President's Report – 2009 Fall AGM
The 2009 canoe season is winding down. Despite a very wet start to the year it has been a fairly busy season. The Flatwater program saw 142 days of led activity and 11 days of training. Whitewater saw 61 days of led activity and 59 of training. 53 different people led activities of one sort or another.....that makes for a healthy club.
We tried a bit harder than normal to publicize the club this year. Our efforts seem to have paid off as we have rebounded from last years 230 members to 274 this year. More work is to be done.
The YMCA renovations are still a big unknown. Due to the economic downturn the fundraising plans have been stalled. The Y is currently negotiating with the city concerning various options for a Y and an integrated community centre. At the moment it is too early to say how or when we will be affected. What we do know is that the Y intends to double the size of Carlingwood. We know that it will not happen next year. We know that when expansion happens the entire parcel of land will be a construction site and the shed will not be there. We know that we can move the shed to the Bonnefant centre in Dunrobin while construction is going on. We do not know when construction will happen. We do not know how long it will take. We do not know if we will get back onto the Carlingwood site after the expansion is completed. We do not know because the Y does not know and the Y will not know until after the negotiations with the city are complete. At this point everything else is speculation.
The question has come up about if Paddle Canada or ORCKA is better suited to the needs of our club. Our Training Coordinator will speak more on the details of this issue but let me remind the Flatwater, Whitewater, and Family programs to think about your requirements and to get involved in the discussion. The needs of your program define your training requirements and without proper input and guidance from the programs a good decision can not be reached.
As we wind down the canoe season many of us start thinking of winter pursuits. Keep on eye on the website over the winter. You will see postings for winter seminars, skating parties, ski outings, and for those who just can't put their paddles away..... canoe trips and pool sessions.
Bye, I'm going paddling...
Don Haines
