Dear Friends of MBC
Happy New Year! MBC got off to a flying start in 07/08 with a new Head Coach, Andy Nield, bringing his enthusiasm and expertise to crews at all levels.
For the Friends of MBC, this New Year is an opportunity to consider how we should contribute to the life of the club. The Friends are aiming to build up a growing membership base who are making a small but regular financial contribution to the club. We have spent some money in the last year on small “tactical” ideas, like donating a few cases of well-earned refreshments to the Fairbairns Dinner and subsidising 50% of the cost the Easter training camp. These are highly visible signs for the current members that there is a body of supportive former MBC rowers out there rooting for the club. Even if we cannot always make it to the banks of the Cam or the marquee, it’s important that we show our support.
We are also building up more substantial funds that the Club can call on in future to buy new boats. The Club currently has an excellent fleet, thanks to recent large donations by some very generous benefactors. The Friends is one way for those of us who are not (yet!) in the same financial league to come together in large numbers to make a similar contribution. Many of the Club’s running costs continue to be met by the AMAL club but we want to ensure that there is a consistent level of support available from the Friends for the current members of MBC.
Everyone is welcome in the Friends. Above all, we want to stay in touch and let you know what’s happening to MBC, on and off the river. We have sent you this letter because we have your details but you are not currently a contributing member. For those who want to contribute, full annual membership is £15 a year, and any amount above that is of course very welcome. I hope you will take this opportunity to sign up for full membership: all you need to do is set up a standing order to our account, Friends of MBC, Sort Code: 201719, Account No: 70576778, and send us an email to ben@fombc.com letting us know. These details are all available online at www.fombc.com
At the same time, please take a minute to enter the details of your crews, if they’re not up already. The site is extremely simple to use. We’re aiming to have complete lists of all MBC crews up there but we need your help!
Andrew Probert
Membership drive – STOP PRESS
An anonymous donor is offering the Friends £10 for every paying membership signed up during the next three months. Sign up and help us take his money!
Save the date: Friday 13 June 2008, Friends’ Dinner in Hall during the May bumps. All welcome.