AGM Minutes and Presidents Report

GTC AGM – 31st July 2024

Those in attendance:   14 as follows

Sean McCready, Lo Cheng, Kimberly Wong, Antony Bowyer, Will Ellet, Kim Ellet, Mary Helen Kelt, Jyoti Mehta, Sam McKay, Geoff Hosking, Craig Page, James Caldwell, Vasily Kravtsova, Yulia Kravtsova.

Agenda Item 1 – Presidents Report

The 2023/25 year was a fantastic year for Gladstone Tennis Club. We have seen record numbers on the courts, very high attendance at group coaching sessions, great results within our interclub teams and a fantastic club champs competition.

The great weather throughout the year played its part but most thanks for this success must go to the members of the club that have continued to support the club both financially and generally. On the back of this support, we can certainly look forward to further success in the 2024/25 year.

All of the club’s interclub teams played very well in tough grades and we had 3 teams that were promoted (or won their grades). This is yet again more success for GTC.

 The Club Champs competition had record participation from members across all divisions. The finals day was fantastic and highlighted the talent that the club has. It was great to see so many members playing with plenty of friends and family watching and enjoying the day at the club.

Coaching at Gladstone has continued to improve throughout the year. Under the leadership of our head coach, Martin, we have seen significant increases in members participation across all coaching sessions. This is all very good for the club as members will be able to utilise their new coached skills on the court.

Like many organization's, GTC has experienced increased costs in providing our services to members. The club finances are still in very good shape (thanks to the great financial management of Jeremy Skinner) but we need to anticipate that these inflationary costs will continue in the 2024/25 tennis year.

We are also planning capital expenditure for the club to improve facilities for members. The most notable of this is the requirement to replace the court surfaces within the next 12-24 months. So making sure that the club financing are well managed to budget for these improvements as well as addressing the increased costs of running the club is high priority for the Committee.

The Committee is looking at ways to appropriately reduce costs and increase income through further sponsorships and fundraising activities. However, we also unfortunately need to consider increasing membership fees this year. From these measures, I am sure that GTC can maintain a very strong financial position whilst delivering improving experiences to club members.

I need to thank all the members of the Committee who continue to support the club. Without the voluntary work of the Committee, it is hard to see how GTC could operate. My heartfelt thanks to each and every member of the Committee for their support. My thanks extends to Head Coach Martin Colenbrander who is the face of the club and continues to provide a great programmes for us all to enjoy.

Ultimately though, GTC is for the benefit of its members and the Committee, and I are committed to always put members first in any decision that is made. The foundation of the club is that we provide and encourage tennis to the club’s membership and the wider community. This is based on maintaining a family friendly and safe environment for all. So on that basis, most thanks needs to go to the Club’s members who are the backbone of GTC.

Onwards and upwards for a fantastic 2024/25 tennis year!!!

Agenda Item 2 – 2023 AGM.

Reviewed the prior minutes from last years AGM.  There were no questions.

Agenda item 3 – Presidents Report – Financials - Antony went through the past years financials and highlighted the following

-          Membership grown approx. 10% with 333 members.  Membership made up of a good mix of adults and juniors.

-          Participation across all sessions has been fantastic.

-          Financial   Highlights

- A big increase in expenses with increasing Insurance, increase in need for coaches to cover sessions, increase in maintenance.

- Operating Income was $7k which was $30k lower than 2023.

- Bank balance is healthy at $90k

If anyone would like a copy of the Financials please email admin@gladstonetennis.co.nz

Agenda item 4 – Coaches report

High attendance rate on all programmes with approx., 90 juniors and 65 seniors attending programmes per week.

We were very lucky to have Artem join us which everyone enjoyed.

Martin would like to thank the committee for their help and would really like to thank coach Will who has really taken on the job with initiative.

Agenda Item 5 - Management Committee

Unfortunately, Jyoti has decided to step down.  Jyoti's contribution to the committee has been fantastic. Jyoti advised that she enjoyed being on the committee and would still be around to help at times.

It was proposed by Antony Bowyer and seconded by Geoff Hoskins that the following committee continued for the 2024/25 year.

Antony Bowyer – President

Jeremy Skinner – Treasurer

Craig Page – Secretary

MH Kelt – Club Captain

Sam McKay – Club Websites & Sponsorship

Juliet Reynolds – Grants

Sean McCready – Club Hire

Martin Colenbrander – Honorary Member of Management Committee

Will Ellet – Observer.

This vote was unanimously passed.

Agenda Item 6 – Subscriptions

It was proposed by Antony Bowyer and seconded by Sam McKay that GTC increases its membership fees for the 2024/25 year to:

1. Junior Members below 12-years old: $230 (from $200)

2. Junior Members below 18-years old: $230 (from $200)

3. Student Member: $330 (from $300)

4. Adult Members: $470 (from $425)

5. Senior Members 65-years +: $330 (from $300)

6. Couple Membership: $820 (from $750)

7. Family Memberships

a. 2 X Adults + 1 Junior: $900 (from $900)

b. 2 X Adults + 2 Juniors: $980 (from $900)

c. 2 X Adults + up-to 4 Juniors: $1,050 (from $900)

This vote was unanimously passed.

There was some discussion after the vote about the increases being too light and that had consideration being given to higher increases. Antony suggested that, up until last year, the club subscription level had remained unchanged for several years. So was difficult to make changes to this year’s subs to ‘catch up’ on these years of no increase. It was also the general view of the committee that the increases suggested for this year are within market bounds of other Auckland tennis clubs whilst still offering great value to members.

Agenda Item 7 – Other Business

Antony pointed out that there will be major Capital Expenditure coming up with the resurfacing of the courts.

The timing for the courts to be resurfaced is 12 to 18 months.  The costs depend on whether there is a need for further draining and surface fixing which will only be known once the courts current surface is lifted.  This is a high priority and currently 2 companies have been selected.  The colour of the courts is also yet to be determined.

Kimberly asked how this would be funded.  Antony advised that approx. 1/3rd would come from Grants, 1/3rd from Council and Auckland Tennis and the rest through fundraising.  The time to complete would be a couple of weeks but would depend on whether done court by court or all at the same time.

Vasily asked how long the current courts have been down and Antony advised 12 to 15 years.  Also advised that it is important we continue to keep the club moving forward.

Lo Cheng suggested that we should separately manage a fund for capital expenditure especially for the court resurfacing. Given that the plan to resurface the courts was to be 12-18 months away. Putting aside some funds in a term deposit would seem appropriate. Antony suggested that there were plans to invest in term deposits very soon although no specifically allocated to cap ex, but that Lo’s idea was a good one and should be discussed at the next committee meeting.

Meeting was adjourned at 7.30pm.