A while back there was an uncomplimentary
article in the Toronto paper, entitle “Would Gin & Tonic
Save Lawn Bowls?” It included such suggestions as
“including a bar and maybe lunch counter, run by paid
help”; then maybe we would enjoy a membership of 250.
Well here at the Burlington Club we are enjoying a membership of over
250, and we did it without the expense of hired help. It wasn’t
always easy, but we did it, and we know other clubs can too.
We did add a bar a few years back, but it is
worked by our volunteer ‘Smart Servers’ and is mainly used for
Outside Tournaments or OLBA functions. During a non-tournament
week, it is only open following the Pairs League on Thursday. At
our Saturday two game jitney, a light snack with tea is served
between games, but no bar. The bar has definitely influenced our
bottom line in a good way, but is only a very small part of our
success.
Like most Lawn Bowling Clubs, our biggest asset
is our people. We run on volunteers, not gin. With a membership
playing at all levels it isn’t easy getting to know everyone. That
is where our long weekend Mondays’ club socials come in. Some are
very low key, and some are elaborate theme parties. Attendance at
most events reaches well over 100; and they are all run by our
members and their bowling buddies.
We took back the care and maintenance of our
greens from the City, also a substantial savings which helped in the
purchase of our own greens equipment. Again we couldn’t do this
without the conscientious greens volunteers. They are out there
early every morning, with different members taking on different roles
on different days each week. We also have volunteers taking care of
our flowers and watching over the club house maintenance and helping
in the 101 other ways needed.
The greens are used every day, afternoons and
evenings Monday through Friday and afternoons only on Saturday and
Sunday. Again we can only do this with a slate of dedicated
volunteer drawmasters for each session. We run on this schedule,
unless there is a tournament or Club Championship planned, from May
to Thanksgiving (October). Then we move the game indoors.
Our winter club enjoys playing (including
leagues) morning, afternoon and evenings. Our three short mats run
the length of our club house with chairs at either end. It really
helps the member who, because of health or other restriction can no
longer take the standing and walking in the hot sun in the summer.
Here they compete with the best and enjoy the social tea break
between games. Members keep the kitchen stocked with cookies, and
all take turns setting out the treats and doing the dishes. Very
social, and a great place to spend a winter afternoon.
Our newsletter “It’s All About Us” was
started four years ago, with the first few issues comprising only
about half a page of print. Today it covers an 8 ½” x 14”
page, and is emailed to members about twice a week. Two hard copies
are posted at the club house for members without e-mail. It tells of
our day to day life at the club and how our tournament athletes are
doing at Home, Nationally and on the International Stage. Club
participation has been tremendous. The internet is the greatest tool
we have for communication. We encourage every club to use it to
the fullest.
We have entertained Burlington’s city run
“Time Out Breakfast” which brings different sports groups
together once a month; and this year the Cystic Fibrosis group held a
lawn bowling event here to raise funds for their cause. It was a
win-win proposition as they ran the event and we enjoyed exposure in
their advertising and had a chance to introduce the sport to younger
prospects.
2009 was the year we got serious about
spreading the “Lawn Bowls” word. Major articles were written by
members and published in the Bay Observer, SportsXpress and Silver &
Gold. We contacted Cogeco and had them interview our Coach in an
FYI session. Another year we invited them to film a major
competition at the club which was also used as a televised segment.
We purchased a banner for our fence, and a member made the club a DVD
of pictures from our photo albums. Go to our web page
www.burlingtonlbc.org
to view this DVD. It was also used in our display at the local
Health & Wellness Show. The usual flyers were made and an ad
was placed in the local live theatre playbill. We took advantage of
the Library’s offer of a ‘free’ table in their lobby to
advertise our week long Open House in May. Every one got behind our
efforts, and our photographer was busy snapping pictures all year
long. This year we concentrated on e-mailing our Open House flyer for
members to post and a paid ad was placed in the City’s “Live &
Play” Spring magazine. Our President brought back from the OLBA
meeting, a container for our fence to hold our flyer re: “FREE
INTRODUCTION FOR NEW BOWLERS EVERY WEDNESDAY EVENING:” which seems
to be working well, as new prospects are still showing up at our
gate.
Once they are here our coaching staff take
over, showing them the ropes then letting them play in a game with
other new and Novice members. Score cards are kept and prizes are
awarded. At the end of the evening, they compete in a “wrinkle”,
which is a skills exercise similar to the ones used by Mr. Tighe in
his training. We also use some of our own home grown experts in a
yearly “Skips & Vices Strategy Clinic”.
When they become full members we encourage them
to take part in our open bowling days and 4321 evenings. 4321 is
where they hone their draw, competing with members of various bowling
experience. We pay $1 each night we play, and at the end of the
month hold a social where the month’s collection is returned to the
bowlers according to how they did or didn’t do that month Even
with 16 rinks, this evening is extremely popular so to play you must
be there on time for the draw.
Burlington has always had its share of champion
players, but this season we seem to have a bumper crop as 40 club
members signed up for our Singles Club Championship. However, we
mustn’t forget that the majority of members are here for the
friendly competition and social atmosphere. That is the balance
every bowling club should keep in mind, ‘it has to be good for
everyone’. Not easy, but worth the effort if you want to keep
them coming back.
