The big back-to-school meeting for the Nancy and Grand Nancy associations. The association festival was organized this Sunday in the nursery park of Nancy, in Meurthe-et-Moselle with more than 150 associations present. After several months of confinement, curfews and other restrictions that resulted in the closure or a decline in activity, they hope to attract new members.
If the establishment on August 9, health pass for cultural and leisure activities initially slowed down some members, it is above all the last months of restrictions that have weakened associations. Céline Donnot, judo teacher at Shobukai a martial arts club in Nancy, saw the difference: “we have about 400 members, whereas before the crisis we had already risen to 600. We were not able to practice indoors, so it was not easy, the same when we did contactless practice.“
Attract new members
Observation also shared by other clubs such as the Laxovian billiard sports association. “We must revive the associative environment and make ourselves known, explains Muriel Humbert, treasurer of the association, we were about forty members over the last season and we had a sharp drop with the coronavirus, we had 70 before. Look for old members and find new ones“.
A search for members also carried out by the martial arts club and combat sports “punch Nancy“. With an inflatable ring and a tatami placed in the heart of the nursery park, the club founded by Nancy boxing champion Valérie Hénin is working hard.”Do judo and boxing demonstrations, there is nothing better with the world present“explains Patrick Langlade, co-director of punch Nancy. But the full-scale demonstration is not the club’s only weapon,”after this little boxing initiation, we offer discovery sessions“specifies Patrick Langlade.
It feels good to let off steam
For the moment, the method is proving successful, “we’re getting off to a good start this year“rejoices Patrick Langlade who can also count on a”Olympic Games effect” with participation this summer in Tokyo in taekwondo, by Magda Wiet-Hénin, the daughter of the founder of the club.
In the aisles of the nursery, there were obviously many families looking for activity. “It is for our well-being with the confinements it was very hard. There things are better, so we must take advantage. It feels good to let off steam“comments David and Aline in the middle of an introductory volleyball session.
