WOULD GIN & TONIC SAVE LAWN BOWLS?

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.