Dear Members and friends of SSCUA

Once again we come to the end of another cricket season.

Congratulations must be extended to the four Premiership sides -

1st Grade - Pennant Hills

2nd Grade - Roseville

3rd Grade - Warringah

4th Grade - Macquarie Uni

It was great to see that all 4 grand finals were decided on the field with only a light early morning shower on Sunday at some games ever so briefly causing some concern.

I want to take this opportunity to fill you in on what happens for us in the next six months.

First and foremost I'm taking a break and everything cricket related will get cast aside for a week (maybe two).

First thing on the agenda is late April / early May when I will compile and complete your umpires assessments for the completed season. These will be emailed to you at that time. **NOTE** - if you do NOT want your marks emailed to you then you must advise me by email stating “do not send my marks for the completed season”

In May I will be meeting with the Shires Sub Committee to review the season just gone and one of the main items on the agenda will be suggested rule changes for the next season. If there is ANYTHING you feel didn’t work in the local playing conditions during the season please contact me and it will be tabled for consideration.

The next important event is the Sydney Shires end of season presentation dinner on Friday May 16

We would like to see as many members and their partners attend again this year. A strong showing of support in numbers at this event shows the Shire Clubs that we are committed to this competition. Details of the night are as follows -

Date - Friday May 16 , 2008

Venue - Harbourside Docklands , Darling harbour
Start Time - 7pm
Cost - $70 per head (approx - exact price TBC)
Steve Abbott (MC) , Guest Speaker – TBC

The 8 umpires who umpired the 1st to 4th grade Grand Finals are eligible to a free ticket from the SCA. If any of these 8 want to bring a partner you need to let me know and pay for your partners ticket

Please contact me by email and confirm if you would like to attend. No need to pay at this stage , You will be invoiced after the event. If you can attend please advise if it’s just you or you and your partner.

Also in late May or June this Association will be conducting a FREE BBQ for all members and their partners. Details will be confirmed within the next 4 weeks or so - There is no charge for day. All food and drink will be supplied. Keep watching this space for more details

In early July the Annual Report will be mailed out to members. Also at this time letters will go out to members asking for your involvement in the 2008/09 season.

On Wednesday 30 July 2008 we will hold our seventh Annual General Meeting. Please ensure you attend this meeting. A mail out will occur closer to the date of the AGM asking if you wish to stand for any position on the committee. Please seriously consider getting involved on committee level.

Also in July the NSWCU&SA will also hold its off season Rules , Training and Examination Course (more details as they come to hand). This is an excellent opportunity to refresh yourself on the laws before the start of the next season. We also ask that you try and recruit members for next season. Encourage people interested in cricket to do the course and push them towards Shires Cricket. If only 50% of our current membership could bring a mate to Shires we would have enough members to cover all of first , second AND third Grade Shires !!

In August members will receive the playing dates for the new season and you will be asked to commit to whether you wish to umpire. When you receive these forms please return them promptly. Members who hang onto these forms up to mid September cause problems and delays in the new seasons appointments being completed.

In late September we kick off again for the new season.

I'd now like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of our members for their contribution during the season. I must admit the season flowed pretty smoothly and all can take a lot of credit for the fact that each made significant contributions towards the seasons success.

I'm very hopeful that the next season will be just as successful and I'm hoping that ALL our members will want to be an active Shires competition umpire in the upcoming season. Its been a pleasure working for this competition and I would be delighted to retain this position if elected at this Associations 7th Annual General Meeting on July 30.

Kind Regards
Stephen Blomfield
Honorary Secretary / Appointments Officer