| Ryedale Table Tennis League |
ENGLISH
TABLE TENNIS ASSOCIATION Limited
Queensbury
House
TN34
1HF
Tel:
01424 722525
Fax:
01424 422103
Email:
admin@englishtabletennis.org.uk
17th
June 2005
Ref: ANM/MLK0686
Dear
Table Tennis Player,
I
have asked for your Local League Secretary to include this article in the
2005/6 Handbook of your Local League in an attempt to give you a little
background information on the English Table Tennis Association Limited,
(ETTA) its workings, benefits to you and how by communications we can work
together as a team for the sport we all love.
The
ETTA is the National Governing Body for the sport in
All
players who pay a fee to the ETTA are part of the ETTA and can be involved
in any policies and direction of the sport via an appointed League
Representative Company Member who is entitled to vote on your behalf at
Annual General Meetings (AGM). A
County Representative Company Member not only votes at an AGM but is
involved with the operation of the sport at four meetings per year as part
of the National Council and receives regular communications of all minutes
of the various ETTA committees responsible for the day to day operation of
the sport.
The
ETTA has a Management Committee consisting of Departmental Vice-Chairmen
and the Officers of the ETTA who are all volunteers plus the Chief
Executive who is a member of staff. The
Management Committee has 11 members and works with the staff and you’re
your representatives on the National Council.
The
ETTA now has 30 full or part time staff covering all aspects of support
for the existing players and potential new players. This includes
All
of the staff are responsible for supporting and helping you and your local
volunteers in expanding the participation of our sport by creating
opportunities for people to play at all levels while at the same time
supporting you at Local League and club level within the areas defined
above.
Not
everyone wants or needs support; it is very important that you understand
what is available to you and is in place for your benefit and for the
creation of more players and administrators at all levels.
As part of our service to member Leagues we would very much welcome
an invitation from your Local League for your ETTA Regional Development
Officer to visit you. The aim
is to provide information and support to help table tennis grow at the
local level. This would
include areas of discussion including volunteer support, club, coach and
facility development funding opportunities, school club links, and table
tennis for disabled people as well as updates on topical issues, such as
child protection within our sport.
It
is not only the responsibility of Management Committee and National
Council to make the decisions about table tennis, how it functions, what
the membership needs and the benefits of being part of the biggest table
tennis club in England, namely your ETTA, but yours as well.
Much
debate has taken place regarding the way players pay fees to the ETTA and
this will continue to be discussed. No
changes can take place without the approval via the democratic procedures
laid down for our sport. You
can and should be involved in the process.
On
my travels some people raise the question why do I have to pay a fee to
the ETTA and what do I get out of it. Firstly you should be aware that the
ETTA receives from each Local League player under £5 per annum. For this
your ETTA has to provide the services for its members from each of the
Departments mentioned previously. You may not want any or only some of
these services, that is your decision.
The National Governing Body has to be responsible for all areas of
table tennis and at all levels. I do not consider £5 per annum from
players to help in the running of the sport in
I
am still a Local League player and a volunteer administrator and consider
that we have to increase our real support and help to the grass roots
while at the same time ensure that these grass roots are kept aware of
what is going on via better communications.
Table
tennis, like most sports, is dependant upon its band of dedicated and hard
working volunteers including those who work for their Local League.
More volunteers are required and I hope that you will put your name
forward to assist in some way in the running of the sport you play in some
way. No one is asking for a
40-hour week. A contribution
from more people will reduce the workload of those already working hard on
your behalf.
Please
come forward and help our great sport, which you love to play.
I
have always been prepared to visit any Local League meeting to discuss any
aspects of our sport. This is
where I can listen and learn and at the same time answer your questions
about table tennis.
I
am attempting to update my personal email address book and if you wish to
be included in it please contact me alex@harwoodltd.co.uk.
It would be fantastic if I could get one contact at every Local
League team in
Please
do not hesitate to get in touch.
Regards
Alex
Murdoch