Minutes of the 56th Annual General Meeting
Held at R.H.P. Sports & Social Club. Elm Avenue Newark,
On Tuesday 12th June 2012 at 7.30p.m.
Present: Officers & Committee Members, Miss Hutchings, Mr. M. Hunter, Mr. M.Woodhouse, Mrs P Chapman, Mr.I. Marsland,
Mr.D. Leonard, Miss S Beal & Ms L Bailey.
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Representatives of the following clubs, Balderton, Bottesford, Cross O’Cliff, Crossed Rackets, Devon, Grantham, Lincoln Albion, Lincoln St.Andrews, Lincoln St.Andrews Colts, Olleron, Orston, Oxton, Southwell Centre & Westside.
1. Apologies; Mike Dobbs (Crossed Rackets)
2 Minutes It was proposed by Murray Hunter (Lincoln Albion) and seconded by Peter Sturton (Cross O’Cliff) that the minutes of the 55th. Annual General Meeting held at the R.H.P. Sports & Social Club on Tuesday 14th. June 2011 are approved. Carried.
3 Chairperson’s Report; Annabelle Hutchings opened her first report by welcoming everybody to the meeting.
She gave thanks to all committee members for their time in attending meetings to ensure the smooth running of the League. Special thanks to Linda for her hard work during the season and beyond and also to Pauline, who is standing down after 18 years as Hon Treasurer. Also a special mention to Dave Leonard for his hard work in keeping the web site up to date.
Annabelle also gave thanks to all the teams who supported the Woodward & Cobb competition, and to Mick Dobbs for his organisation and to Pauline for her support over the two days. She hoped everyone who played enjoyed the competition. This year it was played using feather shuttles, which the league funded this year, what happens next year will be discussed later in the meeting.
Annabelle closes her report by reminding the members that the committee is always looking for new members and if anyone is interested please speak to any of the current committee. She hopes that the next season is as successful and trouble free as this has been.
4. Hon. Secretary’s Report; Linda Bailey opened her report by welcoming all present, and hoped all clubs had an enjoyable season and had not encountered too many problems fielding teams.
She informed the floor that this season the League Committee consisted of 10 members, and we are losing Pauline as Hon Treasurer and Clare as a committee member. The Committee meetings were held every six weeks and all meetings were well attended.
The remaining committee have agreed to stand again for another season, however we have only received one nomination for Treasurer so we will be very low on numbers SO I NEED YOU TO SPEAK TO YOUR MEMBERS to find some new general committee members. It is only a couple of hours each month; the game needs your support if it is to continue.
On the whole the season has been problem free, congratulations to all club officials, most forms being returned on time and many forms for the next season already received.
On behalf of the League Linda thanked Dave Leonard for maintaining the Web Site, Mike Dobbs and Pauline for organising the Woodward & Cobb, and to Annabelle in her first term of office. Linda also thanked Murray Hunter for filling the Vice Chairman post when Mike Woodhouse had to stand down early in the season; Mike however did remain on as a general committee member.
Once again Linda closed her report by giving thanks to Pauline Chapman for her hospitality in hoisting all the Committee Meetings, but also this years extra thanks to Pauline from the League for her hard work during 18 years as Hon. League Treasurer.
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5. Treasurer’s Report; Balance sheets, Income and Expenditure Accounts had been circulated at the start of the meeting.
Pauline welcomed all representatives to the meeting and gave a breakdown of the accounts, and once again, despite a loss on Woodward & Cobb competition the League is in the black.
It was proposed by Sam Beal (Westside) & seconded by
Peter Sturton (Cross O’Cliff) that the accounts be accepted. Carried
Pauline reports the Woodward & Cobb ran smoothly and all seemed to have some really good games. Well done to Grantham and Southwell and many thanks to Mike Dobbs and Annabelle for running the tournament this year.
Pauline gave a break down of the cost of the tournament, court costs £624, shuttles used £284.40, fees £322 which is a loss of £586 and she feels that this is a cost that the League cannot afford every year. If teams wish to continue playing with feathers the entry cost will have to be more realistic.
Pauline was disappointed this season over the return of Trophies. Each year she asked for them to be returned by the end of April or bring them to the Woodward & Cobb. She reminded clubs they MUST keep a record of which the trophy is with so at the end of the season they can be collected. This year we have two Trophies missing, two that Parkside won, and now they have disbanded no one seems to know where they are. So Pauline asked that if anyone knows anyone or has played at Parkside could they please make some enquires to who may have them. Two clubs will not be receiving Trophies tonight. Apologies to Devon (Mixed 3) and Cross O’Cliff Ladies
Pauline informed the floor she would also be standing down as Treasurer and the League have received a nomination for Peter Sturton as her replacement.
Pauline closes her report by suggesting that due to a healthy bank balance we should keep the fee at £23. and suggests to Peter an increase to at least £25 next year.
Mr.Kitchen will be happy to do the auditing next year God willing
6. Appointment of Hon Auditor; Mr Kitchen was prepared to stand again and it was proposed by Sam Beal (Westside) & seconded by Matt Watson (Devon) Carried.
