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Hodgie’s Bits – September 2019

HODGIE’S BITS

SEPTEMBER 2019 – HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Welcome to the 98th season for our Surf Club. Warm wishes for our returning families and especially warm wishes to new comers, whether from other clubs or new to the Association. The club belongs equally to all members, whether you’re a patrolling veteran or parent of a nipper and aren’t strong in the water. Sometimes it’s hard to find your place in a new club (or any environment) and please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or just want to shoot the breeze. Give me a ring, pull me aside on the beach or drop me an email. I am truly happy to hear from you and to try to help.

Each month I will upload a newsletter here to keep you all up to date and informed as to what is going on in Nippers, what we have been up to and what we have to look forward to during the season.

Please check in here to keep well informed (and of course enjoy the odd Dad joke!) and check out the links at the bottom of this page, for the newsletters from last season.

EVERYONE HAS A PLACE

Surf clubs are unique in how they attract and need such a diverse group of people – in personality and skill set. Good clubs become great clubs when everyone can celebrate and support all others. Like in the rest of the world there’s natural rivalries – think sales v marketing, rugby vs soccer, apple v android. A surf club can also create silos – members who only really know about their connection to the club. It’s not compulsory to have empathy with all activities but it’s vital to care about and support all members.

Nippers is not separate to the club, it’s very much a part of it and many families also patrol and serve on the board and committees etc. If you’re not sure how to get a bit more involved, please let me know.

THE MIGHTY 67s

Typically, we have big groups in these age groups with many newcomers to the club. We’ve planned a few things this year to make the entry fun and easy. We certainly hope the parents get involved on a social level and for the M67s there’s some social stuff planned too:

  • sausage sizzles,
  • fun at the Welcome to Summer Party (16/11) – Mum and Dad will be chilling out with others with some live music
  • We usually get invited to Walk with Santa at the Mall
  • Look out for the kids disco for 6s, 7s & 8s

The Mighty 67s are pretty much Sundays only and the activities are around familiarization with the beach and having fun. Water activities are limited to the edge of the water.

On 28thSeptember, we’re running a Mighty 67s Gala Day to allow for an introduction to the club before the whole gang is there. This is designed for the whole family so Mum and Dad can look behind the scenes and get an understanding of what to expect.

We are trying to have as many friendly faces as possible around in the early weeks (and later 😊) to help new Age Managers and help the Nippers have a great experience, so if you need help or have a question, please reach out. Your Age Manager or I am a good place to start.

TRAINING
There is no requirement to go to any training, but we love it when Nippers are engaged enough that they want to get a bit better. I think we have a pretty impressive programme that offers something for every single type of kid.

INTRO SESSIONS

  • BOARD: There is a 6 week intro to boards session which is designed for Nippers who can’t yet ride a board. They may have had a couple of goes or none at all. Good thing for U9s to do. It runs for 6 weeks from 13/10. If sessions are cancelled due to conditions, it may extend – keep an eye on TeamApp
  • BEACH: Our gun beach coaches Veronica and Sophie (Happy Birthday for 14th) are currently running sessions on Mondays at 4.30 and all are very welcome. Watch the website for possible sessions to help introduce newcomers to what’s involved in beach activities.
  • YELLOW SQUAD: The yellow squads cater for a broad range of skills. Our qualified coaches aim to improve the skills and confidence of each Nipper. You may be a novice nipper or someone who just wants another session with a bit of coaching and with your mates.
  • WATER: Sunday Mornings 8.30, Tuesdays and Thursdays 4.00 pm
  • BEACH: Mondays at 4.30 and probable Wednesday afternoons as the season rolls on
  • GREEN SQUAD: Green squads train pretty hard and have multiple sessions each week. Talk to our coaches if you’re interested. They aim to compete at carnivals and many in these squads are at carnivals more than Sunday nippers. Watch them go at Club Champs!!!!

CARNIVALS

Carnival-experienced families may tell you that carnivals are a nightmare of hanging around and waiting, but maybe that’s just a ploy! There is a bit of waiting but they are a lot more streamlined than in the past and the time spent hanging out together is sometimes where the strong friendships are forged.

