President's Report 2001

- By Michael Anastasiadis (presented at the AGM held in February 2002)

The year 2001 was one of significant change and achievements for the Warlords.

After 28 years of meeting at Wadestown, a decision was made that it was time for a change of venue.  The new clubrooms at Khandallah have had a beneficial change for the club by providing us with larger and cleaner premises with superior facilities and amenities.  Many members have commented positively on the change and also believe that the new location has helped to rejuvenate the club.

Membership has increased dramatically over the year by over 50% from what it was at the beginning of 2001.  The committee had set itself a modest goal to increase membership and its expectations have been far exceeded in that respect.

With a new location, what better reason to have a house-warming party.  The Warlords had a birthday celebration on St Patrick’s Day, which was 29 years to the day when the Warlords was founded.  The occasion was well supported by both past and present members and there were approximately 120 members crowded in the hall at one point during the day.

The Warlords hosted Call to Arms and this was yet again a successful convention for the second year in a row.  Having a Games Workshop Rogue Trader tournament ensured that attendance would be well patronised by the Warhammer gamers.  Call to Arms is now established as the second largest wargames convention with only the Nationals being larger.  It is a tribute to the committee and all the other members who helped the make Call to Arms the success that it deserves to be.

It is particularly pleasing to be able to report on the heightened sense of club morale and camaraderie that pervades the club.  Nowhere is this better exemplified than with the Warhammer gamers who are an inspiration and model to the rest of the club.  They attended the New Zealand Grand Tournament, ‘Fields of Blood’ taking an almost clean sweep of the honours roll—and deservedly so.  Peter Denne came first, Alan Borthwick was second and Hagen Kerr came third; in addition, Rachel Borthwick (nee Lewis) won Best Painted Army and Alan Borthwick won Best Army.  Figures belonging to Peter, Rachel, Alan and Richard Dagger were proudly displayed in the Games Workshop shop for all to see in their glory.

Publicity was also an important aspect for the Warlords.  A new website was created which has had an inestimable value in uplifting the profile and image of the club, as well as providing prospective members with a useful contact guide and source on how to get started.  Furthermore, the Warlords featured prominently in two recent articles in Games Workshop’s White Dwarf magazine and another article written by members of the Warlords have been promised to also appear in the same magazine.

All in all, never before has the club enjoyed such a robust membership, good publicity and a heightened sense of morale.  We can only hope that the club will continue to improve from strength to strength.

Thanks to all members who have helped clean up the hall after meetings, helped with Call-to-Arms, or who have taught a newbie the rules and attracted new people to the hobby.