AGEING MEMBERSHIPS AND FALLING NUMBERS : CAN BRIDGE CLUBS SURVIVE ?................ ( Article by Carp )

There is a stark reality out there that is very disturbing for the future of bridge clubs , especially those which already have small numbers . Yesterday I spoke to a player from the Wakefield area who was bemoaning the fact that as members drifted off , no new ones were coming in to replace them. The future of his club looked very bleak indeed.

Bridge clubs not only need take responsibility to actively recruit members , but also to  encourage existing ones to stay. This means clubs need to promote bridge as a wonderful pastime and pursuit in order  to draw in interested parties , whilst at the same time guarantee an ongoing social experience that remains  highly stimulating and rewarding.

For clubs to drive away new members ( who would have otherwise stayed ) by being too snooty, cliquish , unwelcoming , and cold ,  is nothing more than scandalous . For clubs to drive away long standing members by allowing petty politics to get out of control beggars belief.  Conflicts and divisions  will always have repercussions , both short and long term , but the never ending domino  " cause and effect "  of internal disputes can only lead to dozens of adverse outcomes and negative implications .   

The role of committees should be to resolve differences and disputes within the club in a sensible and amicable way , not to create or exacerbate conflict . The future well being and success of the club is of paramount importance , which should always take precedence over the aims and aspirations of those cursed with personal agendas and big egos. For instance , if there is a situation where two members cause trouble ever time they meet at the table , then banning one or both of them might well be seen as a naive , possibly controversial, decision.  Surely ,  a simple resolution to the problem would be to say  " Well, unless you two resolve your differences ,  and agree to be mutually respectful and polite, then you will be barred from playing from playing on the same night ". In my view every member of the club is an important revenue source, who the club cannot afford to discard. Even when his/her behaviour is so bad , the decision to expel must undergo an appropriate cost/benefit analysis
by the ciommittee , such that the punishment meets both the requirements of economic and common sense.

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