Terrific Largs Weekend

The "Talent Screening" day and Disability Coaching "Pass it on", held at the weekend was a tremendous success.

I would like to thank, all the volunteers who gave up their entire weekend, to pass on their expertise and knowledge to all our members. Your dedication and commitment to our sport is overwhelming.

Thank you also to all our members who travelled from all over Scotland to attend and make the weekend such a success!

The weekend was just the beginning of new and exciting initiatives for our members, the re-engaging of the entire membership in workshops, conferences, and development & performance pathways. To launch our great organisation, the SAA on its way to being a totally inclusive and progressive Scottish Governing Body of Sport.

A full detailed article about the weekend will follow shortly.

Once again, thank you All

Tracy
Chair, Scottish Archery Association

More Archery on the TV - CBBC

Several months ago MRM Archery assisted with the filming of a programme for the CBBC TV channel to be shown during this Olympic year. Last night we were advised of the transmission dates.

The programme, entitled ‘Ultimate Sports Day’ is a search to find the UK's top young athletes. Four teams will be mentored by sporting stars who will test their core skills of speed, strength, agility and control through exciting sports-based games to find out who will become Ultimate Sports Day champions. Archery is featured in the series and we are told that the archery will probably be featured in the first 2 programmes.

The series goes out from this Saturday 28th at 9am on the CBBC Channel (Freeview channel 70 or SKY Channel 613) and will be on every Saturday at the same time. The show will also be repeated on BBC2 at 7:45am on Sunday morning. It should also be on BBC IPlayer for a week after each episode.

This is the link to the website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/shows/ultimate-sports-day

This is another excellent example of archery being promoted through the media and will hopefully increase the number of enquiries about our sport through Scottish Archery and Archery GB. This will be a great opportunity for clubs to answer any enquiries as a result of the programme being aired and to raise awareness of archery within their local communities.*

Archery on the Radio & TV

BBC Radio Scotland's Out of Doors Programme approached MRM Archery Ltd for an interview and taster session of archery. At a few hours notice MRM Director Moira Taylor was able to set up an outdoor area for the programme producer, Denise Glass to try archery and for the interview to be undertaken.

We have been advised that it is anticipated (to be confirmed on Friday) that the archery session on the ‘Out of Doors’ programme will go out this Saturday between 6.30am and 8am. The program is repeated on Sunday between 11am and 12noon and it will be available on BBC I Player.

This is another excellent example of archery being promoted through the media and will hopefully increase the number of enquiries about our sport through Scottish Archery - shortly before Christmas Neptune Archers were featured on their local TV Channel Helensburgh and Lomond TV (Watch to the end as they've cut it with footage of football.)

This will be a great opportunity for clubs to answer any enquiries on the back of the programme being aired and to raise awareness of archery within their local communities.

Head of Coaching, Operations, Participation (co-opted posts) and Head of Performance (vacant post)

• Job Description Coaching
• Job Description Operations
• Job Description Participation
• Job Description Performance
• Application Form (in Word so you can fill it in)

The SAA Articles of Association allow for members to nominate themselves to fill vacant/co-opted posts on the Executive. CV's are required to be submitted no less than 6 weeks before the AGM. However, due to the recent resignation of the Head of Performance, this dead line was overlooked.

To give the members the opportunity to nominate themselves for the above positions on the Executive, it has been decided that anyone wishing to apply should send an email ASAP to the Head of Member Services
(saa.membersvc@gmail.com) noting their interest, and thereafter submit a completed application form no later than 31st October. Please note, that due to company law, no member under 21 is permitted to be a director.

At the AGM, being held on Sunday 27th November, the membership will be given the opportunity to vote for the four new directors, but only from the submitted applicants and co-opted members (ie, nomination from the floor are not permitted). A list of applicants and their CV's will be circulated after the closing date.

Martin Symonds
Head of Member Services

Board News and Notes

It is with great reluctance I have had to accept the resignation of Peter Carre, our Director of Performance.  It has been a very difficult year for us all on the board; additional corporate responsibilities; necessary legislation to produce, along with the changes of structure needed for SAA to operate as a business.  It has all taken its toll and been exceedingly time consuming, however without it, any future investments from stakeholders would disappear.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Peter for the tremendous amount of work he has undertaken, behind the scenes and his future plans to bring our Performance strategy up to date and into the 21st century.  Unfortunately, he is leaving us, before all his hard work has had a chance to be experienced.

We have lost a very knowledgeable, professional colleague who will be greatly missed by his fellow board members.

We wish Peter all the very best for the future.

Tracy
Chair, Scottish Archery
October 2011

For the time being, any enquiries for Performance, should be sent directly to Mrs T McGarry

Board News and Notes

The SAA are working towards Foundation level in Equality in Sport, and as such we need to publish an Equality policy, seek comments from the membership regarding it, and where necessary amend the policy to refect these comments. We all so need to take a membership survey, so that we can create and adopt an action plan to improve equity within the Association. Please visit the Governance Page for the draft policy and to do the survey (members' area login rqd.

