AEBBA Pairs Championships 2020 - a few thanks
Mar 9, 2020 1:42:59 GMT
barbelman, therealmc, and 4 more like this
Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2020 1:42:59 GMT
Hello Everyone,
Well, what a weekend that was!
Before even arriving at the hotel, Chris Saville and Chrissie Newson had worked for hours and hours and hours to ensure the bookings, the rooming and the payments were all managed and processed. They did everything possible to meet the wide and varied requirements of our community and often cancelled their own commitments to ensure that those attending could have the best possible experience - our thanks are not even enough.
Against a backdrop of so many challenges, we ended with an event that delivered outstanding Bar Billiards and an enjoyable experience for most. Of course, the changes we made to the event were not to everyone's taste and I have written down every piece of feedback, every piece of advice (no matter how it was delivered) and every complaint so that the association can try to do better next time around. I'm sorry that so many were not pleased with the changes and that they felt the weekend was diminished as a result - but thank you for offering your opinion. I am certain that the organisers of all of our future events will take your criticism on board. Some of the changes were simply beyond our control and it really is a huge thank you to those who were genuinely inconvenienced but remained patient, stoic and generous so as to make the best of their experience. People like Dunc Harris and Norm Reynolds (who, despite their insistence that they are not in a same sex relationship were required to share a bed anyway!), people like Kevin & Bella Stoner, people like Ash Harrison and many others who were impacted by last minute hiccups with their booking.
It is hard for the hotel during a period of such dramatic change, and there are areas where the management could have done much better from a communication perspective, nevertheless the staff were always courteous, were always trying to help and delivered a very high standard of service to us.
On Friday the room took 13 hours to set up - because we tried to offer so much more than in previous years as well as utilising a smaller event space. A huge thank you goes to all of those people that assisted on that day, particularly Steven Sheard, Martin and Paula Kemsley, Dennis Atkins and others.
The Saturday saw group games in this event for the very first time. For many it ticked the boxes you wanted - more opportunities to play - and that was the association's objective all along. Of course for others it was not what you had preferred and although I think we managed to win some of you over, a number of you expressed that you would not attend in future years if this format is retained. I'm really sorry to hear that and whilst we do not wish to lose you, I believe the association should always focus on Bar Billiards first and in delivering events that put the game at the centre.
For a number of players, the groups stage proved confusing, not sure when they were playing and where - these are lessons learned and in future events it will be easier for the organisers to make it easier for you.
Sunday was more solidly on 'home turf' with the knockout rounds. Nigel and Dave can do that kind of thing in their sleep and that is why it worked so well - they are professionals at this and we are lucky to have them.
Also on Sunday we were able to enjoy the vitally important raffle. With fewer people able to attend this year it is remarkable that Sue Haberman, Caroline Gower and Pauline Withey et al were able to break their previous record...........yet again. We simply cannot thank them enough for their crucial contribution to this event and making sure we have this important opportunity to raise revenue. Thanks must also go to every person that bought raffle tickets. Thanks also to those who donated prizes and a very special thank you to Rachel Clough who created fantastic gift packs that, I'm certain, raised the bar for AEBBA raffles in the future.
It was quite late in the afternoon when it became clear that we needed to vacate the room extremely quickly to allow the hotel to setup for their evening function. As such, the commitment of so many of you to help pack down what took so many hours to put up was truly astonishing. The whole Hall family did everything they could to help. Kevin & Bella Stoner, the amazing Dennis Atkins, Martin Cole, Hannah Cole (who so generously asked how she could help - an amazing little girl) and the herculean John Scoones and so many others. We were able to get everything out of the room in two hours.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Dave Alder and Stuart Mepham. They made it happen from start to finish. They put in more than 33 hours over just 54 hours to try to make the weekend the best possible playing experience, social experience and AEBBA experience it could be - they should be the envy of all of us for their tireless commitment to others.
I'm sorry if I have missed a few names that really do deserve a mention - it's late and I'm finding it a little hard to piece together what was a bit of a whirlwind weekend. There are loads of people who contributed, you know who you are. Be assured, it is appreciated, valued and the weekend would not have been what it was without you. So thank you.
