Chairmans Chat - Street Times Dec 2009

Hi and welcome to your long awaited Street Times my apologies for the delay but work and a Holiday after the Nats has kept me away from NASC HQ for some time.
So then, not wanting to blow our own Trumpet but how bloody good was the Nats this year!! Many folk had described it as the best ever, but I’ve got news for them it’s not.. the best ever will be the next one in 2010. The bands are already booked and we will reveal who they are early in the New Year it’s all looking to be THE BEST EVER so book the time of work early you WON’T be disappointed.

Thanks to all those who took the time to write, email, text or put up on forums such positive feedback about this years show it’s very much appreciated by the whole team.
Shortly after this years Nats, Yvonne and I went on a well earned Holiday to Florida with Von’s son James, Daughter in Law Amy and our beautiful granddaughter Amelia, and even on Holiday we spent time on NASC business which I will fill you in on in our next Street Times.

It was asked at an AGM a couple of years ago by the membership that the committee try to find someone to shadow their positions with a view to those people being able to take over their jobs should they be unable to continue for whatever reasons. With this in mind I informed my committee in Dec 2008 of my intention to step down at the 2009 AGM. We got to this July and still no one had really committed to stepping up. There was someone in the frame whom I believe would have been the man for the job but sadly personal circumstances saw him having to walk away. We had got as far as my agreeing to stay on another year in order for him to be able to work closely with me and learn the ropes.
By the end of the Nats another couple of people had come forward and offered to caretake the position if I was desperate to step down at the end of this year but I want more for the NASC than that. At the risk of blowing my own trumpet I want to see in our next chairman what Neil Meredith saw in me. Neil spent his last few months imparting as much information as possible. I took every scrap and have spent years building on that store of knowledge and pushing us forward. I want to see that push forward continuing. The last thing this sport needs is a ‘caretaker chairman’ who is in the job because no one else wants it. That’s in no way disrespecting the people who came forward. They are good people who have been committed to the NASC for many years and they may well end up having to step up if we can’t find anyone who really wants the job.

It’s no big secret that my first couple of years as Chairman were difficult. I don’t want that for the person who takes my job. I fully intend to stick around on the NASC committee for as long as you’ll have me. Von and I have had many long talks about this and we’re both agreed that as much as we whinge about not having the time to actually enjoy the shows we’d not be able to enjoy them without doing some work. It’s about striking a balance. If I could do this as a full time job it would be my dream job but sadly bills have to be paid and we’re acquiring grandchildren at a rate of knots. This time last year no grandbabies but now we have two and another one on the way.

Anyway I could waffle on for hours so I’ll get to the point. I’m putting the ball in the wider court of the NASC membership now. The AGM is on the doorstep. I’m happy to put myself forward for 2010, as it would be very unfair at this stage to walk away from the job without passing the mantle over properly. I’ve still got the enthusiasm, the ideas and the commitment to continue for another year. It’s hard work but all things considered I’ve had a blast. Hopefully there’s someone out there who fancies giving the job a good go. If you’re interested give me a call or try to make it to the meeting.

So on that note I’m of to carry on planning for next year and with some great additions in the pipeline what a great year it’s looking to be and if the Postal strike is over you should get this before the AGM….fingers crossed ehh.

Mark