General review and update

Following the meetings held to get the community activity going, a number of events have taken place. So thanks to all who came along to contribute, and it will soon be time to get back together again with some definite projects and with the addition of some new faces.

• Application was made for enough trees to cover an acre or the perimeter of the ground. We were successful and these are being provided at no cost to the club. Details are on What’s new section. These will be planted March onwards.
• The committee was involved with a training and planning session which helped clarify the overall objectives of the club, and has the benefit of attracting some funding on the back of that exercise. This will assist in the development of further funding applications around some of the projects mentioned here.
• Discussions are taking place with local schools for them to take on a role in handling all communications for the club through its website, producing programmes, match reports, game videos, Twitter, Black Diamond radio etc. There is positive enthusiasm from the schools involved and it is hoped  to start operating through this method from August 2011 onwards.
• A number of residents of the village have already volunteered their time and skills when they have seen what the club is looking to do. These are people with no active association with the Star club but keen to help develop some of the projects in the pipeline.
• The club is working to obtain a graduate to carry out a coordinating role for all these activities, while auditing the local community to seek their views and support.
• A charity is looking at the kitchen in the social club with a view to operating it as a training kitchen, while running lunch clubs daily, and providing meals on match days.
• The woodlands have been surveyed with the objectve of developing walkways through the woods for people of all capabilities and ages with quiet spots for relaxation. At the same time running trails will be laid out again for all levels.
• Other areas being addressed are potential wind turbines, refurbishing the 7 a sides and general site maintenance.
• A package for potential sponsors has been prepared to communicate the wider and more active role the club is taking in the community and the benefits that sponsorship would assist the the club in achieving.
• A presentation on these projects will be made to the Community Council on 22nd February at 7pm in the upstairs committee room at the Dean. (Open to the public I believe).
• Given the nonsense that took place at Cumnock, the Star club could have volunteers trained as stewards for games. This is free of charge to the club and the volunteers, and will result in an approved SVQ qualification. Anyone interested should give their name to any committee member or with Ian at the bar.

Volunteers with gardening skills needed

The club will be receiving about 420 small trees for planting. The plan is to plant them just inside the perimeter fence around the ground, and bringing pupils along from local primary schools to do this work – but they will need help. We want this to be the start, and those same pupils will be back in the autumn to see how they are growing and eventually what they are producing. The trees will be arriving after 7th March, so we will need teams in place to work with the local schools.

By making them welcome to the club through this project we will want them to enjoy coming along with their parents to watch the team on Saturdays and midweek. While we grow trees we grow a new generation of supporters.

If you can assist and give up a little of you time complete the box below with your contact details and we will get back in touch.

Posters

Posters (A3 size) for the Scottish Cup game are available at the Star club for pick up for anyone who wants them.

Live updates from the Star games

You can follow all the Star games online at http://twitter.com/nittenstar. This will also include updates from other Superleague teams (where they have someone to provide the updates).

To follow the junior league and cup games each week from the east, west and north regions go to http://www.thejuniors.info/?page_id=4

Click on the links on the right hand side.

Report on Community Club meeting Thursday 9th September

A successful meeting was held at the Star Club on 9th September. The various parts of the Star support and the community were well represented including a member of the football club committee.

A document was presented on progress to date and the potential support from outside the supporter base. Wide rangiung discussion took place and a number of potential projects were covered. What came out was the importance of developing our links with the younger people of the area especially those still at school.

For the next meeting a number of actions were agreed including preparing draft articles of association with a view to creating a formal legal entity as soon as possible. This will need some office bearers and we will also need to agree membership criteria. After that it will be possible to push ahead with some of the initiatives.

It was emphasised throughout the importance of a shared set of objectives with the football club committee to ensure understanding and avoidance of duplication, and that the club benefits overall.

The next meeting was agreed to be Thursday 23rd September, at the Star Club, starting at 7pm.

Again, everyone will be welcome to attend.

Reporting on games

We are looking for volunteers to cover all our games, ideally home and away:

• Match previews
• Match reports
• Videos of games
• Production of match programmes

So this will need a number of people to help out.

We are speaking to Newbattle Community School to get some senior students from there to play a part in each of these areas.

If you would like to help in any area contact Steve through the main Star site.

Merchandise – shirts, polos and hoodies

A few t shirts were printed up with a larger logo, and were snapped up at the first game of the season. T shirts were available in both white and royal blue, in a small number of sizes. The next batch is being ordered and will be available in the next couple of weeks.

We are hoping that by that time we also will have an online shop available, so you can buy directly. There will be a delivery cost for online purchases which can be avoided by buying at the club on match days.

Samples will be available in the social club allowing you to try out various sizes.

T shirts £12

Polos £18

Beanie hats £10

Hoodies £30

To order, the same information will be required.

Your name and details along with payment, giving size, colour, product and how best to contact you when items are ready for collection.

WHERE?

At the bar, payment with order

Via txt to 07908 201464

On line when site available. Site address will be provided.

Via e mail to Newtongrangestar@aol.com.

Delivery will be on home match days unless agreed otherwise.

Star wrist bands, with the Star logo and in royal blue

Also looking at wrist bands with the Star logo and colours – something along these lines http://www.accentral.org/bottomlinebracelets/products.html

Will probably be able to sell at £1 each or slightly above.

All to raise funds for the club.

Leave your comments here on what you would like to see available.