We normally open club membership in early February so that members pay their fees, and allow us to registered them with Athletics NI.
Club affiliations, and athlete registrations, with Athletics NI are payable annually on 1st April, and the year ends on 31st March. To facilitate this annual cycle, the club normally charges a reduced fee (our 'early bird' rate) of £30 if paid before 1 April, then the fee increase to £35 after that date.
Normally, the club needs to finalise all membership and registrations with Athletics NI before 1 June. In light of the current situation Athletics NI have this week extended their deadline to 1 September. We suspect that this may change again, depending on Government guidance, and health advice through the PHA (NI) in the weeks to come.
The situation we find ourselves in is unprecedented - and put simply - we do not know when Athletics NI will return to normal, when races will continue, when you will need Athletics NI membership to be in place, or indeed when we as a club will return to normal training activities.
We are also mindful of the concerns that our members, and their families, have around the impact of the Covid19 virus on our own health, the health of our loved ones, family incomes, and in wider society.
We are acutely aware of the personal, and financial, issues that members will be dealing with in the weeks, and possibly months, ahead.
The last thing that we want members to be worrying about is paying club fees, before an arbitrary deadline when the price goes up, and without getting anything in return, or any benefit from paying their membership fee.
The situation is so fluid that we don't want to do anything that may disadvantage members.
Ballymena Runners will extend the reduced rate (the 'early bird' rate) until such times as Athletics NI are back to normal. If that is within weeks, then we will let members know the new deadline and give sufficient time to allow members to benefit form the reduced rate before any increase.
We will, of course, continue to monitor the situation and do what we feel is in the best interest of members at all times.
If the forced 'shut down' of racing and training continues longer term, then we will review our membership arrangements again.
We will ensure that no member is disadvantaged (whether they have already paid their 2020 fees yet or not). This will be bourn in mind in any decision we take in the future about membership.
We hope this change takes into account the needs of our members, along side our need to ensure members are paid up and registered with Athletics NI - as and when appropriate.
The club officers, and committee, will keep the situation under constant review, and do what we feel is in the best interest of our club, and its members.