It was Ballina Bridge Club’s turn to host a Presidents Day last week with Bridge NSW’s Glenda Parmenter bringing together club leaders from across the Northern Rivers to get up to speed on how Bridge NSW can support them and their clubs.
Representatives from Brunswick Valley, Tweed Heads, Lismore, Yamba, Byron Bay and Ballina were all in attendance, with apologies from Twin Towns, Lennox Heads and Bulimba. The mix of larger and smaller clubs made for a vibrant discussion about how clubs can attract and retain members and strengthen the bridge community in the region.
Introducing the Bridge NSW website
Many clubs were not familiar with the offerings of the Bridge NSW website. Glenda, who is chair of the Bridge NSW Clubs and Community Committee, demonstrated to clubs the key areas on the website, including latest news, the great event calendar, and helpful teaching support materials and director information.
MyABF
ABF’s Julian Foster joined by meeting link to demonstrate how clubs can use MyABF to go cashless with their events for a very small fee. While it is a handy tool for many, Lismore noted that some of its members are not online. The group discussed ways for clubs to support those players to move online so no one is left behind.
Helping players connect
Finding partners can be a headache for players and clubs. Yamba explained how they use WhatsApp to great effect, helping connect players with partners for events. Other clubs are exploring bulletin boards, email lists and small volunteer teams who help pair up players each week.
Club fees
Several clubs compared annual fees, sessions and lessons. Everyone agreed it depends on club finances. For lessons, they also agreed there is a sweet spot between making lessons feel like a commitment with a decent fee, but also keeping them accessible.
Supporting teachers and directors
With new players entering the game, some clubs asked for more help in training teachers. Bridge NSW has online resources already in place. Some clubs expressed interest in developing a formal teacher course similar to the Directors program.
Director accreditation also came up. Some felt the annual test was onerous and suggested reframing it as a yearly refresher, potentially linked to the three-year reaccreditation cycle.
Local club snapshots
Ballina explained its current model of four beginner lesson blocks a year, offering free refresher lessons to returning beginners, plus a popular Monday social club. The club also trialled a novice session to help newer players ease into club sessions.
Lismore openly shared its difficulties, noting it is considering winding up. The room responded with sympathy and a desire to look at ways the region can help.
Growing the game
Lismore reminded everyone of the health benefits and the appeal of bridge as a fun, challenging hobby. They expressed a desire to have Bridge NSW generate more awareness and interest in the game through advertising in local radio, newsletters, and via letterbox drops. Ballina noted success through radio and flyers.
Glenda mentioned the Walcha club, which successfully recruited 20 new members through word of mouth and local media. Not bad for a club with only 41 members! An article on the club appeared in the July edition of Bridging NSW.
Lismore spoke about delivering free lessons in schools to Years 9 to 11 in the 1990s, which gave the club a real lift.
Byron, which operates out of Bangalow, shared its new aged-care outreach program funded by a $2,500 council grant. Under the program, club representatives play bridge with aged care residents on a weekly basis.
Looking ahead
A shared takeaway was the value of working together as a Northern Rivers community. One idea raised was to create a regional WhatsApp group to share knowledge and resources.
Bridge NSW thanks Ballina Bridge Club for hosting such a warm and positive day. And to Ballina President Lorraine Bryant for serving up a delicious lunch! The enthusiasm across the room made it clear that, with a bit of coordination and shared effort, bridge in the Northern Rivers can continue to thrive.
