Joining a rowing club should be a commitment greater than just paying a subscription fee and getting to use the club boats, gym and facilities. Rowing clubs have a community responsibility.
Joining a club is fun, most are very family-friendly and many people make friends for life. So shouldn’t they have the right to demand more from members?
Can the club ask members for more commitment?
A club is a community and participation is essential for its effective functioning. I remember being very irritated by a senior club member at a former club who refused to help with anything – not fund raising, not washing boats, not social events. He thought paying his membership fee was “enough” and the club had no right to ask for more.
For clubs with junior sections, learning social skills is important and a rowing club gives a great environment for collaboration, teamwork and respect for teachers and coaching authority.
I visited Maidenhead Rowing Club’s website and read their membership application form.
Your Membership ‘Contract’
The club has no full-time managerial staff, which places the onus on ALL of its members to share the day-to-day running of the club, as it takes a lot of effort to run a club the size of ours.
I Agree to:
Help with a reasonable and fair share of activities towards running the club, including the 2 bi-annual work days
Is this appropriate? Have other clubs taken on similar requests of their members?
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