The past year has been a successful one for the Bald Head Island Club Croquet Club thanks to the dedicated and hard-working members of the executive board and the committee chairs. We are indeed fortunate to have volunteers who are willing to devote their time and talents to the many activities that you enjoy as members of the Club.

Thanks to Dick Johnson, vice-president; Brenda Quanstrom, secretary; Jay Gould and Bob Porter, treasurers; and Larry Lammert and Donna Finley, at-large members.

Also thanks to the hard-working committee chairs and special event organizers: John May, Tournament Committee; Diane Robinson, Social Committee; Sheila May and Anne Schick, Invitational Social Chairs; Anne Schick also coordinated the Joust team; Judy Porter, Invitational Tournament Manager; Pat Garrett, Outreach Committee; John Knott, Handicap Committee, and Trisha Barnard, who coordinated Jeff Soo’s visits. They have highlighted their committees’ accomplishments in the following reports.

My hat is off to all of them with many thanks!

Anne Boozell, President

John May

The year beginning on August 2010 saw the full complement of normal club croquet events. These included, with their starting date:

Doubles – August 13

Association Rules – October7

Golf Croquet – November 12

Handicap Adjuster – March 18

Singles – April 6

In addition, the club ran the Bald Head Invitational starting May 30. Judy Porter served as Tournament Director and Jeff Soo did the scheduling. The Club also participated in the Joust against Pinehurst beginning April 29. Bald Head players were victorious, bringing the traveling trophy back to the Island. We have won the trophy three out of four years.

Thus far, the only substantial change to the schedule is to swap the month for Doubles with the month for Association Rules. The expectation for this shift is a greater number of players for the Doubles because of cooler weather in October. Presumably those playing Association Rules are a hardier lot, and won’t be adversely affected by August’s warmer weather.

John Knott

The handicaps of club members were reduced by 15 ½ points during the year. These reductions were the result of both points earned during competition and the judgment of the handicap committee. Handicaps are designed so that players may receive the most enjoyment of the game by being matched with players of compatible abilities.

Patricia Garrett

The Outreach Committee initiated several activities this year, mostly focused on Golf Croquet as an introduction to the sport. We provided educational materials on line to the Pro shop for distribution to casual players. We promoted Thursday Golf Croquet for the BHI Croquet Club members and initiated Introduction to Golf Croquet on Saturday mornings once a month. We developed promotional material for the BHI Club to be included in the Club Directory, rental packets, and wedding promotions. Finally, and most importantly, we engaged Club members in the recruitment and engagement of new BHI CC members.

The Outreach Committee was chaired by Patricia Garrett, with active involvement of Trisha Barnard, John Chamberlain, Marilyn Ridgeway and Bob Timmons.

Diane Robinson

During 2011 we built upon the new system of managing monthly socials that began in 2010. The 33 couples or singles were divided into 11 months. Each month three couples or singles would give one third of a party. For the most part the groups remained the same so they could take turns using their homes for the event. If there was a problem I moved a person or couple or I switched with them myself. I tried to remain sensitive to each person's needs and offered them counseling on cost and amount of food and drink if asked. After each social in 2011, I sent a thank you note to the group. I think this system is working and is the first time things have been handled fairly. I remain open to ideas and suggestions to make 2012 the best year yet.

May 30-June 5, 2011

Sheila May and Anne Schick

Once, again, the Invitational was a huge success – with 26 players and four social guests attending. Eight Bald Head members housed the out-of-towners. Judy Porter was the tournament director and arranged (and rearranged!) the play schedule for six days. Two players had to withdraw due to health reasons, and their families left as well. All the players and guests raved about the courts and the hospitality of the Bald Head Club members. The players from Grand Haven Croquet Club in Florida sent a wonderful video thanking us for such a great time.

Sheila May and Anne Schick made the social arrangements, beginning with an elegant opening reception at the home of Pat and Dick Johnston. This was open to the entire membership. Wednesday was a Mexican Fiesta at the Club, also open to the entire membership. The Potluck supper at the home of Jarilyn and Bill Daigle was delicious and fun, and very well attended. By the Friday Toast and Tally at the home of Anne and Tom Schick, all were ready for a rest! Saturday night players and guests danced into the night at the annual Gala-in-White at the Club. The tournament finished on Sunday with the finals played in front of an appreciative crowd, followed by a delicious Awards Luncheon at the Club.

With charges of $380 for invitee players, $360 for non-participating guests, and $360 for Bald Head Croquet Club players, the event came very close to breaking even.

Trisha Barnard

Since the beginning of our Croquet Pro Program in October of 2010, we have had six sessions with Jeff Soo. We had an average of 21 participants in each session.

Totals to date by activity are as follows:

Assessments: 36

Lessons : 67 ( some of these were semi-private)

Clinics: 12

Coaching Games: 9

Currently, we have 37 people who have committed to participating in the program by signing up for an assessment and 4 lessons. That’s 148 lessons total. At this point one half of the lessons committed to have been taken. Of the 37 people, 5 have finished their 4 lessons and are eligible to sign up for 4 more. Three people just started in July.

The Croquet Club supported the two sessions which were held in 2010 in the amount of $1905. The BHI Club budgeted $6000 for this program in 2011. At this time, $2913 has been spent and there is $3087 remaining for the rest of the calendar year.

We have three sessions remaining in 2011: September, October and November. We hope that the BHI Club will continue their support in 2012, and we will plan to schedule six sessions next year.

Brenda Quanstrom

During the past year, Brenda Quanstrom has formalized the secretary’s responsibilities and developed an effective system of communication to keep members up-to-date on Club activities and issues. Following are guidelines for the coming year:

1. The secretary maintains a current e-mail list of all active members in an address folder that can easily be used to disseminate information.

2. Maintain minutes that are orderly, succinct, in complete sentences and professional. It is helpful to use the same format each time for ease of reading and consistency. This secretary can provide an electronic format that the next secretary can use..

3. Provide etiquette and rules reminders when appropriate.

4. Remind members of Wednesday Wickets, Women's Wickets, 4th Thursday Doubles Golf Croquet, Scramblers and tournaments. Be proactive on time changes.

5. Hosts and Scrambler Coordinators should be telling you location of social's and the Coordinator should be telling the secretary the time and play for Scramblers at least two weeks in advance. This has not been happening and the secretary has had to call or email people. Even with this, there have been very few Scrambler details. In the past Coordinators provided time, type of play, fun alternatives to play, cut off date for RSVP, etc.

6. Keep the Membership List current for the members and the Outreach Committee. It is easier for the Secretary to do this because the email list must be kept current as well.