Chairman's Corner
No.11, March, 2007
Something rather significant happened last month, the second largest of our affiliated clubs in NSW acquired the fifth largest one. While mergers and acquisitions are all the rage on the stock market, the trend
on the local bridge scene over recent years has been one of ever increasing fragmentation – to the point where Sydney now has more bridge clubs than London, a city three times its size. The inevitable consequence of this has been a decline in table numbers at individual clubs with an attendant deterioration in club finances. Nor have clubs been able to make up the shortfall in revenue from regular sessions by holding congresses. More clubs has meant a more congested Congress Calendar so these events are no longer
the sure fire money spinners they were in the past. Some might argue that that’s just our market economy at work, which may well be the case, but with so many Sydney clubs now struggling it’s an unwelcome trend. The unfortunate reality is that in order for a bridge club to be able to offer top flight facilities in a city as expensive as Sydney it needs to be financially strong. And that strength can only come from a substantial, active and engaged membership.
These thoughts were prompted in part
by an assessment we are currently undertaking of the
air-conditioning facilities at the NSWBA. We are trying to
ascertain whether the existing system complies with the relevant
building codes in relation to temperature, ventilation, and noise
for premises which at times accommodate over 200 people. Should it
turn out that the existing system isn’t compliant, we will be
calling for quotes to make it so. Without wishing to
pre-empt the outcome, I don’t imagine an upgrade, should it prove
necessary, would come cheap.
Now I suppose in a city where an arts
benefactor will put his hand in his pocket to the tune of $10M for
a violin, there is a slim possibility that someone might be
willing to fund a major upgrade to our premises. Failing
that, however, it will be the members and players at the NSWBA who
will ultimately end up footing the bill. Bulking up along
the lines of the newly merged North Shore Bridge Club is one way
to ease the pain.
Dr Alex Yezerski
Chairman NSWBA
