Message from the Chairman of Paddle NSW
IÕve had some interesting conversations recently.
Asked at one event Ôwhy should I join PaddleNSWÕ, I was left speechless. Yes, believe it! Where do I start? For fear of launching into a diatribe of endless benefits, but talking to a brick wall, I could only walk away. A battle for another day.
A more rewarding discussion followed a day later with a group on the verge of forming a paddle club. Discussing the pros and cons really brought back into focus the reason why PaddleNSW and its affiliate clubs exist at all.
Collectively, we can achieve many things through the combined expertise that a diverse membership provides. By contributing a skill set, whether it is in financial management, IT skill, desktop publishing, powerboat driving, first aid, catering, paddle instruction, etc, as an association we can provide a comprehensive range of services to the people who choose to join us. Those not directly contributing to the association through volunteering their skills assist in another way by contributing their membership fees.
We can provide education, information technology services, safety and paddling equipment, lobbying to statutory authorities, grant funding opportunities, events, insurance, boat storage and meeting premises … the list goes on. We can achieve much more as a group than individually … and especially the sense of camaraderie, which makes me curious as to why some clubs are less than rigorous about checking their members’ PNSW and Club membership status.
People who come to a club to try paddling for the first time are always welcomed. We want to help as many as we can to enjoy the sport we are passionate about. Those paddlers who Ôblow inÕ on organised club activities without contributing to the association in one way or another are just taking advantage of the hard work of fee paying members. PaddleNSW provides the insurance for its members, and also a huge number of volunteer hours by the Board and its volunteer event officials, to keep the big wheels of the association turning.
These non-members jeopardize the associations insurance, and use the organisation that clubs and PNSW have put in place, without realising what effort the club or association has put in to enable the activity to happen, which is why I was left speechless at the recent event. Sure, a paddler can take out a single event membership, but how is that going to contribute to the long-term viability of the association? After all, itÕs not really about money, itÕs about our sport. The more you put in, the more you get out of it.
Speechless is not really a conversation at all!
Tony Hystek
