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 Appeal for new secretary as Maitland cricket hit for six 

Appeal for new secretary as Maitland cricket hit for six

10 Sep, 2010 05:00 AM
ABOUT 700 children may lose the chance to play cricket this summer after the Maitland and District Junior Cricket Association failed to receive any nominations for a secretary at this week's committee meeting.

Legally organisations must have a secretary to run competitions.

Outgoing secretary Libby Edwards stood down at Wednesday's meeting after three years in the role due to family and study commitments and association president Les Vickery said a replacement was needed within two weeks or Saturday morning club and representative competitions would be scrapped.

"Until we get a secretary we can't run the association," Mr Vickery said.

"We have 700 children, boys and girls, and we can't get a parent to do it."

Mr Vickery returned as president this season after a three-year break.

He was previously president for 14 years and no longer has children involved in the sport.

Mr Vickery has spent the past two weeks sounding out possible applicants for the role, but said his efforts had "fallen on deaf ears".

He was critical of parents who treated the association as "babysitters on a Saturday" and then "jump up and down when things aren't done".

"It's so antagonising that there's no [parent] out of 700 kids who doesn't have the time to do it.

"A lot of the committee members have been there for over 10 years and don't have any children playing."

The role of secretary would involve sending out letters and recording minutes at meetings.

All other positions such as treasurer and registrar have been filled.

Despite the bleak outlook, Mr Vickery was confident that going public would entice somebody to step forward.

"We can only use word of mouth and phone calls so much, at least this gets it out to a wider community and hopefully someone sees it and gets involved," he said.

Anyone interested in the role should contact Mr Vickery on 0405 198 042.

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comments


Date: Newest first | Oldest first
A possible solution to the association is to employ a secretary and pay them a salary - of course this salary will have to be paid by the teams participating in the competition, team fees would rise as a result of the 700+ parents not being able to find one person among them to perform this task. Sadly more people would prefer to throw stones at volunteer sporting administrators than step up when the opportunity presents.
Posted by Howie, 10/09/2010 10:06:35 AM, on The Herald
Well come on parents, its still cheap baby sitting. More parents should become actively involved with the kida sport.
Posted by intouch, 10/09/2010 3:25:50 PM, on The Herald
This cricket club and other clubs should also know that if they pay staff anything at all (even if it’s only $50) and provide them with a group certificate at the end of the financial year, this allows the staff to claim expenses on their tax return. If they receive a payment, even if it’s only $10, it’s paid work and they can claim their phone calls, kilometers travelled and other associated expenses. It’s not a lot, but every little bit helps. It’s a demanding job.
Posted by Maitlander, 10/09/2010 4:04:34 PM, on The Herald
I think this is an issue for most sports, parents these days want their kids to get a fair go, win the comps, at the the end the season, presentations, prizes, shirts and trophies, and it is usually the parents who will not sacrifice their own time or even pay the rego that jumps up and down Congrats to all of the people that do put up their hand and help out...
Posted by not just cricket, 10/09/2010 4:09:02 PM, on The Herald
Holding positions such as secretary is a LOT of work. I agree that in some cases money may need to be an incentive to hold a position. Holding a position can also be rewarding and a great way to make lots of long term friendships. Often if 2 or 3 people can work together than positions are easier to manage. Come on parents lets band together for the kids sake.
Posted by moth04, 11/09/2010 8:17:55 AM, on The Herald

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IN THE DARK: Maitland and District Junior Cricket Association president Les Vickery with junior players Sean and Mitchell Parsons and Bayli Gaiter. - Picture by Simone De Peak
IN THE DARK: Maitland and District Junior Cricket Association president Les Vickery with junior players Sean and Mitchell Parsons and Bayli Gaiter. - Picture by Simone De Peak

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