by RustyCage » Mon Apr 22, 2013 11:11 pm
36ers news:
So much is still happening, not only in basketball around the country, but more importantly here at the Club. Here is an update on where we are at with some of it.
NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS
Firstly I must congratulate the New Zealand Breakers on their fantastic win in the Grand Final series. They clearly have been the team to beat all season and their performance all the way has been brilliant. To win three in a row is a magnificent achievement and full credit must go to absolutely everyone involved. Their Owners, Management and Staff, Coaches and players, Support staff and volunteers, Corporate Partners and members. Everyone involved with the Breakers have rallied together and over the last three seasons, have shown what can be achieved and deserve what has come their way.
TOWNSVILLE
Not sure I have a lot more to add since my last letter, other than to say the response from the Townsville community has been sensational. The pledges (financial) of support and membership and corporate has been great and there is a very strong feeling of a successful model being put in place to ensure the Townsville Crocs are part of the NBL for a lot longer yet. Let’s hope they get it done.
ADELAIDE LIGHTNING
Great news this week as coach Peter Buckle announced the signing of Nadeen Payne and Amy Lewis. Add them to the previously signed Jenni Screen, Laura Hodges and Angela Marino and the Lightning group for next season is building momentum. Discussions are still being held with Captain Jo Hill, Stephanie Talbot and Lauren Mansfield. Also a big congratulations to Amy Lewis who got engaged over the weekend.
BASKETBALL CAMPS
This week we have our basketball camps at the Adelaide Arena with one on Saturday and a 3 day camp from Monday to Wednesday. We have had a great response to the camps with over 100 children registering to attend. They will get to work with the Adelaide 36ers players and Laura Hodges from the Adelaide Lightning (Monday only) who will help with their basketball skills and have a lot of fun along the way. Looking forward to seeing all the stars of the future running around on the courts next week.
ADELAIDE 36ers COACHING POSITION
It has been a big week in regards to the interest in the position of Head Coach at the Adelaide 36ers. A lot of work has been put in at looking who will be the best fit for the club and short listing the applicants. We are aiming to sit down next week and give this shortlisted group of applicants the opportunity to present and be interviewed in our search for the right coach. We are aware that free agency is just around the corner, however we must take the time to get this decision right and I honestly believe that with the great quality of applicants coming through, we will get it right.
You may have heard that we spoke to Rob Beveridge (Perth Wildcats) and I can confirm that I have in fact spoken with his agent in regards to Rob’s future. During those discussions, Rob’s agent indicated that Adelaide would be an unlikey option. Rob has some big decisions to make it regards to his future and is obviously also part of a very successful organisation. The question needed to be asked and was. Rest assured we have a very committed group of people working very hard to work through this process and would love to be able to announce some news soon. Stay tuned …….
MEMBERSHIPS
As you read this, your memberships are in the mail and on the way to your letterbox. Getting these printed and out to you has taken a bit longer than originally planned and as a result we have extended the early bird offer of 10% discount til Friday 10th May. I have made no secret of the importance our members and Corporate partners are and the impact they have on the club. As we have seen in Townsville recently the impact of member numbers being down and crowd numbers being down can have a dramatic impact. I have been asked a few times now why we release memberships so early and there are many reasons.
Firstly a membership renewal with an earlybird offer has two reasons to it, it brings money into the club during a time when there is not a lot of revenue (as opposed to in-season) and it is still business as usual or in fact busier than usual in the off season.
The other reason is to reward the people that will stand by the club regardless of liking or waiting for other decisions to be made.
My ultimate aim is for members to have a good relationship with the Club and renewing is not a question you need to ask because something will be missing in your life if you were not a member. That is something we need to build, I can promise you that as hard as it is to make a decision to keep thousands happy, everyone here makes decisions with what is best for the club in mind. Other reasons for early renewal is to give people the opportunity to go on the payment plan option and have time over 10 months to pay instead of finding one lump sum payment, which is not always easy.
There are members who choose to wait until a coach is appointed or players are signed and that is their choice. All we do as a club is offer options and you can take up one to suit you. I would love to see 4,000 members get on board and members can renew between now and the start of the season. The good times are coming.
Thanks for reading and look out for your membership form in the mail.
Dean Parker
General Manager
Adelaide 36er & Adelaide Lightning
I'm gonna break my rusty cage and run
