Martin I have a lot of sympathy for squash and its current position. 

• Really, from my experience, any person who takes a firm stand, insists that some hard and fast decisions have to be made, hands out nasty medicine, gets voted out or sacked.
• Yeah, we have heard the argument about affiliation since year dot.
• Affiliation from our squash players is the only way our National, State and Regional bodies can survive. Why?  Because that is their income stream, on which they get subsidies for various programs.
• If the organisation loses income from the players they will also lose income from the funding source, eg Qld Govt/National Govt.
• The whole system is build on membership which is something everyone seems to want to avoid.  However, If squash in general does not support the system it loses out. 
• Sponsorship, which is virtually zip these days, comes through memberships. While our affiliated membership is down the possibility of a major sponsor is virtually impossible and the same for clubs and other associations..
• Martin there is no in-between, we either support affiliation 100% or say no we do not want it, and go it alone.  The consequence is no AIS, no State Teams, no junior development, no National championships, no Commonwealth Games, no accreditation, no traineeships, and whatever else makes up the system.
• Affiliation has been a sore point for 20 years and the voice was "we cannot charge affiliation to social players, juniors, ladies daytime, we might lose players" .  As a result, the Interclub players have subsidised all of the above mentioned initiatives.  Because nobody supported the affiliation, the interclub then turned into intraclub with no affiliation, so that killed that.  Enuf said.

To digress -

• I  play tennis, and each social comp player, irrespective of what type of comp, pays affiliation of about $25yr to Tennis Australia.
• I play table tennis, and each player at the club pays a small joining fee, and then a further $26yr(senior card holder) or $52yr per adult, if registered to play in a competition or tournament, irrespective of standard or status..
• The rule is simple, and not negotiable, either pay up or don't play.
• Yes, I wish there was an Ombudsman or someone who could really rev this whole thing along but unfortunately I do not think there is any way that can happen either.

Good luck and I hope it sorts out soon.

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Hi Rita,
***Like it or not at some stage the affiliation has to flow on. *** Why, and what is affiliation.  I'll tell you.  Affiliation is membership with Q Squash. It is not compulsory, it is a choice.  People are still welcome to be members of Q Squash, but now it isn't ENFORCED. Q Squash are going to have to cost cut and restructure after loosing a vital customer, Squash Brisbane.  And nothing stops them for creating a package that northside members will want to buy, if they see benifits in it. I'd support that in an instant.

 

***Also, like it or not the communication has to happen.***  This is what I said.  But it doesn't seem to be happening.

 

***All will be ok until the Govt assistance dries up, and let's face it,  Govt will not support this fragmented infrastructure. *** They (the Govt) have in the past. In fact in the past with other sports they have stepped in, taken over and created more opportunites due to greater funding. 

***Squash would have an uphill battle if all funding was withdrawn until the communication opens, and they all get some sense.*** Agreed.....

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hi Martin
Like it or not at some stage the affiliation has to flow on.
Also, like it or not the communication has to happen.
All will be ok until the Govt assistance dries up, and let's face it,  Govt will not support this fragmented infrastructure. 
Squash would have an uphill battle if all funding was withdrawn until the communication opens, and they all get some sense.

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Trouble is Ray that things will get worse before they get better. Especially as the communication lines seem to be down

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hi martin

seems those sports administrators just can't help themselves. vey few of thm can put aside their differences for the good of the sport. - it really is pathetic!

i must admit that as a player in the northside league, nothing much seems to have changed. it certainly has not got any better. they are just changing deck chairs on the titanic!!

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