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Waikato/Bay of Plenty and Wanganui/Taranaki have requisitioned a Special General Meeting to ratify the changes to the Constitution, Rules and Regulations that were sought by members at the 2007 AGM. Those changes are: amending the definition of "Championships"; and, integrating those parts of Rowing New Zealand's safety systems that we do not already meet or exceed (any change in relation to trade marks will be left to the 2008 AGM). A tidy-up of the circumstances where Top Ten badges are issued has been added to the SGM business by the Executive Committee.
The Special General Meeting will enable those changes to be put in place in time for our major regattas this season. The business of the SGM will be conducted in December by postal ballot. Voting papers have been sent (c/o the Sports Coordinator) to member schools' Principals.
Marked-up drafts of the changes awaiting ratification can be found online: constitution, Regulations, Rules.
Aon NZ maintains its ongoing close relationship with school rowing and is again the major sponsor of Maadi (our national championships). So we can look forward to the:
"2008 Aon New Zealand Secondary Schools Rowing Championships Regatta"
The 2008 Aon Maadi Cup Regatta will be hosted for us by South Island Rowing Inc, who is also hosting our 2008 South Island Secondary Schools Rowing Championships. In addition there is a North Island Secondary Schools regatta at Lake Karapiro. All three events are also sanctioned by the New Zealand Secondary Schools Sports Council and appear on their calendar of approved events. Dates and venues for the three major NZSSRA regattas are:
Other regattas run by our local associations or intended for school-age rowers are listed in the calendar on our website.
Members should note the regatta will start on Monday, 31 March. There will be an official spare half day being the morning of Sunday, 6 April. However this only extends to midday, as time must be given to enable schools to vacate accommodation, return rentals and make flights etc; also, so the pupils and staff can be back at school on Monday.
We remind schools that accommodation at this regatta will be hard to find and suggest this should be attended to urgently. The Twizel Promotion and Development Association is a good place to start enquiries: www.twizel.com
When the issue of the scarcity of accommodation was raised during our 2006 AGM in Twizel it was reported the problem was exacerbated by schools over-booking houses and failing to fix this at the earliest opportunity. Therefore, we ask schools to regularly review their accommodation requirements and make sure any excess is released so it becomes available to other members.
When making bookings for 2008 please bear in mind the (hopefully remote) possibility there can be racing on the morning of Sunday 6 April.
It was announced at the 2007 AGM that the new eligibility criteria introduced by NZSSSC will form part of the Terms and Conditions of our major regattas. These criteria affect the number of pupils who are new to a school (including transfers and exchange pupils) who can be entered in a crew. Schools should familiarise themselves with the eligibility criteria, which can be found in our library or on NZSSSC's website (in its constitution).
SPECIAL CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN BY MEMBER SCHOOLS THAT ONLY BECOME CO-ED IN YEAR 12 OR 13.
Any school having a query about how the new criteria might affect its circumstances should contact the Executive Officer.
Every year at Maadi we endeavour to hold a number of exhibition races; the most popular of these being the coxswains' race. Weather permitting; the 2008 Aon Maadi Cup Regatta should be no different. For Maadi at Lake Ruataniwha we suggest it is not only coxswains but also coaches who should brush off their rowing skills on the off-chance they can take to the water during the regatta.
Communication with the organisers of the 2008 Aon Maadi Cup Regatta can be made using email at: 2008.maadi[]schoolrowing.org.nz
In conjunction with Maritime New Zealand, NZSSRA has supplied every member school with a "Safe Boating" DVD and booklet (sent to Sports Coordinators with the annual subscription invoice and Principal's voting papers for the SGM).
The information these guides contain has the greatest application to coaching boats but it is very important to remember rowing crews are also subject to boating laws and equally need to be mindful of their safety. We suggest all schools take the time to watch the DVD and encourage their pupils to start developing good boating habits.
Notice is given that the 2008 Annual General Meeting of the Association will be held during the 2008 Aon New Zealand Secondary Schools Rowing Championships Regatta on the evening of Tuesday 1st of April. The business will be:
Notice is given that nominations for Life Membership of the Association close on Friday, 18 January 2008. Reference is made to clause 5.2 of the constitution for persons who may be nominated and the process.
