ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH SCRABBLE® PLAYERS
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
2008
8.30pm Sunday August 24th
Yarnfield Conference Centre
AGM PACK CONTAINING
AGM AGENDA
CHAIRMAN’s REPORT
TREASURER & AUDITOR REPORTS
2007 ACCOUNTS
OVERTIME MOTION - STATEMENT
COMMITTEE OBJECTIVES
SPARE PROXY VOTING SLIP
ABSP ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2008
All members present at the BMSC are encouraged to attend the AGM. If for any reason you prefer to submit a proxy vote (back page of this booklet) then please ensure this is handed to the Secretary, Amy Byrne, by 7pm Sunday
FINAL AGENDA
1To receive the Chairman’s report
2To receive and consider the accounts of the Association for 2007, and the associated Auditor’s and Treasurer’s reports
3To elect the officers and other members of the Committee
The current Committee consists of:
Anand Buddhdev, Amy Byrne, Paul Cartman, Elie Dangoor,
Darryl Francis, Stewart Holden, Liz Jardine, Wayne Kelly, Terry Kirk,
Ross Mackenzie, Len Moir, Steve Perry, Anne Ramsay, Allan Simmons,
Evan Simpson, Kat Wilkes
(plus Philip Nelkon as Mattel representative ).
The officers of the Committee are currently:
Terry Kirk (Chairman)
Amy Byrne (Secretary)
Ross Mackenzie (Treasurer)
Ross is standing again as Treasurer.
Amy Byrne is stepping aside as Secretary, to be replaced by Laura Finley
All other Committee members are standing.
The honorary President is Gyles Brandreth.
4To confirm the Auditor for the year 2008 (Mervyn Bright)
5To fix the subscription for 2009
It is proposed that the subscription remains at £15 per annum
6MOTIONS
Rules
6.1Time Penalties – Game Rule 9.1
6.1 To introduce that overtime and time penalties will commence on any electronic timer when the digital display shows -00.01 and not as 00.00 as it applies at present..
Proposer: Amy Byrne
Seconder: Len Moir
Supporting argument for Motion 9.1
Having been Tournament Director at several tournaments over the past year to eighteen months it has become increasingly obvious that many players are confused about when time penalties should apply. At present the Rule 9.1 states that time penalties begin as soon as the clock shows 00.00 However, it is my contention that it is more natural to recognise and accept that a player has gone over time and is liable for time penalties once the electronic timer shows 00.01 Adoption of this motion would bring the UK into line with most other playing nations and remove any doubt from players’ minds.
7DISCUSSION ITEMS
Committee Objectives 2008-2009
A review of how the Committee is performing against its Objectives
Chairman’s Report 2008
My report last year focused on many of the changes that were occurring at the time, the change of word source to Collins, and the proliferation of new tournaments, to name but two. The twelve months since then have been more a year of stabilisation and consolidation, building on the foundations already in place.
Your Committee has remained relatively stable over the last year also. I know you will have read recently that Stewart Holden is to stand down, but I’m delighted to say he has reconsidered and will be continuing to bombard us with his enthusiasm and ideas. This means the only personnel change going forward is that Amy Byrne is relinquishing her role as Secretary after 12 years. Amy has more experience of Committee procedure than anyone, and we shall be very sorry to see her go. Her input has proved invaluable. I’m delighted to say that Laura Finley has agreed to take on the Secretary’s role and I look forward to working with Laura in the future.
There has also been a newly created role within the Committee in recent months. Paul Cartman has made a great start as our new Equality Officer, helping to define the responsibilities of our Association in this area. One of Paul’s first priorities has been to keep a keen eye on facilities at all new tournament venues to make sure they are accessible to all.
The Tournament Coordinator’s role has become part of the responsibility of the Tournament Organiser’s Forum, under the watchful stewardship of Steve Perry. Steve has done a great job of developing the Forum to ensure that the voices of organisers throughout the country are heard. Over the coming months, I’ll be working with Steve to define the specific roles and responsibilities of those people who are so important to us for tournament Scrabble – the Tournament Organisers, Directors and Computer Operators, without whom there would be no ABSP. The Committee has been looking at the practicalities of introducing some kind of accreditation for TDs to maintain the current high standards. Further details will follow.
