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42 | SUMMER 2023 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie CLUB2TOGETHER 42 | SUMMER 2023 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie E arlier in the year, clubs from all over Ireland gathered via webinar for the culmination of over 6 months of hard work through the LGFA's Club2Gether programme. Now in its fifth year, Club2Gether is an LGFA club development initiative aimed at strengthening club structures. This initiative focuses on developing areas such as volunteer recruitment and retention, governance and officer training, sponsorship and fundraising, games development as well as planning for the future to ensure sustainable structures are in place going forward. The clubs that completed the programme were Cumann an Piarsaigh (Antrim), Wolfe Tones Greencastle (Antrim), St Peter's (Armagh), Templeport St. Aidan's (Cavan), Beart (Donegal), An Tearmainn (Donegal), Annaclone (Down), Na Dubh Ghall (Dublin), Kilconly (Galway), MacHale Rovers (Mayo) and St Croan's (Roscommon). Well done to all clubs on successfully completing the programme in 2022-2023 and we caught up with two of the graduating club to see how the programme has impacted them. St. Croans, Co. Roscommon - Karina Burke, Secretary From our involvement in the Club2Gether programme, we have adopted a best practice that prior to our Executive meetings everyone has a tea or coffee and a catch up. The seating plan for Executive meetings is now less formal and everyone tries to sit in a circle. When looking to fill positions for 2023 members of the Executive approached prospective individuals in person, rather than contacting them by way of text or phone call, this has proven to be very effective. Committee members are also more aware of the importance of listening and listening effectively, i.e., repeating what the other party has just said and being aware of body language, and we have realised the importance of the role of P.R.O. within our club. We are going to adopt the structure of the Executive meetings for our AGM's going forward, i.e., seating plan and tea or coffee beforehand. We will continue to ask directly for any help needed including any sponsorship that might be required. We will strive to ensure that members remain one of our key focuses and ensure that they have a strong voice within our club. While none of our changes made already or to be made are huge, we believe that collectively they will have a very positive impact on our club. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to take part in this programme! Kilconly, Co. Galway - Seamus Tierney – Executive Committee Member As part of Club2Gether, we were able to assess our own structures and follow the framework laid out in the programme, to strengthen and grow our club. As a result of the changes we have made, we have seen increased participation in both committee and coaching personnel. There is greater communication amongst our members, plus collaboration and workload distribution, instead of the same people doing everything. The programme has allowed us to put a focus on a long-term strategic plan in addition to a short-term plan to help us day to day. CLUBS COMPLETE THEIR CLUB2GETHER JOURNEY