Important there will be a delay with CRBS checks due to a protocol problem Notice from SAA

Advance notice of "Junior Assessment Day"

As part of the SAA plan to raise the level of junior competition. A junior archer assessment day will be held at Lathallan School, Johnshaven, Nr Montrose on Sunday 14th August from 10am to 4 pm. To register your interest, please email alan.w.wood@gmail.com. stating "Junior Assessment Day" in the subject line.

The event is open to a maximum of 15 junior archers who wish to progress to Scottish Junior Squad level irrespective of their current age or ablility. The only requirement is that they have their own equipment for the assessment and have completed beginner training.

The assessments will be carried out by Lana Needham, Delhi Commonwealth Games Coach, assisted by the junior team managers. Other coaches maybe available to assist.

All archers will receive an assessment form which will include advice on areas of techinque which need follow up work.

A full program for the day, which will include an information session for parents, will be published on the SAA website soon.

It is also hoped that additional assessment days will be held around Scotland in the autumn..

For schedule and further details, please download the Assessment Day pdf document

Contact Alan wood for more information

New Dress Regulations

307. Dress Regulations
(a) The recognised dress of the Society is plain dark green and/or white.
(b) Footwear that fully encloses the toes and front of the foot must be worn at all times
when shooting.
(c) Members of the Society shooting and officiating at tournaments granted UK or World
Record Status by GNAS are required to wear clothing that is appropriate, clean, in good
condition (ie not frayed or worn, either deliberately or by use) and conventional in style
and appearance. In particular:
(i) Tops or shirts must cover the front and back of the body (including the midriff
when at full draw), they must not be strapless and, for gentlemen, must include
sleeves.
(ii) Any colour garments may be worn with the exception of blue denim, olive drab
and camouflage pattern.
(iii) Badges, Logos and Wording.
a. Clothing manufacturers’ trade marks are allowed. The wearer’s name is
allowed.
b. Individuals, and members of clubs and other archery organisations that are
commercially sponsored may wear sponsors’ logos and names during the
sponsorship period only.
c. Other wording or badges on clothing must represent archery organisations.
(iv) Members of the Society who are officiating as the Chairman of Judges, Judge or
Director of Shooting at a UK or World Record Status tournament shall wear GNAS
recognised Judges official dress.
(v) A member of the Society who has represented Great Britain (GBR) as an archer at
an international tournament may wear their international shooting uniform for the
remainder of that season and the following one.

The Gold Challenge

The Gold Challenge is a unique opportunity for everyone to feel the excitement of London2012 by taking on multiple Olympic and Paralympic sports and raising money for charity. Participants challenge themselves to do 30, 20, 10 or 5 sports. This can be done as an individual or as part of a team of 2-30 participants. The Gold Challenge expects more than 200,000 participants to take part, raising over £20 million for charity and driving demand in grassroots sports.

Who can take part?
The Gold Challenge is passionate about encouraging everyone to participate in sport – irrespective of age, physical ability or locality.

How to take part
Participants register for free, choose their challenge (their sports) and choose their cause (over 100 charities to choose from).

A sport is completed by completing at least three hours of coached activity or by competing in a NGB affiliated tournament

The Gold Challenge has a points scoring system allowing participants to score points based on the number of sports they complete and their achievements within those sports.
Participation points are scored as follows:
•    10 points for completing 3 – 5 hours of coached activity
•    20 points for completing 6 or more hours of coached activity
•    20 points for completing a sport by playing competitively (in a NGB recognised competition)

Bonus points will be awarded based on objective criteria wherever the sport allows. For other sports they are based on recognised performance indicators or generic performance milestones, e.g. basic skills achieved, club level, county level. The Gold Challenge team is on hand to help participants choose their sports and tailor the challenge to suit them.

How do I do the Gold Challenge in Archery - Competitors
The great thing about the Gold Challenge is that you can do your sports using local sports clubs and leisure facilities where there is an archery Club or Open archery sessions.- How do I complete Archery?

What does the Gold Challenge involve for - Clubs?
The Gold Challenge is working with Archery GB & Scottish Archery to ensure that the challenge works for archery. Once a participant has selected archery, they can learn about it through archery's specific pages on the Gold Challenge website. The website then directs participants to where they can find local activity (clubs, coaches, development officers, festivals, events competition or other) to complete the sport.

The participant attends the sessions and once they have taken part the participant asks the coach to sign their certificate to say that they have completed that sport challenge.

Participants are being advised that the most economical way completing the archery challenge is to attend a beginner's course. Participants might already be members of an archery club.

About Gold Challenge
The Gold Challenge is a not for profit organisation. Any profit from the Gold Challenge will be used to fund grassroots sports initiatives. The Gold Challenge is working in partnership with Limelight Sports, the company behind the creation and delivery of some of the UK’s largest grassroots sports events including Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon, London Youth Games, Swimathon, Sport Relief Miles and Sky Rides.