The issue of publicity was much discussed at our last Committee meeting with the impending departure of Stewart, our Publicity Officer. Although Stewart is now staying, we will be looking to combine the previously separate roles of Publicity and Sponsorship, and to create a small team to push forward with this. As the team takes shape, they will communicate their ideas. In the meantime, I’d be glad to hear from anyone who feels they may be able to help in these areas at a local level.
A major initiative for this autumn and next year is to increase the popularity of Scrabble in schools. Kat Wilkes has been working closely with Philip Nelkon to increase the level of schools’ participation, with a letter ready to go out to all Secondary Schools next term, encouraging their participation.
The ABSP ratings system continues to be robustly maintained by John Grayson. The Committee have been looking at making some changes in the qualification criteria for major tournaments (WSC, ABSP Masters, Causeway Challenge and Four Nations). The aim is both to standardise and to make the systems fairer. I’ll be making an announcement about this shortly, once the details are finalised, and before the start of the next qualification periods.
The ABSP continues to support WESPA (World English-language Scrabble Players Association) and is well placed to ensure its views are heard, with both Allan Simmons and Amy Byrne on the WESPA Committee.
This continues to be an exciting time, with Scrabble making the newspapers and indeed the television news. The opportunities offered by the Internet and new technologies continue to expand. The tournament scene in the UK is flourishing with new tournaments sitting alongside the established events. We’re lucky to have innovators such as Chris Hawkins and others who are always thinking of ways to improve on what we have already. Although the 24-hour tournament may not be to everyone’s taste, it’s noticeable that organisers are managing to tweak timetables to ensure that we now get more games for our money, a trend that I’m sure most of us would welcome.
The current Committee stands as:
Gyles Brandreth (Honorary President)
Terry Kirk (Chairman)
Ross Mackenzie (Treasurer)
Amy Byrne (Secretary)
Laura Finley (Secretary – elect)
Anand Buddhdev (Technical Officer and Deputy Webmaster)
Paul Cartman (Equality Officer)
Elie Dangoor (Data Controller / Complaints Officer)
Darryl Francis (Dictionary Advisor)
Stewart Holden (Publicity)
Elisabeth Jardine (Magazine editorial coordination)
Wayne Kelly (Document Controller)
Len Moir (Sponsorship)
Allan Simmons (Sponsorship / WESPA rep)
Philip Nelkon (Mattel representative)
Anne Ramsay (Membership Secretary)
Evan Simpson (Webmaster)
Kat Wilkes (Schools Scrabble)
My thanks to all of the above for the continuing time and effort they put in for the benefit of the Association. Thanks also to Alec Webb, instrumental in the production of The Last Word, and to everyone else around the country involved in running tournaments and who are responsible for making the ABSP a success.
I look forward to seeing many of you at the BMSC and AGM
Terry Kirk, Chairman
Auditor's Report
I have examined the Income and Expenditure Account for the year ended 31 December 2007 and Balance Sheet as at that date as prepared by the Treasurer of the Association of British Scrabble Players and I am satisfied that proper accounting records have been maintained recording all the income and expenditure of the Association, and that the Balance Sheet reflects a true and accurate financial position.
M.J. Bright
Chartered Accountant
31 May 2008
Treasurer's Report
The accounts of the Association are presented [below], comprising an Income and Expenditure Account for the 2007 calendar year, a Balance Sheet drawn to 31 December 2007, and numbered notes expanding on certain lines of interest therein. Please read these, along with the auditor's report [below].
The surplus for 2007 is £2,844. This is largely a result of yet another increase in membership numbers, along with the fact that there was no Handbook issued in 2007. Other contributions to this healthy turnaround in the finances are smaller tournament deficits (see note 1), greater bank interest and a drop in committee and other miscellaneous expenses. Although part of the fall in committee expenses is due to recategorising membership expenses within general postage and packaging, the drop is also attributable to smaller committee meetings and the withdrawal of the attendance allowance for committee members.
Given the current surplus, I do not propose any change in the annual subscription of £15.
If you have any comments or questions regarding this report or the financial statements, please contact me at any time.
