Steady progress amid changes

Netball Manawatu maintained an even keel despite a year full of changes.

The centre announced their second consecutive surplus at what was an otherwise uneventful annual meeting at Vautier Park on Thursday night. Rhe surplus was $8775, having had a $26,013 surplus last year.

Since last year, Manawatu has had changes to their staff, board, financial system and went a large part of last year without a general manager until Samantha Ford started in September.

New board member Stuart Robinson, who is also new to the finance role, said the financial highlights for the year was having a surplus of just under $10,000, an increase of grant income, an increase in cash held in reserve

and an increase of net worth to $442,647.

They changed to a new financial reporting system and have had changes in staff, so the surplus was fantastic, Robinson said.

Robinson isn’t the only new board member, with Valerie Sampson appointed, joining chairwoman Deb Gurney and Jodi Mcfarlane (nee Beaumont) and Jane Ayling.

Kelly Morris resigned from the board after two years and financial operator Viv Cotton also left the board after nine years.

In other changes, Manawatu’s Sue Gould has stood down as the representative on the Central Zone board, but has been replaced by Fay Selby-law, who is keen on making sure the grassroots from all the provincial centres are represented.

Concordia Netball Club had the only item of general business, about health and safety.

The club was concerned about club games being played when a severe weather warning has been issued and requested Netball Manawatu review their policy about allowing games to go ahead.

Ford said they would do a benchmark exercise and review the process.

The number of club teams increased from 365 to 371.