Best wishes,
Lorin
Well, what a weekend that was!
Before even arriving at the hotel, Chris Saville and Chrissie Newson had worked for hours and hours and hours to ensure the bookings, the rooming and the payments were all managed and processed. They did everything possible to meet the wide and varied requirements of our community and often cancelled their own commitments to ensure that those attending could have the best possible experience - our thanks are not even enough.
Against a backdrop of so many challenges, we ended with an event that delivered outstanding Bar Billiards and an enjoyable experience for most. Of course, the changes we made to the event were not to everyone's taste and I have written down every piece of feedback, every piece of advice (no matter how it was delivered) and every complaint so that the association can try to do better next time around. I'm sorry that so many were not pleased with the changes and that they felt the weekend was diminished as a result - but thank you for offering your opinion. I am certain that the organisers of all of our future events will take your criticism on board. Some of the changes were simply beyond our control and it really is a huge thank you to those who were genuinely inconvenienced but remained patient, stoic and generous so as to make the best of their experience. People like Dunc Harris and Norm Reynolds (who, despite their insistence that they are not in a same sex relationship were required to share a bed anyway!), people like Kevin & Bella Stoner, people like Ash Harrison and many others who were impacted by last minute hiccups with their booking.
It is hard for the hotel during a period of such dramatic change, and there are areas where the management could have done much better from a communication perspective, nevertheless the staff were always courteous, were always trying to help and delivered a very high standard of service to us.
On Friday the room took 13 hours to set up - because we tried to offer so much more than in previous years as well as utilising a smaller event space. A huge thank you goes to all of those people that assisted on that day, particularly Steven Sheard, Martin and Paula Kemsley, Dennis Atkins and others.
The Saturday saw group games in this event for the very first time. For many it ticked the boxes you wanted - more opportunities to play - and that was the association's objective all along. Of course for others it was not what you had preferred and although I think we managed to win some of you over, a number of you expressed that you would not attend in future years if this format is retained. I'm really sorry to hear that and whilst we do not wish to lose you, I believe the association should always focus on Bar Billiards first and in delivering events that put the game at the centre.
For a number of players, the groups stage proved confusing, not sure when they were playing and where - these are lessons learned and in future events it will be easier for the organisers to make it easier for you.
Sunday was more solidly on 'home turf' with the knockout rounds. Nigel and Dave can do that kind of thing in their sleep and that is why it worked so well - they are professionals at this and we are lucky to have them.
Also on Sunday we were able to enjoy the vitally important raffle. With fewer people able to attend this year it is remarkable that Sue Haberman, Caroline Gower and Pauline Withey et al were able to break their previous record...........yet again. We simply cannot thank them enough for their crucial contribution to this event and making sure we have this important opportunity to raise revenue. Thanks must also go to every person that bought raffle tickets. Thanks also to those who donated prizes and a very special thank you to Rachel Clough who created fantastic gift packs that, I'm certain, raised the bar for AEBBA raffles in the future.
It was quite late in the afternoon when it became clear that we needed to vacate the room extremely quickly to allow the hotel to setup for their evening function. As such, the commitment of so many of you to help pack down what took so many hours to put up was truly astonishing. The whole Hall family did everything they could to help. Kevin & Bella Stoner, the amazing Dennis Atkins, Martin Cole, Hannah Cole (who so generously asked how she could help - an amazing little girl) and the herculean John Scoones and so many others. We were able to get everything out of the room in two hours.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Dave Alder and Stuart Mepham. They made it happen from start to finish. They put in more than 33 hours over just 54 hours to try to make the weekend the best possible playing experience, social experience and AEBBA experience it could be - they should be the envy of all of us for their tireless commitment to others.
I'm sorry if I have missed a few names that really do deserve a mention - it's late and I'm finding it a little hard to piece together what was a bit of a whirlwind weekend. There are loads of people who contributed, you know who you are. Be assured, it is appreciated, valued and the weekend would not have been what it was without you. So thank you.
Best wishes,
Lorin