Volunteer needed for Equity Officer

Scottish Archery is looking to fill the post of Equity Officer. The role of the Equity Officer is to finalise the work already carried out on the SAA Equity Policy, act as the liaison between the membership and the Board and to ensure that SAA complies with current legislation.
The Equity Officer will form part of the Governance Sub Group within SAA.
For an informal chat and a full job description please email Moira C Taylor, Head of Governance. Applications for this post should be sent to the Head of Governance by 17 March 2011.

Northern Area EGM - 20th February 2011

The Northern Area are holding an EGM to ratify a new constitution. The EGM will take place in Peterhead at the training workshop at around 15:30, Details on the Indoor Calendar
The draft Consitution is available in the Members' Area (login regd.)

Would those wishing to attend the NA Archery Workshop on the 20th Feb please note that the closing date is the 13th Feb and that all cheque's must be received by that date.

25th August 2010 - County Development Co-ordinators

ArcheryGB are running a Devlopment Program that extends to the Home Nations. As part of this they are asking for a volunteers in each County to act as a County Development Co-ordinator. This is a very important opportunity for the Clubs in Scotland to benefit from what is a very large project and the Eastern Area is seeking a suitable volunteer. Please read the job description and contact the Eastern Area secretary (from the contacts page) if you are up for this exciting new initiative. You can read about the project here on the ArcheryGB website. The Northern Area has a volunteer and if anyone is the West is interested in taking on this role for the West they should contact a member of the Western Area Committee. The CDC's are encourage to attend the Development Conference, details in Development Topics section further down the page.

6th August 2010 - New Governance Posts at the AGM - Volunteers Needed

Job descriptions for posts (members' area) which are up for election at the Scottish Archery Association’s AGM to be held at Cluny Clays on Saturday, 27 November. Please note that not all the current post holders will be remaining in post so applications are invited for all positions. Applicants are asked to apply for these positions, by 15 October 2010 by submitting a brief application with experience to me at Jacqui dot dunlop at btinternet dot com

30th June 2010 - Membership Secretary

After 25 years of devoted labour to the SAA Ray Masson is standing down as membership secretary after the AGM this year. We are looking for a volunteer to take over this extremely important role. Ideally we would like the volunteer to work with Ray to learn the ropes between now and the AGM especially as ArcheryGB are changing the affiliation system this year.

This post involves a burst of activity at affiliation time and the rest of the year is a gentle trickle of new members so time wise it is not too onerous but is of high importance.

This post is not one that can remain unfilled for any length of time so PLEASE step forward and help your association. Please contact Jacqui dot Dunlop at btinternet dot com should you wish to volunteer.

29th April 2010 - World Cup Legacy

Members of the National Council have been working with Edinburgh City Council and sportscotland on a legacy plan following from the Archery World Cup Final in Edinburgh with the aim to start a new archery club in Edinburgh after September this year. more >> In order to set up such a club we need archers who are currently members of other clubs to express an interest in forming a club in Edinburgh. We would also need some experienced volunteers to help those archers to set up and initially help the new club to become established. If you are interested or have any queries could you please contact Jacqui dot Dunlop at btinternet dot com

25th March - ArcheryGB (GNAS) AGM

All clubs should now have recieved the Voting forms and Book for the ArcheryGB AGM on the 17th April. Please consider recording your Club members' votes for this AGM.

• If someone from your Club is attending the meeting then you should fill in the white Club Elector form as well as the two green forms - one is for the election of the President and the other is for The Hartwell Trophy.
• If no-one from your Club can attend then you should complete the Yellow Proxy form as well as the two green forms. You may appoint a proxy who is attending the Meeting or leave blank for the Chairman to cast votes on your Club members behalf - You can instruct the proxy or Chairman how to vote by filling in the table on the proxy form, if you leave it blank they will vote how they see fit.

The changes to the Articles are clearly explained in the Book, and in the elections there are 3 posts - 2 are unopposed but for the Chairman of the Board there are 2 candidates and you need to read the CV's on page 56 to help you choose. For the Hartwell trophy there are two nominations again with two profiles for you to read.

I am attending the meeting and am willing to be a proxy, it would be good to have a good show of interest from the Scottish Clubs - please post off your forms in good time - Muriel Kirkwood

24th March 2010 - Change to Junior team Selection criteria

The selection committee have taken into consideration the problems this year with Standard grade and Higher exam schedule and requirement for team to be selected 6 weeks before the Junior home nations tournament. Selection will be based on one score from either of the 2 days at the Penicuik FITA star, May 15 &16. - The selection criteria for 2011 will be reviewed to take into account the earlier team selection date and school exam program.

Possible changes to team structure for the Junior Euronations is still under discussion by the associations. This is due to the changes in FITA age groups for cadet and junior archers. As soon as a decision is made it will be announced but there may be tournament places for under 21s.