Tennis NSW

Membership Reform Moving Forward

Tennis NSW is set to move ahead with membership reform in 2013-2014.

As all Members are aware, Tennis NSW has conducted information sessions to Members regarding the Membership Reform Project, which changes how Members of Tennis NSW are affiliated.

This new model is primarily based on the venue a Member occupies and will commence on 1 July 2013.  As referred to in the information sessions conducted throughout 2012, Tennis SA has trialled this model and lifted its membership by 40% in the first year of operation. Tennis Queensland and Tennis ACT start this new model on 1 January 2013.

Affiliation to Tennis NSW in the 2013-2014 year will be characterised by the following features –

• All Members apply for affiliation each year by completing an affiliation form;
• All Members pay an affiliation fee consisting of $400 plus $250 per court if they control/operate a facility, which provides the club/association/operator with Directors and Officers Insurance, Public Liability Insurance, access to Tennis NSW programs and services; and all registered players with Personal Accident Insurance;
• Schools and members who do not control a facility will pay $400; and
• There is NO fee payable to Tennis NSW for registering players BUT clubs/associations/operators are obliged to register player details, which ensure the players are also covered by the insurances.

Recently, Tennis NSW conducted a Special General Meeting (SGM) to modify the Voting Rights Clause of the Tennis NSW constitution. This was recommended by the board to the Members to limit the number of votes available at general meetings.

This recommendation was a by-product of Membership Reform not a key plank of the Reform. This recommendation was lost at the SGM as the affirmative vote of 71.86% was just short of the 75% required.

Therefore, Members will still get their voting entitlement based on the number of players registered with Tennis NSW. Hopefully, we will have many more votes to count at the next annual meeting because Membership Reform has given clubs an incentive to register players but without the cost.

I want to reassure all those Members, who see Membership Reform as a progressive innovation, that the board is totally committed to introducing it on 1 July 2013. Tennis will become the first truly national sport where funds raised by the clubs stays with the clubs, in Tennis NSW’s case that means $250,000 remains in clubs’ accounts, which can be spent at the local level on facilities, local marketing and promotion and sport development.

Recently Tennis NSW mailed information on the new membership package to all member clubs/associations and operators.  If you did not receive this information or if you’re club/facility is not a member of Tennis NSW and would like to be, please contact our membership team at Tennis NSW. 

Also, for any member who might be slightly disadvantaged under the new arrangements we have provided you with additional information and have asked that your contact our membership team to discuss a plan of action to negate that disadvantage in the first year.   

Tennis NSW are committed to working with all members to advance tennis membership in NSW and better record tennis participation in our sport. In the New Year, Tennis NSW will also send every Member a membership pack, which will contain the 2013-2014 Membership Form and associated literature. If any Member has questions about this new model, please do not hesitate to call Tennis NSW on (02) 9024-7600 and talk to the membership team.

All the best for the summer of tennis and please enjoy a happy and safe holiday season!

Kind regards,

Glenn Tasker- Chief Executive