Minutes of an EGM held on Wednesday 19th August 2015
at
Bealings Village Hall
Members attending:31
Apologies:John Clements, Tony and Trish Finch.
Chairman's presentation
In response to the feed back and comments to the Newsletter I sent out earlier this year, thirty members indicated they wished to play league matches. This shows how the club has changed since 2009 when only 6 members were interested, but we entered the league and have been successful over the years and in turn attracted more members making more competition for team places. Whilst the captain needs to pick the strongest team it leaves a number of members who seldom get a game. We have arranged friendly games giving these members preference to play but it lacks the same competitive spirit. Some asked if the club could enter two teams in the league. Nigel sought clarification of the SCBA rules and asked the hall booking secretary if there were sufficient Fridays available for the extra matches. The SCBA stated that the names of players for the A team would have to be nominated and lodged with the match secretary, and that players would not be able to play for the other team without permission of the SCBA committee. The hall is available for the matches on a Friday so the club night on a Wednesday would not be affected.
The committee discussed a number of issues concerning entering two teams and felt that they could not be resolved without putting the proposal to the full membership. However due to timing issues it was agreed that we would register two teams for the winter league and if the membership didn’t agree we could withdraw the second team.
Nigel looked at the members attending on Tuesday and Wednesday and noted that there could be 19 on a Tuesday but 29 on a Wednesday and we only have mat capacity for 24. This is due to a number of players now playing on both days.
The membership is closed at the moment as we don’t want members having to sit out on a Wednesday night.
As chairman I have to be impartial but in this I feel there is a strong case for running two teams giving all members a chance to play in the league, I have heard it said that by doing this we can split the club but I think if we don’t take some action now we could end up losing members. The SCBA have given us there blessing and said go for it as it is permissible to have a team of between 8 and 16 players with no penalties. Although if we are unable to field the minimum of eight players and have to cancel the match we will have to pay the costs of reimbursement to the opposing club. A number of 3rd division teams I have spoken to have difficulty in fielding one full team. So I think we should give it a trial for this winter league.
What do you the members think?
Open to discussion.
David was one of the members who asked for consideration of playing a second team and some members had indicated that they would prefer to play in a lower league.
Shelia asked about the hall booking availability and was informed that this issue has been resolved.
Peter E asked who has been nominated for the two teams and was told that this was to be Richards decision.
Shelia then asked if members would be given a choice as to which team they wish to play in. Richard would have to choose.
Peter E said he did not think that the club had enough players for two teams.
Richard then asked if couples would object to being split between the two teams. Some couples indicated that they would not mind.
Peter H said that it was worth trying playing two teams for one year.
Steve suggested that one solution would be to have a serious friendly team although he is not against playing two teams.
Brian B asked how we intend to cover holidays but was told that we can play short with out shot penalties.
Richard then gave a résumé of last winter league, indicating that he had 26 players to choose from. He then listed the number of times members played in the league. As requested he then announced the members he had chosen for the first division team, the remainder allocated for the third division team.
He also mentioned four people who wished to join the club to play league games but the membership is closed.
Peter H stated that those who wish to play league should be able to play, but it reiterated that we are closed because of the mat capacity for club roll-up.
The proposal was then put to the vote and there were 18 for two teams and 9 against. So the motion was carried.
Tina indicated that at the end of the summer league she wished to stand down as Vice -Captain.
Captain of the A team RichardCaptain of B team John Brace
Raffle organiser JennyRaffle organiser Kathy
Catering BarbaraCatering Brenda
This closed the EGM
John B told the members that it is intended for the club to purchase new club shirts and asked if the members wished for a change of colours. 15 members were for a change with 11 against.
John B also stated that from the feed back from the chairman's news letter members would prefer a bowls orientated 25th anniversary celebration. It was suggested that we have a random triples competition and food afterwards.