President Report Round 3

President Report... Round 3

Round 3, 2008 Newsletter

You will have noticed changes to player presentations and awards on Sunday night….. A small group has convened to think through options and try different approaches with a strong emphasis on child safety (for example the lights and activities on the oval); a focus on the children (for example the location of the stage at various spots around the rooms); more involvement by Mums (for example Trina as an MC); an earlier start; a welcoming environment such as the complimentary plates of nibbles on tables; etc.

There are lots of other ideas that the group wishes to trial and I thank them for their commitment and determination in trying to find the right ‘fit’ and ‘balance’ to the nights. The group is: Paul Vertigan, Fiona Calvert, Lisa Mack, Patrick Hines and Terrie Dunstone - and they welcome your thoughts and suggestions.

There are some surprises and food theme nights coming - so keep a look out!

In terms of safety, the group is concerned about the unsupervised children playing on the unlit playground to the rear of the clubrooms. In an attempt to offer the children a safer environment, the group has arranged for structured activities on the oval which will be lit. The older players at the club will be involved in these activities and we hope that the children can be redirected to the oval instead of the playground. It is requested that parents speak with their children with a view to asking that they play on the oval.  Don’t forget the forthcoming FTG Eagles Junior Football Club Annual Dinner Dance Saturday 21 June at the Mulgrave Country Club.

See your Team Manager for tickets! On the football front, (and given Anzac day), recently I was reading Tom Prior’s “Pockets of Greatness”. Some of the key messages I took from this book include:

• Richie Benaud stating that: “The things I bear in mind now and have done for the past 50 years are to work hard, do my best, and never give up”.

• Kevin Sheedy stating that: “Numero uno to my way of thinking is that you have to keep on trying, ‘having a go’ as the sun-bronzed Anzacs put it. The G and D, the guts and determination Teddy Whitten loved, never went out of fashion. You have to persist, to keep on keeping on.  Courage is important, but it can be learned; endurance can be developed, along with self-control, responsibility, application, and all the rest. Education and ability are great if you have them, but there is nobody so good, or so bad, that they can’t improve if they try. Do your best; you can’t do better than that.”

This serves as a reminder that football is more than the result on the score-board. Enjoy your footy, do your best and you can’t do better than that!

Sam Cavarra - President