Ross Mackenzie
Treasurer, ABSP
ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH SCRABBLE PLAYERS
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT
for the year ended 31 December 2007
2007 2006
£ £
INCOME
Members' Subscriptions 11,595 10,341
Tournament Surplus/(Deficit) - Note 1 117 (86)
Bank interest 425 241
Miscellaneous 25 45
——— ———
TOTAL INCOME 12,162 10,541
——— ———
EXPENDITURE
Publications - Note 2 7,620 7,952
Committee Expenses 815 2,113
Miscellaneous - Note 3 883 1,394
——— ———
TOTAL EXPENDITURE 9,318 11,459
——— ———
EXCESS OF INCOME OVER EXPENDITURE 2,844 (918)
SURPLUS BROUGHT FORWARD 6,404 7,322
——— ———
SURPLUS CARRIED FORWARD 9,248 6,404
——— ———
ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH SCRABBLE PLAYERS
BALANCE SHEET
as at 31 December 2007
2007 2006
£ £
CURRENT ASSETS
Bank deposit account 15,205 7,211
Bank current account 2,705 3,186
PayPal account 387 491
Stocks - Note 4 1,167 1,478
Sundry debtors 325 273
——— ———
TOTAL OF CURRENT ASSETS 19,789 12,639
——— ———
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Prepaid members' subscriptions 8,085 5,220
Sundry creditors 150 220
Peter Finley Fund 61 760
Graeme Thomas Fund 2,245 35
——— ———
TOTAL OF CURRENT LIABILITIES 10,541 6,235
——— ———
TOTAL NET ASSETS 9,248 6,404
════ ════
Representing:
TOTAL RETAINED SURPLUS 9,248 6,404
════ ════
NOTES TO THE AUDITED ACCOUNTS
2007 2006
£ £
1Tournament Surplus/Deficit
BMSC 215 204
Masters (13) (99)
Durham Grand (34)
New Player Event (85) (157)
——— ———
117 (86)
——— ———
2Publications
TLW Printing 4,347 4,092
Postage and packing 2,386 1,728
TLW Editing 600 680
Collins Initiation Kit (net) 402
Handbook 1,477
TLW Enveloping 250 125
TLW Income (365) (150)
——— ——— 7,620 7,952
——— ———
3Miscellaneous
Insurance 220 221
Garments (net) 166 116
Transaction costs 154 128
Leaflets 126
Prompt renewal incentive 128
WESPA subscription 82 95
WYSC assistance 100
Web Site 50 137
Results sheets (net) 44 221
Engraving 29 41
Variety Club 10
Membership cards 47
Protiles used 162
——— ———
883 1,394
——— ———
4Stocks
Results sheets 290 217
Protiles 533 661
Round Boards 170 255
Logowear 120 158
TLW P&P 54 187
——— ———
1,167 1,478
——— ———
ABSP – OBJECTIVES2008-2009
A reminder of Agreed Objectives
ROUTINE OPERATION OBJECTIVES
PROVIDE AN EFFICIENT AND ACCURATE RATING SYSTEM
PUBLISH SIX ISSUES OF TLW PER YEAR
EFFICIENT MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS (VOLUME & TIMELY)
COORDINATE EVENTS AND PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR ORGANISERS
GENERATE POSITIVE PUBLICITY FOR THE ABSP
MAINTAIN AN UPTODATE ABSP WEBSITE FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL THE SCRABBLE COMMUNITY
PURSUE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
IMPROVEMENT OBJECTIVES
INCREASE MEMBERSHIP :-
25% INCREASE IN MEMBERSHIP BY END OF 2008
INCREASED ACTIVITY
INCREASE IN NUMBER OF RATED GAMES ANNUALLY
INCREASE IN NUMBER OF PLAYERS WITH PROVISIONAL RATINGS
INCREASE IN NUMBER OF RATED TOURNAMENTS (added October 2005)
PROVIDE INPUT TO SCHOOLS SCRABBLE
SPONSORSHIP
ESTABLISH A LONG TERM (3 years or 5 years) MAJOR SPONSORSHIP FOR THE BMSC
PROXY VOTING FORM
Use this if you are unable to attend the AGM
Must be handed to ABSP Secretary, Amy Byrne, by 7pm Sunday or send to 12 Northfield Terrace, Edinburgh EH8 7PX by 21 August, 2008 or email
Rules
6.1Time Penalties – Game Rule 9.1
6.1 To introduce that overtime and time penalties will commence on any electronic timer when the digital display shows -00.01 and not as 00.00 as it applies at present..
Proposer: Amy Byrne
Seconder: Len Moir
Signed ______Dated ______
Name ______Member Number ______