We have had a good start to the year and have consolidated a steady membership which bodes well for the year. We have between 20 and 40 fencers attending each session, most of them regular members. I believe the warm and friendly atmosphere at the club is the focal point of our success and is the reason many of our members are happy to volunteer assistance when required.

Membership:
Our membership stands at 77 at the moment. Snr Male 18, Snr Female 10, Jnr Male 32, Jnr Female 17. Of these, we have 21 Bladez and 11 Veterans. We start another Beginners' Course mid June. From each course we hope to attract several memberships, and from those who leave,we know that at least the word of fencing will be spread.

Social:
With the diverse age range, and the busy lives of most people, we don't socialise as a club so much, but keep an eye out for a Quiz Nite at the end of June. Liz will be advertising this family event soon.

AFF#2 Adelaide June:
While a large group of our members enjoy the social level of fencing, we still have a few who compete regularly. The next National competition coming up will be in Adelaide early June. Let's hope our fencers do well. Competition information is available on the WAFA website.

AFF#3 Perth August:
The BIG ONE (for us), the National Competition AFF#3 to be held in Perth, is coming soon!! It will be at the Kingsway Stadium between 1st and 4th August. As I have mentioned many times before, it is vital that this competition is well supported with volunteers. We spent many years in trying to get national status for Perth, and it is crucial for the development of fencing in WA that the AFF#3 is successful.

Over the next few weeks, we will be calling for volunteers. I will have a list available at the club. We need strong people to help with the equipment (you can imagine how enormous this job will be), to set up the pistes, and to take down and pack up at the end. We need MANY volunteers young and old, fencers and non-fencers, to assist with scoring and time-keeping. Western Australia is the only state which has a volunteer scoring squad at a National event, and it makes all the difference. This will suit young fencers who are not competing and who wish to learn more about top competition with a ring-side seat. It suits parents who have a knowledge of fencing, but are not necessarily fencers.

Importantly, the competitors themselves MUST consider contributing their time to the volunteer staff when they are off the piste. Competitors MUST remember that the entire 4-day event is managed mostly by non-fencers for the benefit of fencers. I cannot stress enough the importance of this.

AFF#3 is a BIG thing for Perth, and I want to see every Cavs member down there, helping out, supporting our fencers, getting to know fencers from other states and countries, and taking the opportunity to observe the top fencing level which would normally require big airfares to observe.

Club Volunteers - Coaching:
We announce that Elisabeth and Errol, from the Bladez group, have volunteered to undertake Level 1 coaching training. We wish them well in their task, and hope to have the results by mid-year.

Any fencer wishing to undertake Coaching Training should discuss this with Mahmud. Cavaliers makes a point of assisting fencers who are serious in supporting the club in this way by covering the cost of their training and making sure they get the practice hours necessary for the certificate.

Club Sessions:
Meanwhile at Cavs, we continue to try to offer the best coaching and club structure that we can. We are dependant upon volunteers taking coaching training and devoting a great deal of time to our club. We are dependant up on volunteers for everything, really.

Thanks, Gillian.