunch of people just like myself who wanted to learn and have a good laugh whilst doing it.
I then started getting involved in the club trips which have been some of the best weekends away I have ever had, they have been exiting, Scarey, and great fun. but the best thing about them are the people (all of which I know consider as friends).
I feel the informal meetings all make for a good day out, wether we are on Rivers, lakes or swimming pools and I think it would be a shame if that was to change.
I feel I have come on a long way in 12 months and this is all down to the coaches who give up there time to teach in such a way that you dont lose the FUN factor.

Dave

Steve T · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 1:42 pm Post subject:

Dave

That is exactly how I imagine most members see the club, and indeed how I have seen it for the last few years. The people are, rightly, the best thing about the club and I also regard you all as the nearest thing I have to friends.

I think that in 2008 we had the same club we've had before, but with more people, more trips and more FUN.

In 2009 I can sense changes due to the increase in numbers. Still FUN though.

I think that in 2010 we will have a noticeably different club. So what do we need to do now to make sure that the club is one that the current membership wants to be in, and is still FUN?

Steve
_________________
Steve Thomas
Secretary & Website Editor

www.westhoughtoncanoeclub.org.uk
website@westhoughtoncanoeclub.org.uk

Jon W · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 129

I'd like to see Carl in the captain's hat....

Seriously though it's a tough call. It reminds me of my dad's fishing club (spits on ground....damn fisherfolk...luckily I wasn't tempted to the 'dark side')....they started off as a small friendly club which started out as a group of like minded people. Word got around and they got more and more popular....eventually they had to put a cap on numbers to make it manageable and even started interviewing potential members ("you can't join as your rod isn't up to scratch" etc etc.! ).
I'd hate WCC to end up like that where we assess people's kit and don't let them in if they don't have a matching hat and cag outfit!

There will be inevitably people who come and go so numbers will vary over time. There is a risk though where the club gets too big and is unable to run trips due to lack of competent/half decent paddlers or puts a first come first served limit on trip numbers.

Equally I'm aware of the pressure that greater numbers put on the committee/coaches. Perhaps some of us half competent/barely decent paddlers should start thinking about going down the road of getting qualifications and eventually coaching to ease the pressure. After all we've benefitted from the friendly approach and patience of the coaches.

Personally I wouldn't want the club to grow too big (e.g. 200 members)...even if it involves getting a clubhouse with beer and crisps on tap, nice warm changing rooms, pool table, sauna.....whoa hang on a minute..............!

CarlS · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 6:13 pm Post subject:

For me the club is still about having fun with a bunch of mates involving playing around in water, yes we are developing and of course this does mean that we will need to be a little more serious with regard to paperwork but on the whole we will stay a friendly club.

My own paddling as really developed over the last couple of years and this is down to the fact that we get out more. With the number of regular paddlers we have now, two or more trips a month can be organised and when you look at the standard of paddling at some over clubs we are actually fairly strong.

We have done more camps this year than in all the time that I have been with the club and many a good laugh has been had at these.

However, I sense a current feeling of unease, which I think has been generated by the situation regarding pool sessions. At the end of the day we are limited in numbers and there is nothing we can do about this.

Steve mentioned that we have a friendly club culture and yes I agree with him when he says that members of the club are the closest he has to friends. I feel the same way; when I am on a river I am surrounded by people who I trust entirely and know that when in a fix they will be there for me. They might laugh for a while and reach for a camera before a throwline but I know I can count on them. Before I joined Westhoughton I was a member of Manchester Canoe Club. They are friendly enough, but not a patch on us, which is a consequence of their size. I paddled for several weeks down at the Goyt Site and must say that any conversation was always initiated by myself, at the end of the session everyone got into their cars and left.

I feel that with the trips we have planned over the next few months, any bad feeling with regard to pool sessions will disappear and don't worry the dark nights will turn light again and once more we will be back on the river!

Be positive!

Dave W · Joined: 12 Mar 2009 Posts: 96

Hear Hear Mr Chairman we should all go to the pub and drink to that.

Steve T · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:21 pm Post subject:

LALA · Joined: 01 Jan 2009 Posts: 84

Hi everyone

Not been down for a few weeks due to not being well.

Could i just say that I tried out at Euxton Canoe Club for a couple of weeks at the pool sessions and i felt uncomfortable as it seemed to be very clicky. I then started at Westhoughton Canoe Club and what a BIG mistake that was LOL, Only jokin.

I have to say that Westhoughton Canoe Club seemed a very freindly club, everyone gets involved and helps one another.

With regards to the Pool Sessions i would like to suggest that for any members (even though me and Phil have not joined yet) that it contiunes on a Wednesday Night and possiable another 45 min session if we can fill the pool? Thats if the Pool would allow this?

Is there no way we would be able to pay a direct debit to 1. guarentee a place and 2. so the club guarentee the cost of the hire of the pool.
That way if another 45 minute session is needed it would be covered.

I just feel that for the ones that have paddled on the rivers and want to go that step further, the pool sessions is an opportunity to practice ours rolls without being freezing.

I would be happy to pay a Direct Debt.

It might be a stupid idea but it worth a try.

Phil · Joined: 27 Jan 2009 Posts: 91

GrahamS · Joined: 13 Dec 2007 Posts: 182 Location: Warrington

Just agreeing with the above really - once you've got your roll nailed I think you tend to view pool sessions as less important as time on the river. As we're now at a stage where we don't have to wait for 'competent paddlers' for Burrs etc, I'd like to get out a bit more at weekends.

As for the club getting too big, I don't think there's any cause for concern at the moment. In the short time I've been with the club there have been far more that have come & gone than have stayed on as regulars.

The best thing about our club is that we all get on off the water as well - does that make us just one big clique??

Jon W · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 129

We have cliques already...
The wheelbarrow and rhubarb clique,
The sea kayaking clique
The competent paddlers clique
The half decent paddlers clique
The Moonwalkers clique
The pink guinness clique
The lightweights clique.......

We're just one big clique!

jayteebee · Joined: 14 Oct 2009 Posts: 1 Location: Swinton, Salford

Hi All,

I Came down to the pool session wednesday night (16 oct 09) for the first time and I mus say Steve T and a few other members made me feel very welcome straight away.

He chatted to me straight away and didn't make me feel like a complete outsider.

After a brief I was in a boat on the pool...

Hmm not as easy as it looks this kayaking lark....

I'll keep coming and keep trying...

Thanks All

John

Steve T · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 10:22 pm Post subject:

See - that's the problem right there! If we sent them away half-drowned and scared witless we wouldn't have to worry about getting too big.

Seriously John, thanks for the comments and it was good to meet you (& Ian if you're out there reading this) last night - sorry I had to rush off. Look forward to your next session - keep coming, and you'll soon be enjoying paddling and the club as much as the rest of us.

CarlS · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 4:38 pm Post subject:

Steve T · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 5:40 pm Post subject:

Yes Carl, but you came back.

(Couldn't resist, sorry ..)

_________________
Steve Thomas
Secretary & Website Editor

www.westhoughtoncanoeclub.org.uk
website@westhoughtoncanoeclub.org.uk