7. Hon. Web Site Managers Report;
Dave reported that there were a total of 54 teams entered into the League this year, which was a drop of 2 teams (1Mixed and 1 Ladies) from last years total of 56.
New teams were entered by Cross O’Cliff 1 Mixed & 1 Ladies
Devon 1 Mixed
St.Andrews 1 Mens
Grantham 1 Mens
Crossed Rackets 1 Mens
Westside 1 Mens
Teams Lost Newark 2 Mixed ! Mens 1 Ladies
Parkside 1 Mixed 2 Mens 1 Ladies
Devon 1 Mens
The lost of teams resulted in only 280 fixtures this year 20 less then last year. Of these, only 3 were conceded, although only two pairs were fielded on a number of occasions, resulting in point’s deductions in six instances for teams that had done this on three or more occasions. There had been a 4-4 draw in one match between Balderton & Crossed Rackets who had both fielded two pairs each, so the result had to go on points won, which Balderton scraped by just 2 points.
Scorecards had to be chased on a few occasions but generally they were all received in good time. Some clubs were using up last years scorecards which had Peters address on the back, but due to the fact Dave met Pete most weeks at Cross O’Cliff club night it did not cause any significant delays.
Challenge Matches
Mixed Cross O’Clff 3 opted not to challenge St.Andrews 1
Mens Devon opted to challenge Cross O’Cliff 2 (13/06/12)
Ladies Devon opted not to challenge Lincoln Albion.
The website received 19,000 hits this year proving that it’s a useful tool in tracking their teams standing. Dave has also been contacted to put in notices and adverts, and he is happy to continue doing this if people have any more.
Dave closed his report by giving thanks to the Committee and everyone else for making him feel welcome during his first year, and thanks to all club representatives in supplying all fixtures, players’ details, and scorecards in good time, which made his first year in office as easy as possible.
Peter Sturton (Cross O’Cliff) asked for a round of applause in recognition of the Committees hard work.
8: League Trophies were presented by Rod Tyler (Grantham BC) to
Mixed Div 1 Cross O’Cliff 1 Mens Div 1 Ollerton
Div 2 Albion 1 Div 2 Albion
Div 3 Devon 1 Div 3 Westside
Div 4 Crossed Rackets 5
Ladies Div 1 Westside
Div 2 Cross Rackets 2
Woodward & Cobb
15th April 1st. Grantham 1
2nd. Grantham 2
22nd. April 1st. Southwell Centre 1
2nd.Southwell Centre 2
9: Amendment of Rules; to consider, & if thought fit, to adopt the following resolutions;
· Devon BC propose change to RULE 8:9 to read “The home team shall provide adequate drinks only, to be available throughout & after the match. Other refreshments at the discretion of the home team.” Since the proposal Devon members are now split 50/50
Lincoln St.Andrews feel that some teams provide very good refreshments and at others it rubbish, so it would be easier to have none at all. Rod Tyler (Grantham) raised the point that Grantham are nearly always pushed to finish by 10pm so providing refreshment after the match would be difficult. Murray Hunter (Lincoln Albion) feels that it is not too difficult to organise a match tea, and if people travel to the match from work they will need to eat before they play. Peter Sturton (Cross O’Cliff) feels that we would loose the social aspect of the game if no refreshments. After much discussion Devon withdrew their proposal.
· Lincoln St.Andrews also propose changes to Rule 8:9 to read “The home team to provide liquid refreshments only”
Vote taken defeated 1/16
It was suggested that the committee (at the fixture meeting) should explain what they mean by light refreshment.
· League Committee propose change to Rule 7:2
“7;2 C, In any mens or ladies match the lowest team of a club may play any two players ‘starred’ for the team above” should be removed. After some discussion a vote was taken and defeated
7 for/3 against/7abstained,
Rule 7:5 to have an addition of “ The Committee will monitor closely that these ‘starrings’ reflect the ability of the players, and if not clubs will be invited to re-star players” Vote taken carried 16/0
10. Election of Officers;
It was proposed by Rod Tyler (Grantham) in the light of only one nomination the following candidates are voted en-block.
Seconded by Sam Beal (Westside) Carried.
Annabelle Hutchings Oxton Chairperson
Murray Hunter Lincoln Albion Vice-Chairman
Linda Bailey Secretary
Pauline Chapman Balderton Asst.Secretary
Peter Sturton Cross Rackets Treasurer
David Leonard Linc. Albion League Match Secretary
David Leonard Linc.. Albion Web-site Manager.
Committee Members
Sam Beal Westside Committee Member
Mike Woodhouse Grantham Committee Member
Ian Marsland Crossed Rackets Committee Member
Mike Dobbs Cross O’Cliff Committee Member
11. Woodward & Cobb Competition;
Cost of feathers this year £284.49. Which would mean each team would need to pay £43.31, a large increase but some people still thought it was good value for a days Badminton. Other thought it was a big jump in the cost at once.
All the teams enjoyed playing with feathers and the following suggestions were raised to help cover the costs.
· Cheaper venue
· Entry Fee to competition be raised to £30 this year and then increase each year after that
· Increase match Fees
· League to continue to cover some of the costs.
The Chairman declared the meeting closed at 20.30pm