HOME | ABOUT US | CONTACT

HHHarlow Penguins Swimming Club

Harlow Penguins AGM - notes of interest 

Thanks to the fifteen parents of swimmers representing all ages from 6 years old plus for contributing to a positive Annual General Meeting. In addition to the parents we also had Club Coach, Alan Mitchell, and longest standing committee member and teacher (in excess forty years), Eric Shepherd, in attendance.

Alan gave a positive Coaches report for the previous year which included thanking all of the other coaches and teachers. Alan detailed our current successes including recent Gold Medal achievements in the Girls 12 yrs old relays  at the Essex County Championships, our three swimmers who swam at Sheffield in the National Finals and Karl Batorski who competed in the Great British National Short Course Final now officially ranked 1st in the country at 100im for his age group. Alan also advised and publicly congratulated Katie Warwick and Faye White who have successfully completed their Assistant Swimming Teacher badges.

Alan also reiterated that he is ALWAYS available to speak to parents\swimmers over any potential issues.

Paul Cooper, Chairman, also gave a short report which included thanking Alan and the rest of the Committee for their help for the year and advising that our current financial position is strong but a proper treasurers report will be available for review and authosiration by the committee in the near future. Paul did advise that he expected to resign from the role of Chairmanship in the coming months.

The committee for the forthcoming year have been elected as follows:-
Chairman - Paul Cooper
Vice Chairman - Ken Burley
Administration Secretary - Steve Newman
Membership Secretary - Janis Warwick
Treasurer - Alan Canham
Liaison Officer - Steve Turner (newly created position which will be elaborated on shortly)
Eric Shepherd
Carol Melvin
Debbie Sims
Wendy Wade
Nikki Whitehead

Actions\Points (in no order) for the newly elected Committee to consider
1) To review and consider accreditation to  Swim 21
2) Consider splitting the August badge nights so that one was held in August and the second one six months later
3) Display the Harlow Penguins website on the notice board
4) Keep notice board upto date - split notice board into two: one for the Learn to Swim section and one for Squad swimmers
5) Purchase a flip chart and make this available on club nights to remind parents of what is coming up. A useful debate was had on improving communication to all parents and swimmers of all squads and in particular the younger age groups. An immediate improvement will be to place a flip chart next to the front desk where parents and swimmers will be aware of time trials, closure of pool etc etc - Wendy and Nikki to help advise of further improvements
6) Encourage social events for the swimmers away from swimming - ask two senior swimmers to be responsible for this but assisted as much as possible by the Committee (such events as Ten Pin Bowling, BBQs etc)
7) The Club have agreed to resign from membership of the East Essex squad
8) If possible publicise on the website the Long Term Development of swimmers as considered by the ASA - Alan to copy and hand out to interested parents and swimmers as well
9) There will NO Club presentations or club disco on 20th December - this will be postponed until the first few weeks of January - details to be made available soon (it is hoped that this position will not be repeated next year and the Senior swimmers - see point 6 -  will be able to organise) - I apologize that I have not organised the Club Disco in time this year

To wrap the meeting up Ken gave a vote of thanks to Alan publicly thanking him and his wife for putting all the extra hours into the club outside his contractual commitments