Volunteer Profiles  

CSSC Angling Council Secretary Jim North explains why he enjoys being a CSSC volunteer.

What is your proudest moment/ memory of being a CSSC Volunteer?

Seeing the first CSSC National Boat Angling competition at Beaumaris successfully completed with many happy faces. Being awarded a Certificate of Recognition for my twenty-something years of involvement.

How did you get involved in volunteering for CSSC?

I saw the need for a regional boat angling competition and started one in the Eastern region in the early 1980's. I was also involved with running the Southend Sports Club. After several years of running a successful regional competition I started to push for a national final and was co-opted onto the Angling Council to organise the inaugural event in 1996.

What do you do as a CSSC Volunteer?

I still run the Eastern region boat angling qualifier but most of my time now is spent organising the four CSSC National Finals (beach, boat, game and coarse) in my capacity as Secretary of the CSSC Angling Council. This comprises of booking the venue and accommodation (we work a year to two years ahead), producing finalists paperwork, liasing with regional organisers for their team details and accommodation requirements, calculating the competition results and announcing them at the presentation dinner, producing a yearly newsletter, maintaining our website, organising committee meetings and producing the minutes plus all the myriad of other little jobs that go to making a successful event.

What are the best bits about volunteering for CSSC (and the worst bits)?

The very best bits are the looks of surprise on the winner's faces at the presentation, as we take considerable care not to let people know the results beforehand. Also the morning after an event with everybody happy and everything has been seen to go smoothly and nobody has noticed the duck's feet paddling furiously under water! :-) The worst bits? Possibly the frustration that not everybody seems to read the paperwork properly.

What has kept you involved as a volunteer with CSSC?

I really like organising events and seeing people enjoy their sport as much as I do.

What would you say to other people who might want to volunteer with CSSC?

Do it, what have you got to lose? There is no end of support for anyone wanting to do so and it is up to you how much or little you accept. Everybody has their own unique talents and viewpoints that can be of benefit to all CSSC members.

For more information about the CSSC Angling Council please visit csscangling.co.uk