Another Summer is fading away and we are about to enter another season of adventure and aspirations. As I have mentioned during many of my welcome notes of the previous seasons we are all looking for the Senior Club to kick on across the 5 sides, with the 1s looking to continue their excellent form of the 2015/16 season and hopefully push a little further, but the challenge does not get any easier. The Club will also be placing high expectations on the Demons and Angels, whilst wishing the Saints and Sinners another superb season. The Junior Club continues to go from strength to strength and we continue to invest in the Academy set up, whilst supporting the U6s through to U15s and our Girls look to enjoy their second season, consolidating and pushing on from the high achievements of last year.

Good news – Even with increasing costs that the Club faces the management team has agreed to keep subscriptions the same as last season with senior players subs at £150, family and student membership at £100, with social subs at £60. We strive to keep these capped, but recognise that the Club has to remain in a financially strong position - remember all income is ploughed back into the Club and the management team continue to monitor all elements. Therefore, it is imperative that subs are collected as quickly as possible and paid in to the Club’s central account to drive our positive cash flow and ensure that we continue to run a cash and cost efficient sports club for all to enjoy and share in all successes.

At the end of last season Dartfordians RFC regained the Club Full Accreditation from England Rugby for the way in which the club is managed and we must continue to deliver to the values and ethos that helped us regain this important award. Our core values remain and it is imperative that all members live and breathe them and ensure that Dartfordians RFC continues to have the upmost respect from those within the game in Kent and beyond. Kent County RFU saw more displays of poor behaviour across the County during last season and as a club, Dartfordians RFC must play its part in supporting the County to eradicate non rugby behaviour – I know I have your full support on that…..

This season Dartfordians RFC will partner with the national Wooden Spoon Charity who raise funds to support local disabled and under privileged children. All the money we raise will go towards the Kent Wooden Spoon team to support projects that are local to us all. Please watch out for supporting events and give generously so that Dartfordians RFC can really make a difference for children in the County.

Please join the Club website www.dartfordiansrfc.co.uk if you have not already and keep an eye out for all the latest news, results and events on the site, Facebook and Twitter.

Sponsors.

Once again I would like to give huge thanks to all of our sponsors – RTS remain our main sponsor for a further year, but we are working on obtaining sponsorship from as many varied businesses/individuals as possible. We have a new sponsor this season, in the form of The Property Cloud – the business is an online estate agent and they have agreement with us that will see sponsorship increasing as our member’s use the firm for sales or purchases. See the website for more details. We welcome The Property Cloud in the support of Dartfordians RFC as we look to help the business grow whilst benefitting the club. The club continues to look for new sponsors and I would encourage you to let me know of anyone who you think may be interested. We would definitely welcome a conversation.

Volunteers.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you all in advance for any voluntary work that you take on throughout the season - whatever it is goes a long way to moving the club forward.
Anyone who wants to support the Club by volunteering please let me know - we have several positions that we are looking to fill, so please contact Jarrod who will be pleased to pass on further information.

Club Shop Manager – immediate
Treasurer – from 2017/18 season
First Aid Coordinator – from 2017/18 season
Child Welfare Officer – from 2017/18 season
U6s Head Coach – immediate
Social Secretary – immediate

International Tickets

Attached is information re tickets for this seasons Internationals. Please submit all requests to the Martin Gubby, the International Ticket Coordinator, by the dates mentioned. Please note that applications for International tickets will only be considered from those members who have paid their annual subscriptions. It is imperative that if you are lucky enough to purchase tickets they must be returned to the Club if it turns out that you can no longer go. A full refund will be made and a new home for those tickets will be found amongst our membership.

Crown Club

As the development of facilities will need to be funded, I would ask that you all become members of the Crown Club, the proceeds from which go towards the operation and development of the Club and ground. A Crown Club application form is attached and should be completed and forwarded to The Crown Club, Old Dartfordians Association, War Memorial Clubhouse, Bourne Road, Bexley, Kent, DA5 1LW. Alternatively, you can give them directly to Andy Smith.

Annual Subscriptions

Annual Subscriptions are now due, so please complete the attached Bankers Order Form or alternatively you can pay by cash or by cheque (payable to Dartfordians RFC) or by Credit/Debit card machine (behind the bar). The Family Membership is £100 a season and includes siblings and social membership for the parents. Senior Membership is now £150 per season and the Social Membership fee is £60 for the year. Students are expected to pay the £100 subs level. Please note that although the Rugby Club has arranged basic insurance for all their members they are only covered if they are a fully paid up member of the Club – so don’t delay submitting your subs!

Membership Form

Please complete the attached Mini & Junior Club Membership Form. Even if you have completed one previously it is necessary so that we can ensure that we have up-to-date contact details, in case of emergency and current medical information that may be needed.

The reverse of the form also has a ‘Sports Equity Monitoring’ form to be completed. Whilst this is not compulsory, I would encourage you all to complete and return to your coaches.

Codes of Conduct

Finally, you will find attached the following:

• Please Respect Our Neighbours
• Code of Conduct for Players
• Code of Conduct for Parents/Guardians/Carers and Spectators

Please take your time to read and familiarise yourselves with these codes of conduct.

Be aware of the new Kent County disciplinary rules - any adult, whether a player, coach or parent will be asked to attend a disciplinary hearing with Kent County RFU if they break the rules and are red carded. There are NO exceptions to this and there will also be fines imposed by the Club on the offenders.

Can I please ask you to respect our neighbours, ensure that if you find litter on the ground pick it up or ask the person dropping it to do so, to ensure that all players, parents and officials are respected in the true traditions of the game of rugby union.

Yours in rugby,

Jarrod Lawrence

Chairman
Dartfordians RFC
Email: jarrod.lawrence@btinternet.com