Dear Member,

I hope that you have had a great summer break and now welcome you back with news for the 2008 / 2009 season.
 
Junior Hockey Registration
Weston Junior Hockey will recommence on Sunday 28th September this year. Due to the large numbers of existing members and new members wishing to join we need to better organise the junior section both on and off the pitch. To help with this we will be holding two registration sessions on Thursday 18 September 8:30 - 9:30 and Saturday 20 September 2:00 - 3:00 in the clubhouse. Priority will be given to existing members. If you can’t attend this either of these please send a completed registration form and cheque for fees, made payable to Weston Hockey Club, to Margaret Lowry Hayes, 76 Lucan Heights, Lucan Co. Dublin.

Players must be at lease 6 years old on the day of registration or have previously been members of Weston Junior section or summer camp.

This years Junior Committee is as follows:

If anyone is interested in coaching or playing any role in improving the development of our Junior Section, please contact Paul Kennedy (087 6815802). There is tremendous talent and potential right here in our club but we all need to encourage and develop it.  Our emphasis this year in on development in both skill and tactical awareness and most importantly enjoyment.  These young boys and girls are the future of the club and they need lots of help and support from our Senior Section and any parents who are available to help out. 
 
Please also note it is compulsory for every junior member to wear shin guards and a gum shield.
 

Junior fees
1st Child                                 €100
2nd Child                                €90
3rd Child                                €80
4th & subsequent child             €70

Junior Training Times
Training will begin on Sunday 28th September at our pitch in Esker, Lucan.
 
As of now the training times will remain the same as last year, however, depending on numbers and different groups, this may change to accommodate everybody.

   
For younger children we’d recommend a parent stays near the pitch during training.

Our Website is up and running
www.westonhockeyclub.com
The website has been updated and will be in full use for the coming season.
We need you to help keep the website up to date. If anyone has news items and photos from recent Weston events, please send them on to westonhc@gmail.com

Preseason training
Ladies training has begun from Tuesday 12th August. Bring your runners as fitness may play a large part.
Men’s training is to commence on Tuesday 26th August. Anyone interested in preseason, please contact your Club Captain, Shane O’Hare.
Training times are same as last year.

Tuesday

• Men’s Teams: 19.00 – 20.30
• Ladies Teams: 20.30 – 22.00 (Warm up at 20.15)

• Ladies Teams: 19.00 – 20.30
• Men’s Teams: 20.30– 22.00

For insurance purposes it is necessary for all members to pay €30 off their subs before they start their first training session.

Fundraising

Weston’s annual Golf Classic took place in Westmanstown Golf Club on the 18th July. A great day was enjoyed by all who attended. I would like to thank everybody who helped organise and all the volunteers on the day who make this event happen. This event made over €5,000 for future training and development.
Date for the diary for 2009 – Lucan Golf Club, Friday 19th June.
Our fundraising efforts must continue to ensure that our astro pitch is maintained into the future, and that we can invest in training and development. Fundraising events will be organised throughout the season. These will all be advised through the website as soon as dates are agreed.

New Team Kit           
Much work has been done to source new kit for the whole club. Every Weston team will have its own jerseys, but shorts and skorts have to be purchased by players
            Ladies Skort & Socks - €40
            Men’s Shorts & Socks - €30
All ladies players – if you have not ordered your skort, please contact Nicola Harris (087 6371096). Samples will be available at training sessions. Men’s kit will be organised once training begins.
We realize this is an expense on your behalf but we do feel it is important for all players to have the new kit, so Weston hockey Club looks well on the pitch, while playing top quality hockey.

Membership Subscriptions
The Club’s subscription fees for the 2008/09 season.

**Pay Subs before the 30th September 2008 & get discount**

Memberships Subscriptions – Direct Debit Mandates
In an attempt to ease payment of the subscriptions for the upcoming season, a Direct Debit facility will be available for the €170 and €300 subscriptions. For those who wish to avail of this facility, payment will be debited from your account over a four month period, September to December. A direct debit form is enclosed with this letter and if you wish to use this method of payment please complete the form and return it to a member of the committee. There will be an additional €4 fee to avail of this facility bringing above subs to €174 and €304 respectively, thus giving four payments of €43.50 or €76.00 per month.

Click here for Direct Debit Mandate

Annual General Meeting

At the AGM held at Finnstown Country House Hotel in May 2007 the following committee were elected for the 2008/09 season:

Club Captains

This will be our fifth season having the benefit of club captains, whose role is to supervise the men’s and ladies playing sections of the club and to be the direct link for playing members to the committee. Grainne Ni Lanagain and Shane O’Hare will be helping the match secretaries, coaches, selectors, captains and vice captains ensure that everything is running smoothly during the course of the season. If you feel that there is an item which requires the committee’s attention, be it a problem you are having, an idea you have for improving an aspect of the club’s approach or just a general comment, Grainne and Shane will be on hand to deal with it or pass it on to the committee as necessary.

I look forward to seeing you all soon.

Regards
Emmet Hutchin
Club Chairperson