Notice is given that nominations for the Honorary Auditor and Honorary Solicitor close on Friday, 22 February 2008. Persons being nominated for these positions should first be contacted to see if they wish to be nominated.
Notice is given that the closing date for submission of remits for the AGM is Friday, 22 February 2008.
Note: The Rules and Regulations are not up for change in 2008 (ref cl 10.6 of constitution) so unless there is an emergency to be dealt with remits should be of a general nature or relate only to changes of the constitution.
Notice is given that the closing date for receipt of applications to host the 2010 NZSSRA Championships regattas (Maadi, North Island Championship and/or South Island Championships) is Friday, 22 February 2008. Such applications should be made on the form given in Appendix (F)1 of the Constitution.
The 2007 AGM was unable to come to a decision about how to enshrine in our constitution the management of NZSSRA's Marks (which include (whether registered or not) our trade marks, name and logo). Consequently, to maintain the status quo, all NZSSRA members during the 2007/2008 season will be granted a non-exclusive, non-transferrable, royalty-free licence to use our marks during that season. This limited licence has been recorded on the invoice for annual subscription that was sent out to all members' Sports Coordinators.
In related news, NZSSRA also is working on licensing agreements with merchandisers who will be attending Maadi and Rowing New Zealand has expressed interest in jointly using the registered Maadi trade marks with NZSSRA for the benefit of all rowing.
In 2008 Online Regatta Entry (ORE) will be the exclusive means of entry into all NZSSRA's major regattas: North Island and South Island Secondary Schools Rowing Championships and the Aon New Zealand Secondary Schools Rowing Championships.
The PASSWORDS necessary for schools to gain entry to ORE will be sent to SPORTS COORDINATORS once annual subscriptions are paid. Please ensure we have a current email address for your school's Sports Coordinator (check your school's profile online and look for "email: YES" in "Contact" details) to assist this process.
It is a requirement of membership of the NZSSRA for all schools to compete in colours approved by the Executive Officer. This process should be completed BEFORE singlets/row suits are ordered; if there is any clash your choice may be declined.
Any school competing in unapproved colours can be disqualified (Rule 10.1) so it is essential you check your colours on the website. If your colours are not shown or are different to those given then YOU MUST send an application to have your new colours registered.
TAKE SPECIAL CARE IF CHANGING TO ROW-SUITS AS THESE MIGHT NOT END UP THE SAME AS YOUR REGISTERED COLOURS. AN APPROVAL FOR THE ALTERATION MUST BE OBTAINED.
All rowers who race in Rowing New Zealand sanctioned regattas must either hold a current competition licence or obtain a day licence. Where practicable NZSSRA also uses Competition Licence data for its register of school rowers and for the Regatta Control Program used by our hosts. To enable this program to be used at our Championships it is essential that all rowers for your school be correctly registered with Rowing New Zealand; this should be completed by the end of December.
Please check with your school's club to make sure your rowers' Competition Licences are up to date.
We also take this opportunity to draw members' attention to Rowing New Zealand's safety systems, which are being incorporated into our existing safety Rule. Included in the requirements of those safety systems is "All persons participating in rowing or sculling must be in good health and able to swim a minimum of [50]m in light clothing and shoes". We recommend members ensure all their rowing pupils meet this requirement as early in the season as possible.
Copies of Rowing New Zealand's safety systems can be found in our library or on Rowing NZ's website.
Expected to be held at Lake Karapiro from Monday, 30 March until Saturday, 4 April 2009 with Sunday, 5 April (until noon) being the reserve day.
The annual account for membership has been posted to schools' Sports Coordinators (with a water safety DVD, newsletters and the principal's voting papers for the SGM). This is for $80.00 but if the invoice is paid before 1 December 2007 then the $40.00 discount may be taken.
If any clubs receiving a copy of this newsletter have started new schools since March 2007 or are planning to do so then they should contact the Executive Officer regarding setting up membership for the school and establishing the school's rowing colours. A current list of schools is given on our web site.
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