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Dear All, As we approach the end of the season, there are one or two important messages that I need to draw your attention to: End of Season AwardsWe will hold the awards ceremony at the Fort on 22nd March 2009. The feedback last year was that many preferred the previous awards structure, so following agreement with Bob Taylor and Nick Pasha, I have reverted back to the following for each age group (except U5 where each child will receive a medal): Player of the Year: Winner and Runner-Up Any nominations for special club awards should be sent to me as soon as possible for consideration. Annual PartyMy sincerest thanks to Heather Woolf who has kindly to come forward and is organising the Annual Party. More details will come soon, but in advance of that, I would like to really urge you to come along. We have a fantastic evening – and it really does help engender a club spirit SevensThe big event is just around the corner. As you may now know, the demand for tickets has far out stripped supply. This is an unfortunate reality, and I guess we are a victim of our own success. I sincerely hope that you understand that the distribution is totally out of the club’s control, and we do our distribution in the fairest and most transparent way. Should anyone have any spare tickets – I know that some have purchased tickets through the public sale – please let Kim Murphy know, and the tickets can be re-distributed to a very worthy cause. VolunteersOnce again, I need to ask you to help out the Club. Both Nick Pasha and Tonda Paulsen are stepping down from their positions as Director of Mini and Clubhouse Manager respectively. Both Tonda and Nick have contributed enormously to the success of this club over the last number of years. We now need to find new personnel to fill in the gaps. Bob Taylor and I have agreed that it makes sense that more than one person can fill each position. This means that the workload can be spread. We also need another Vice Chairman. So hopefully, we should have more people coming forward. We are the biggest Youth (mini and colt) rugby club in Hong Kong now, and I really would expect, with over 600 members, that we can get volunteers. Please contact me. Club SuccessI cannot begin to tell you how healthy the club is from top to bottom. From U5 to the Senior Team, we are in great shape. The club numbers continue to grow, and we are now at the biggest the club has ever been. In tournaments and leagues, we are the teams to beat. We are participating in overseas tours and we have our senior players attending coaching in New Zealand. We also have prominent players from New Zealand joining Valley Fort and coming to Hong Kong to play for our colt’s teams. We also have many of our kids who have been selected for the National Team. Whichever way you look at it, we are an outstanding success, and I promise you that we are the envy of Hong Kong. Our mantra of playing the game to the best of our ability and retaining respect for all is being upheld. So it is with that as a backdrop, I would like to announce to you that it is time for a change at the top. Mr Bob Taylor has kindly volunteered to take over as Chairman from myself at the end of the season. I will continue in the role of Vice Chairman for a period of time. I would like to say to you all that it has been an unbelievable pleasure and an honour to serve as Chairman of Valley Fort for the past few years. As Hugh said when he handed over to me…. “We must always have new ideas coming in”. This club is special, and I know that in Bob, it is in the best hands possible. He is a true gentleman and a true rugby man. I see the club going forward and continuing to grow and to improve under Bob’s stewardship. Please give him the support that I have enjoyed from you all. Thanks and best wishes Carl Redman
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