Ryde Rowing Club Annual Subscriptions are due on the 1st January 2020 - and a reminder - for all members including Associate - the DISCOUNTED RATE ENDS 1st FEBRUARY, 2020.

Can we thank all the Club Members who have renewed their Annual Subscriptions to date - your early payment helps the Club and saves you money – and saves us having to chase-you up!

Please help the Club and yourself and pay promptly.

It should be noted that, on average, if paid at the reduced rate – our rates of subscription remain the same or less than any other Island Rowing Club – and membership fees – at all levels – at mainland clubs are significantly higher. The Associate membership – at just £20 – where the only restrictions are on the use of the Clubs boats and training equipment are an ideal level of membership for parents wanting to support their sons and daughters who row.

The rates of subscription for 2020 are as follows –

Membership type Payable before 1st February 2020/Payable after 1st February 2020.

Rowing £120/£180

Social Rowing £72/£108

Non-IW Rowers £60/£90

Full Time Education £42/£63

Associate £20/£30.

For Associate members - please note the early payment deadline - not previously applied to Associate membership.

Note: For new members, who have joined since October, 2019 the membership already paid covers the current subscription year. Your next subscription will be due, subject to approval at the 2020 AGM on 1st January, 2021.

Subscriptions should be paid as soon as possible – over the bar at the Clubhouse or sent to the membership Secretary, Steph Hickman at 145 Great Preston Road, Ryde, Isle of Wight. PO33 1AZ. Telephone number 01983 613077. E Mail: steph.hickman1944@gmail.com Cheques should be made payable to "Ryde Rowing Club". You can also pay by electronic bank transfer - please transfer the appropriate subscription to Account Number - 03707210. Sort Code: 20-60-55 and put RRC Membership in the reference field - and it would also be helpful if you could E Mail Steph Hickman if you choose to pay this way - advising her that you have done so. Standing order forms are also available on request and are available at the Clubhouse - and the opportunity to set-up a monthly payment (over six months) can be set-up by special arrangement.

In January the opportunity to pay be credit card will be available at certain times - normally Fridays at the clubhouse - to be confirmed.

Can I also remind all active Senior and Junior Oarsperson's that have a situation that has developed with regards to our activities at our Folly site where the firm that provides the Security is enquiring weather our members have personal accident insurance to cover them while they are involved in rowing activities on site. They may well restrict our access or stop us using the sight altogether if we do not comply - which would have a major impact on our activities. It is all most impossible for the Club to provide this sort of cover - however there is a solution which is for our active rowing members to take out British Rowing Membership. This gives your child an appropriate level of personal accident insurance cover while involved in any rowing activity as well as combined liability insurance which provides protection if someone accuses your child of being responsible for an injury they have suffered or damage to their property.

British Rowing Membership also has a number of other benefits - expert tips and guidance to improve their rowing, fitness and health, a waterproof laser-etched membership card/race licence, entry to British Rowing primary events - which will allow our Junior to compete in British Rowing events - in addition to the local H&D ARA events we are currently restricted to - considerable expanding the number of competitions open to us, six editions of Rowing & Regatta magazine per year, an online learning platform and access to purchase GB Rowing Team officials replica kit - as well as a range of discounts from companies involved with our sport.

So your committee have concluded that this is the most appropriate way forward and would ask the parents/guardians of all our Junior member to sign their child up as British Rowing members as soon as possible. The cost is £29.50 annually which we understand is an additional cost but is only 57p a week and we feel this is worth it for the insurance cover and additional benefits this provides. Active Senior members would be expected to become a minimum of a BR "ROW" member at a cost of £32 - if they are not already members of BR.

To join British Rowing - go to https://www.britishrowing.org/membership/race-membership/ and select the Junior (under "RACE") Membership or Row Option - and hit the "JOIN NOW" button - and follow the instructions.

It would be appreciated if you could do this for your child at the earliest opportunity - and advise us when you have done so - however we appreciate that with your annual subscription due next month - we are prepared to not enforce this until the 1st April.

Sent on behalf of Dave Redstone. RRC Treasurer by -
Steve Bull. For RRC Main committee.