Members, as most of you will be aware, plans are now well advanced for Club Gala Dinner Dance in Citywest on St. Patricks Eve, Tuesday 16 March. This is a wonderful opportunity for everyone associated with the Club including players, mentors, administrators, families and the wider Ballyboden St. Endas Club community to celebrate the success of our Club, including it's 40 Year anniversary and the great achievements of teams over the last year. Teams and mentors are so busy during the year with their own team preparations that we rarely get the opportunity to sit back and reflect on the scale of the Club's achievements. 

The Gala night is a Club night which will incorporate honouring our 2009 Adult winning teams, Senior Football Championship, Senior Hurling League and Championship, Senior A Camogie league, Senior Ladies Football League, Intermediate Camogie League, Junior A Football League. As you can appreciate, given the number of teams involved , the traditional medal presentation format would be too cumbersome and the formal proceedings on the night will be tailored appropriately.

The organising of the Gala is a huge task and communication is important.The details around booking tickets , launch night etc. are separately posted on the website.  I have set out below a number of  information points for Club Members dealing with some of the questions that have been raised.

1. The event is not a fundraiser and the objective is to have it self financing (with the exception of reduced rate tickets for players being honoured on the night and their partners, see 2. below.) The objective of the night is for an event where all Club members have an opportunity to celebrate Club success.Tickets are being sold to Club members, families , friends and supporters.

2.  Cost is €60 per ticket. I am not aware of any GAA Club Dinner Dance where everyone does not pay. However, in light of the Clubs 40th anniversary , it has been decided that players who are members of teams being honoured on the night will pay a reduced rate of €30 per ticket for each of themselves and their partners.

3. The night is a Club event and as it must be self financing as outlined at 1 above, it is not possible to provide reduced rate tickets other than to players being honoured and their partners .  For example,

•        Does the Club Executive have to pay for their tickets?                       Yes
•        Do the Club Trustees have to pay for their tickets?                             Yes
•        Does the Club Chairman have to pay for his tickets?                          Yes
•        Do the Gala Organising committee have to pay for their tickets?          Yes
•        Do team mentors have to pay for their tickets?                                   Yes  

4. Having consulted with the hotel, unfortunately, it will not be practical to have u18s attending on the night even for U18 players who are members of an adult team being honoured on the night.  There will be no exceptions to this. 

5. Nominated players from each of the teams being honoured are liaising with Brendan Moran and Alan Ryan to coordinate player and partner ticket sales.

6. Any members who are not organising their own table of ten can also book tickets with any of the organising committee ( telephone nos on website). 

7. This is a night for showcasing our Club and with over 500 tickets sold todate promises to be a great evening. The Gala night will be formally launched in the Club on Thursday 25 February 2010 where payment for prebooked tickets will be taken. I would encourage members who have not booked to date to do so as soon as possible to assist the organising committee. As it is not a fundraiser, the organising committee reserves the right to close bookings at any stage. 

Every year we have new mentors and parents getting involved at Academy and Juvenile level and I would ask our more 'seasoned ' members to encourage these newer members to attend and let them see for themselves the great Club that we have . It is also a great opportunity to welcome back those who have contributed to the Club over the years but who may not be actively involved at present. 

Regards
Terry O'Neill
Cathaoirleach