Paul-Andre Walker, Staff Reporter
BERNARD
SHARON DONALDSON will be doing her last task as president of the Jamaica Netball Association (JNA), when she calls her association's annual general meeting (AGM) today at 2:00 p.m.
Her replacement is expected to be Marva Bernard, who until yesterday still remained the only nomination for what will be a vacant post.
The AGM is expected to be normal, with no resolutions set to be passed this year.
All the other members of the JNA executive have already been returned unopposed.
Bernard will be asked to replace a president who has brought much to the sport but can
no longer continue because of personal
commitments.
With the knowledge of what it will take to do this Bernard said.
"I bring passion and performance and a love for the sport to the position. I also bring an acute understanding of what the sport needs."
NEW IDEAS
"I'm bringing my style and creativity to the position. Each president that comes in brings their own thing to the table and we take that and build on it and bring new things. That's what makes our sport exciting," said Bernard.
Bernard has managed both the junior and senior national teams on tours, and in 1999 she was appointed director of finance of the International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA).
In 2002 she served as a member of the Jury of Appeal at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England, and in 2005 she held a similar position at the World Youth Netball Championships in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Bernard got involved in netball in 1973 as the manager of the Air Jamaica netball team for over 21 years. She became treasurer of the Business House Netball Association (BHNA) in 1990 and served three years in that capacity before taking up the position as treasurer of the JNA in 1993 a post she still holds.
Bernard has also been in charge of the JNA's finances for the last 12 years and has become acutely aware of what it takes to run the sport.
"Change is inevitable and change comes with new dynamics but that doesn't mean that we are throwing out the old," Bernard made sure to explain.
