Message Board - Natural Turf: IOG Manchester Branch

Before the words flogging, dead and horse come to mind, read on......


Since the AGM earlier in the year, when new committee members were elected-

Ian Mather Brewster, Middleton CC-Chairman
Lee Jackson, Man City FC-Secretary
John Bancroft, Bancroft Amenities-Committee member

-it has been decided to try to move the branch forward after years of decline-lack of number and activities seemingly what put people off going. Recently we have had support from the following people:

Steve Halley, Cheshire Turf Machinery
Simon Gumbrill, Campey Turfcare Systems
Andy Roberts, SISIS
Jayne Leyland, Barenbrug UK
Andrew McMahon, Rigby Taylor
Brian Mainwaring, Aitkens Sportsturf
Martin Solari, Fleet Line Markers
David Goodjohn, GSB Loams

The above have all offered their support where possible, depending on the obvious-people attending! As a branch, we do not want to invite industry representatives along to a room with just 5 people in it, therefore in the next few weeks details of a new format and possibly a new venue, which would be more accessible to all.

What we would like to know before that is whether anyone from the area is interested at the moment, their thoughts on meetings and just anything in general which may be able to help us. The meetings are aimed to be infromative to all attending and will involve visits to sites in the area such as cricket/rugby/football clubs, and obviously suppliers as well where possible.

Any comments would be appreciated, either on this message board, or by contacting me via e-mail for us to discuss further.

lee.jackson@mcfc.co.uk

Hope to hear from people soon!

It's many years since I was a member of the Manchester branch but I wish you luck with the re-launch. Lee, I suggest you make contact with the trining officer of the local authorities in your area. That way you may get interest from the lads working on the parks pitches.

I would suggest that similar contacts have certianly been the way forward with the Fife branch.

Thanks Geoff, how are you? Seems a long time since the Feyenoord trip last year!

Likewise,I was involved with the Manchester branch with Geoff and Co some years ago.
We had a fairly strong set up then with regular trips to Sporting venues etc.
I remember a successful trip to Wimbledon/Wembley.
People will get involved if the right movers and shakers are seen to be involved as well.Hold meetings in a warm environment with refreshments avail.
As a consultant Agronomist nowadays, I would be happy to speak to the group on whatever.

Good Luck.

SS-THANKS FOR THE INPUT, CAN YOU GET IN TOUCH VIA E-MAIL AND WE WILL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO BETWEEN EVERYONE INVOLVED TO TAKE YOUR OFFER FURTHER.

THANKS.

Any more takers?

Details of the forthcoming IOG Manchester branch meeting and AGM are as follows:

The venue is Middleton Cricket Club, Hollin Lane, Middleton, M24 5DA, the meeting shall begin at 8pm,
Wednesday 8th February.

Many thanks for all your interest shown.

Lee Jackson, on behalf of the Committee.

As an ex Chairman and committee member along with Geoff Brereton and many others I sympaise, as we know how difficult it was and is to attract members out on cold winrter nights but for many years we were reasonably succeful, and did have some good meetings and trips.

However i am curious that you have felt the need to contact I O G members through the pitchcare site and not through I O Gs own website, mind you the branch notice board is rarely kept up too date.

All the best with your endevours to get the branch going again.

I spoke to the IOG this morning and they intend to put it on the site and also in Januarys magazine as well. The use of this site was to attract people who may not be members anymore but do want some sort of meeting to attend from time to time. Any tips you have would be helpful.

One idea that comes readily to mind is for the Manchester banch too set up their own web site linked through the I O G main site, accesable to all not just
I O G members, and to put a calendar of events and a report on meetings held and the topics discussed.

There is something going on the IOG site today, the purpose of the first meeting is to guage thought and opinion on the way forward and make sure we have enough people to justify carrying on, and obviously the AGM on the same night may encourage others to take a more hands on role as Ian, Myself and John have done. I have e-mailed a few people today regarding the meeting and we are hopeful of a decent turn out-though we arent expecting 'full-house' signs! Once we know we have the numbers, a speaker or site visit will probably be arranged for the next meeting. It is maybe too early at this stage to do a full list of events as e-mail support isnt always a good indication of numbers who will turn up, as people do have other commitments that may crop up in the meantime, though it is encouraging. We are obviously under the banner of the IOG, but we would welcome anyone with an interest to come along and then see how everything progresses from there, we are certainly not saying its members only and would welcome input from all.

I think Lee and his Committee's actions in proactively seeking support is commendable.

For too long various organisations have expected members to give of their own time, now the more forward thinking people in this branch have reached out and obviously garenered a lot of new support.

Imagine if this could be repeated all round the country there would be much greater interest in what, let's be frank, can be fairly parochial meetings. If members and others with an interest feel they will meet people with similar objectives (ie to learn from one another) then the future will improve accordingly.

Pitchcare are also interested in the concept of roadshows as are interested suppliers and contractors. We are a relatively tight nit indufrty and by clubbing together and taking the meeting to the members rather than the other way round everyone will benefit.

Hi Lee, I am a member of the Manchester Branch, Living 20 miles north of Manchester I found it difficult to attend meetings in Didsbury, South Manchester, especially with work commitments, Rawtenstall CC and Sedgley Park RUFC. Will future meetings be held in a more central locations such as the AGM at Middleton. Its good to see the effort yourself and others are putting in to get the branch up and running again.

Tony, the purpose of the new meeting place is to refresh the format a little and offer a change from the 'normal' location. It is hoped that once we get an idea of who attends and where they are based that a central meeting point can be found, and I see no reason at the moment why it wont be the cricket club. I too feel that NLTC was too far south of Manchester to appeal to people from the Greater Manchester area, so with this in mind and obviously Ian's links there, the cricket club has been chosen as the venue in February. Feedback so far has been a lot more positive than we initially thought, though obviously that has to be backed up both by numbers attending the AGM and also with a good program of events for forthcoming meetings. Hope to see you in February.

Dont forget!

Wednesday 8th February, 8pm

Middleton Cricket Club
Hollins Lane
Middleton
Manchester

Hopefully the 'bums on seats' will match the interest already shown!

Non members more than welcome as well!

Thanks for the reminder Lee, I'll be there

lee

I'm new to the industry but if bums on seats are a problem why don't the IOG guys from Liverpool, Preston and Manchester get together for biggy meetings in Haydock or similar to complement their regional meetings?

That way you could tailor the presentations (a kind of mini BTME) to interest groups rather than regional groups.

Maybe four meetings a year: Football (and similar), Cricket, Golf and General.

Just a thought.