|
TRAINING PORTFOLIO ANNUAL REPORT 2009
by John Hamilton
Senior hunters’ Courses
During 2009 180 people attended the 17 courses provided by the association. The resulting average of 10.58 people per course is an increase of 25% on last year when we had an average of 8 people per course. Well done to the trainers and the branch committees for promoting the training.
Junior Rangers’ Courses
There were 3 junior courses this year attended by 39 youngsters who are all eligible for a one year free membership once they have completed and submitted membership application forms. The junior courses were attended by an average of 13 people per course; maybe a challenge that we can put to our senior course facilitators for the coming year.
Practical Shooting
The number of members attending range days and completing their CHASA practical shooting tests has declined since the beginning of the year. That means that 50% of members who attended senior hunters’ courses did not receive their CHASA Proficiency Grading certificates because they did not complete practical shooting test. Branch chairmen, trainers and course conveners are encouraged to make time for the practical shooting test as soon as possible after each course so as to make things easier for both the candidates and the office. Branches are to please confirm with the office, their members whose certificates are still at the office waiting for practical shooting and make necessary arrangements with those members to complete it.
New study material.
A new CHASA study manual has been introduced earlier this year to be used by all CHASA affiliated associations. It is a 200 paged document which has been found very informative by all. The manual was a joint venture of all CHASA associations, but we have to congratulate our president John Harris, for compiling it. As the manual was not only compiled for hunters in the province of KwaZulu-Natal each CHASA member association will be responsible for conveying their local provincial legislation to members. A ‘Power point’ presentation of the ordinance section to supplement the manual has been prepared and issued.
Challenges
Only 44% of our membership is proficiency graded and the challenge to all members is to help us raise this percentage by participating in and promoting the training program. New ideas and methods are always welcome as we have a need for continuous improvement if we are to retain our right to hunt. There are many people outside of our association who would like nothing more than to see us forced to close our doors.
Trainers
On behalf of the Association I would like to welcome the following people to the training team: Henry Prins, Jason Peetz, Kieron Moore and Mike Bingham. Thank you to all who have been consistently involved with the Association’s training, including Philip Strydom who has, due to other commitments resigned from training. You guys do us proud.
In conclusion I would like to thank all the people that I have had the good fortune to have worked with over the last 13 years of involvement in the training portfolio. They are too many to mention individually, but their support has not gone un-noticed. In any event, they did not take up the challenge for praise and medals, but for the privilege of being able to help others achieve. I thank you one and all.
|
