Dear members,

 After a rocky 2014 full of sometimes seemingly insurmountable challenges the MBA moves onwards and upwards into 2015. So at this point I would like to once again thank Craig Curtis (out going President) and Jo Fitzpatrick for their many years of service to the MBA and basketball in general. These two along with the rest of the Board and our volunteers have worked countless hours for the Association with little or no recognition, your presence will be sorely missed.

As we begin our rebuilding of the Association it is now the Board and the MBA staff’s purpose to bring stability and a firm plan moving forward for the short medium and long term. This has taken shape over the later part of last year and swings into life this year. Our plans as follows:

• To be open and accountable at all levels to the members.
• To promote the sport of Basketball to our community and our region.
• Update our policies and procedures (which will be available on our websites) to strive for best practise and consistency throughout.
• Empower our Board Members, Staff and Volunteers with the necessary resources to carry out their roles within the organisation.
• To provide long term development pathways for players, coaches, umpires and volunteers within the Association.
• Create a family friendly environment throughout the Association.
• For all members to enjoy their Basketball experience each and every time. 

It is all very well to say this but we must carry this out as well the following we have put in place and continue to improve: 

• Special general meetings held, high attendance at AGM, auditors management report, profit and loss posted on the web site.
• Our Development program now genuinely include Waroona, Pinjarra and the greater Peel Region.
• We have set up stronger links and lines of communication with BWA and the Department of Sport and Recreation.
• We have implemented written policies and procedures across all Board member portfolios this is with the assistance of DSR, BWA and other state Basketball Associations, this is an ongoing work in progress.
• We have in place an Operations Manager, Development Officer and several volunteer administration assistants covering both administration and financial functions of the Association.
• We have implemented ongoing programs for players with Magic Hoops, Hoopsters, Magic Dribblers and the upcoming Magic Holiday Camp programs.
• Domestic Coaches attended a 2hour introductory coaching course with Andy Stewart from BWA.
• All our WABL Coaches have under gone Level O or community coaching level accreditation.  
• Our domestic and WABL referees are being provided on-going training and assessments from the domestic season.
• We have increased our WABL team numbers by 4 teams this year.
• We have appointed our Men’s and Women’s SBL Coaching staff in which both are committed to coaching the SBL and the D league teams so that our MBA players get to further their careers via our SBL program.
• It is our intention to have both our SBL teams with 80% local content within the next 2 years. The Women’s team is already in this area.  

With all this in play we needed a large group of committed paid and voluntary members to carry out the work I would like to introduce some of the people who are working tirelessly behind the scenes to make this happen: 

The Board:

•  Myself (President / Development Portfolio)
• Tony Easson (Vice President / Referee Coordinator)
• Sue Norman (SBL Portfolio)
• Tracey Richter (Domestic Portfolio / Number 1 Ticket Holder)
• Mel Klazstorny (WABL Portfolio)
• Aaron Lucas (Volunteer Portfolio / Club Secretary/ WABL Committee)
• Nat Britton (Finance Portfolio / CPA) 

The Admin: 

• Natalie Mulcahy (Operations Manager)
• Alistair Chegwidden (Development Officer)
• Katie Potter (Promotions / Administration) 

The Volunteers: 

• Kaz Salter (Sponsorship and Marketing)
• Jo Holmes (Sponsorship and Marketing)
• Taylor Mullenax (Sponsorship and Marketing)
• Ryan St Quinten (Sponsorship and Marketing Cordinator)
• Alex Shorter (Fund Raising Committee Cordinator)
• Noelene Ballantyne (Finance)
• Casey Milo (Finance)
• Holly Crook (Media)
• Kylie Bazzo (WABL)
• Deb Burdon (WABL)
• Jason Kyle (SBL Men’s Coach)
• Blake Srdarev (SBL Assistant Coach Men’s)
• Steve Barlow (SBL Assistant Coach Men’s)
• Randy Miegel (SBL Women’s Coach)
• Paddy O’Kane (SBL Assistant Coach Women’s) 

The Domestic Clubs: 

• Comet Bay Basketball Club
• MCC Sports Club
• Yunderup Sport & Rec Club
• MBC Lakers Basketball Club
• Falcon Fury
• Peel Predators Basketball Club
• FIAS Basketball 

If I have missed anyone which I am sure I have, my apologises, but also if you would like to assist in any area of the Association we would love to hear from you. This could be from being a sponsor to helping the Fund Raising Committee you are all welcome to assist. I encourage anyone with any ideas, thoughts or more importantly actions to drop us an email at admin@mandurahmagic.com.au

 Anyway enough from me for now, you have our plan and we are in the process of executing it and now it is up to you the members to get behind it and make it a true success.  

Regards 

Paul Ballantyne
MBA President