Starting a new Keen-Agers Recreational Table Tennis club.

 There are two models which can be adopted for establishment of a New Keen-Agers Club:

1. Extension of an existing Table Tennis club to include a Keen-Agers program.

2. Formation of a new stand-alone Keen-Agers Club.

Each of these options are detailed here

Extension of an Existing Table Tennis Club

If your Table Tennis Club is in a locality which has a significant number of retirees and older residents, establishing a Keen-Agers club can be a very valuable contribution in your community. Most table tennis clubs have adequate facilities and a friendly environment. There are also some older members who may wish to join Keen-Agers when they no longer want to do competition table tennis. All table tennis clubs have spouses and partners who would like to play but aren't skilled enough for competition .

You can establish a completely separate program with a separate sub-committee for Keen-Agers. It will run itself and does not drain the energy of people already involved in club administration. The fee income derived from the program comes to the club. Daytime playing sessions which suit older people mean that your equipment is being used more profitably. Keen-Agers should not be treated as a second class form of table tennis. In Australia, table tennis has always been fun.

Clubs which have only the competition approach - about ratings, gradings and medals are missing half their potential membership. Keen-Agers table-tennis will work with your club and bring you into contact with a number of other potential partners who can be very helpful in the new development. For more on this subject.click the [link] above.

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Formation of a new free standing Keen-Agers club.

A free-standing Keen-Agers club can be established usually in about 3 - 5 months. We are keen to help launch clubs whereever there are significant numbers of retirees and older people. It is important to have an enthusiastic local steering group to get it under way. The smallest population centre in which we have set up a club so far is about 1,500 people (Corryong) .

In suburban areas, locating a suitable community stadium with a basketball sized space available during mornings at a reasonable rental is pretty much a prerequisite. Setting up a new club usually involves partnerships with Local Government , health-related agencies and others . It involves a short campaign in the local media around the time of the launch .

When you contact us please let us know whether or you would just like to be a player or whether you can assist on a steering group.

We can help you with every stage from the first feasibility until incorporation with a committee of management. Once we are sure of a sound feasibility for a financially self-sustaining club, we can facilitate access to funds for basic equipment (tables and initial stock of bats and balls ) .

Table Tennis club officials may find this statement written in 2004 By Ian Eldridge very helpful.

 Ian was Treasurer of the Bairnsdale & District Table Tennis Association 2001-6, an experienced sports club administrator, In In 2008 this club which in 2001 had nothing has contributed $87,000 ($25,000 from building fund) to help build a $1.26 million complex which integrates Table tennis, squash & racquetball and carpet bowls.

 Benefits obtained by  our Table Tennis Association through an integrated Social & Pennant structure 

As Treasurer of the Bairnsdale & District Table Tennis Association Inc. over the period when Keen-Agers were established as part of our Association I have seen many positive aspects to the social table tennis section. 

Prior to Keen-Agers our Association was a pennant oriented organization with approximately 50-55 members playing one night a week. The Associations table tennis tables were only social/competition standard and mainly old, as the Association was only in a position to buy a new table occasionally. 

Following the establishment of the social side approximately 3 years ago the Association has been restructured as follows:

1) The Association has two membership categories, social & pennant with different fee  structures. Whilst the fees are different for the two categories all members are treated as equal regarding voting rights etc, with no-one left to feel as though they have second class membership. 

2) The Committee is elected from members of both categories and has been restructured to act as a Committee of Management for the Association to look after administration, finances, purchase new equipment etc. 

3) Sub Committees have been established to look after the day to day running of the social & pennant sides of the Association. 

The Associations membership now stands at approx. 125 with pennant still between 50-55 and the balance social membership. We have found that a considerable number of pennant members have made use of the social daytime availability, especially our student members during school holidays. As well the Keen-Agers have provided a steady number of members who have transferred from social to pennant membership. The enthusiasm that the Keen-Agers have brought to the Association has resulted in the pennant section setting up a second night of play. 

Financially we have found that the social side of the Association provides a larger surplus of income for the following reasons:

1) The social players do not require the same area between tables meaning that they have 10-12 tables set up in the same space that Pennant uses for 6 tables which results in the Pennant needing to hire outside halls, with extra costs etc. 

2) The main cost involved with the social side is hall hire. They have minimal administrative costs and use the cheaper practice table tennis balls. Pennant players have added costs involving 3 star balls, trophies, copying of pennant sheets etc. 

Over the last 3 years the following tangible benefits have been obtained-

 1) New table tennis tables.

In the first year through grants and donations received to set up Keen-Agers 9 new social/competition standard tables were purchased. In the second year through the build up of Association funds a further 4 tables of the same standard were purchased. The Associations financial position has continued to improve to the extent that we are currently upgrading some of the first 9 tables purchased with 6 new Stiga Expert Roller competition tables. The Committee is also in a position to set up an equipment replacement fund to set aside enough money to replace approx. 4 tables every 3 years at competition standard.

2) Building Fund

The Association has a building fund to assist in obtaining a table tennis centre in Bairnsdale. During the last 3 years $3,000.00 has been added to the fund.

3) Donations/Assistance 

When Keen-Agers was established as part of the Association it was agreed that they would be able to use some of the funds generated each year to donate to worthy causes. To date approximately $2,000 has been paid out.

Our Association is currently in a healthy position regarding both members and finances and is continuing to grow. The increase in membership and usage of facilities has enabled our Association to be in a position to press our local Council to consider setting up a permanent facility with an area dedicated to table tennis. Hopefully this will eventuate in the not too distant future. 

Many sports tend to concentrate on development through one area, such as juniors, at a time when there are too many sports all struggling to attract members and money. It is my personal opinion that as a minor sport in Australia table tennis needs to place itself more as a sport for all ages and provide both pennant and social availability which many other sports don't. As we have discovered, the social side not only brings in one type of member but once involved they often bring in other family members such as grandchildren who would not have considered taking up table tennis.