First and Third Trinity Boat Club
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2010-2011 Manifestos

Joshua Mills - Sponsorship Officer

As a first year here at Trinity College, I have relished the opportunity to get involved in rowing for the first time with First and Third; beginning in Michaelmas Term when I was proud to represent the club as the NM1 bowman, and continuing through to Lent Bumps in M3. My application to the position of Sponsorship Officer, however, is made not on the strength of my rowing abilities, which as I am constantly reminded by Gonzalo (somewhat hypocritically) will always be restricted by my height, but on my dedication to make sure that we command the most supportive sponsors for the club. This will be a two way relationship which I hope to manage effectively, ensuring that the sponsors get exactly what they want out of our club in terms of promotion at events, branding on equipment, boats and kit as well as through a diverse range of events which would be put on throughout the year, in order to introduce our sponsors not only to those members of the boat club who will be seen as potential recruits, but also students of Trinity who we would invite along to ensure that they have the largest possible audience.

In order to get the process moving as quickly as possible, I would begin over the Long Vacation by contacting a range of companies in areas such as law and finance where boat clubs have traditionally had success, as well as some new business and interests. Sponsors obviously want to see an increased footfall as a result of their advertising, indeed this has been the primary challenge facing our attempts to secure sponsors in the past, and so I would target these businesses effectively. Secondly, I am of the opinion that it is better to have reliable and secure sponsor who may offer us slightly less than we would like rather than none at all. As a club, we would be hoping to secure between £10,000 and £15,000 per year from our sponsors, but may have to accept a lower investment initially from which we could build in future years, whilst still enjoying this considerable income in its own right. Finally, in terms of events and sponsorship contacts, I would be more than happy to travel down to London or indeed anywhere else that is necessary in order to maintain a personal relationship, and would plan a range of events throughout the year in order both to attract members and provide a platform for the sponsors themselves.

Rowing is not cheap, and as the biggest and the best boat club on the river First and Third deserves the biggest and the best sponsors. Some strong groundwork has been laid in the last few years which I would hope to build upon – this new position would allow me to hopefully seek and secure a sponsor by the end of Michaelmas term at the latest, and set in place a programme of events and deals which would be of mutual benefit to both parties. By demonstrating the strength of the boat club and its members, I would hope to demonstrate if elected that I have the organisational, presentational and interpersonal skills to secure a strong sponsorship deal for First and Third in 2010 and 2011, and hopefully long into the future.

Joshua Mills

Proposed by Gonzalo Garcia
Seconded by Richard Fletcher


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