  • If you would like to compete at carnivals, sing out and we can put you in touch with the right people.
  • If you would just like to go to a carnival (or two or more) mostly for fun and the experience we’ve got you covered too. Just ask.

(The club covers the cost of entry to northern beaches carnivals.)

OUR VERY OWN

Big congrats to our Age Manager Coordinator for 2018-19 and also this season Madi Keene who was awarded at presentation night perhaps the most prestigious award at NCC – the Honour Blazer. Good onya Mads!!! We love ya!

COMMITTEE

Our JAC (Junior Activity Committee) meets at the clubhouse on the first Monday of each month at 7.30 pm and all are welcome. You don’t even have to be on the committee – just come along. It’s good to get a deeper understanding of how your club operates, and also gives you the chance to have a say.

WANNA HELP?

Here’s some roles that might suit you:

  • We could do with some admin help – is that still called a secretary???? That would be to take notes at the monthly meeting and help follow up with some emails and stuff
  • We hope to run frequent sausage sizzles and we need someone to order and pick up sausages and bread etc and make sure there’s enough sauce, Call it whatever you want – Providore?????
  • This might be a few person job and happy to get a squad of 2, 3, 4 or more.
    We need someone to coordinate putting away the gear each week. There’s usually stacks of hands to help, but if we have someone who knows where everything goes and checks it all in, the job is smoother. We have an awesome new set up with custom designed racks etc. It’s important we take pride in the gear and look after it. What would you call it? Gear Gun/s?? Maybe Storeroom Nazi/s???

Form the queue at the front of the club – or ring or email me.

SIGNING IN & OUT

It’s vital for many, many reasons that each and every week, each Nipper signs in and out. To ensure this runs properly, we need a parent to do it each week. It’s a simple job and there’ll be straightforward instructions in your age group folder. Please step forward when your age manager asks.

THE FABULOUS ‘V’ WORD

Not vegetables or Vegas. Nippers is not like other sports or music lessons. The Age Manager runs the show but needs all families to help. We identify specific parent helpers but it’s “all in” at North Curly Nippers! Naturally parents need to share time with siblings but if you’re on the beach, get involved, become a BIG V (volunteer).

What You’ve Missed Most (and a bumper crop) – Hodgie’s Dad Jokes!

I spent $300 hiring a limo and just discovered it doesn’t come with a driver. Can’t believe I spent all that money and I’ve got nothing to chauffeur it!

I asked Chrissie if I was the only one she’d been with. Apparently I am. All the others were 8s or 9s!

Chrissie texted me “Your fantastic”. I went back “No, you’re fantastic”

She’s been smiling ever since. Do you think I should tell her that I was just correcting her grammar?

Somebody keeps sending me flowers with the heads cut off. I think I’m being stalked!!!

One big difference between men and women is that when she says “smell this”, it usually smells nice.

Counsellor: “Hodgie, do you feel dominated by your wife?”
Chrissie: “No, he doesn’t”

I went to a psychic and knocked on her door. She said “who is it?” So I left.

With the rise of self driving vehicles, it’s only a matter of time until there’s a country music song where a Cowboy’s truck leaves him.

Last night I dreamt that I’d written Lord of the Rings. I was Tolkien in my sleep.

I went to the Manly Aquatic Centre for a swim last Saturday and took a pee in the deep end. The lifeguard saw it and blew his whistle that loud that I nearly fell in.

Remember when teachers used to say “you won’t be carrying a calculator with you everywhere you go!” …..

I just ordered a chicken and an egg from Amazon. I’ll let you know.

“I have a split personality,” said Tom, being frank.

A duck was standing by the side of the road when suddenly a chicken came up beside him and said
“Don’t do it mate- you’ll never hear the end of it.”

I heard that oxygen and magnesium are dating!
OMg !!!!!!

Took this girl out for a meal 8 times over the past couple of weeks, then even to a Superhero movie.
It was just, dinner dinner dinner dinner dinner dinner dinner dinner, BATMAN!

Check out our Registration Page for all information of how to RENEW your registration or JOIN if you are new to North Curl Curl SLSC

Meanwhile please look back over previous newsletters – links are below:

April 2019

March 2019

February 2019

January 2019

December 2018

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