mermaid_inn

Mermaid Bowls League

SPONSORED BY THE MERMAID INN, RYE

Minutes - in draft form only.

Please note that these minutes are only in DRAFT form and will not be adopted until AGM 2007. Any ideas for corrections, please email the Secretary.

Minutes of AGM 2007

Preamble: The Secretary stated: The Chairman, Joan Vaughan, is unable to be present due to ill health coupled with the recent death of her husband. In accordance with the current League Rule 5, the Chairman has appointed me to act as Chairman until the end of the season (i.e., the end of this Meeting).

 

  1. Apologies for absence were received from: Joan Vaughan (Chairman), Eddie Quinlan (Pett) and Colin Goldsack (St. Leonards). There were 21 members present, representing all clubs.
  2. Minutes of AGM 2006 were accepted as read – proposed by J. Driscoll, Seconded by A. Hazelup and passed nem con.
  3. Matters arising: there were none.
  4. Chairman’s Address: Joan Vaughan had sent the following:

To all members and clubs of the Mermaid League here, please accept my apologies for not being with you to-night due to health reasons.

 As your retiring Chairman I would like to say how honoured I have been to hold this post over the last two years.  I would have liked to have carried on with this post, but as I have said it is for health reasons.

 Unfortunately, I can no longer play outdoor bowls which for the last twenty years has been the love of my life at my Hamstreet Club.  I do know that when I have fully recovered from my operation I will be able to play indoor bowls at my Club “The Ashford Indoor Bowls Centre”.  I know many of you play indoor during the winter months to keep your hands in, so I do hope I will meet up with many of you then.

 For the future of the Mermaid League, I wish you all the best of good fortune for the coming seasons.  Keep up the good standard of play that we have become used to seeing.

 I would like to say “Congratulations” to Staplecross for winning the league, and a big well done to Iden for being runners-up.  It is so nice to see other clubs coming through taking up the higher positions.  May this continue?

Finally, I must give my sincere thanks to both John Bennett our Secretary, and to Nigel Pearson our Treasurer, who has worked so hard for the League to make it what it is to-day.  They have both been there for me when I have been unable to attend certain dates.  Thank you both. 

To your incoming Chairman, may I wish you well in the seasons ahead.

I will miss you all, Joan Vaughan.

.

 5.      Treasurer’s Report: Nigel Person handed out the balance sheet and reported that he proposed no increase in fees. This was greeted with agreement and carried nem.con. Nigel asked that Janet Payne be formally thanked for her work in auditing the accounts. That the accounts be accepted was proposed by John Wilding, seconded by Allan Hazelup and carried nem.con.      

  1. Secretary’ Report: John Bennett reported:

I am pleased to note that there have been very few problems during this season. Those that have occurred were solved very quickly. The one difficulty that did cause some concern was that the nominated contact was not available at the agreed time when I rang to confirm the Presentation Dinner arrangements. This entailed several extra phone calls and was a situation that should not have arisen.

The large amounts of rain in July meant that several matches had to be postponed and I am happy to report that the procedures were followed correctly in every case: this meant that I did not have to chase up any results this year.

As you will know, Charing Bowls Club made an informal approach with a view to joining our League in 2008. They are a club with good facilities and I am very pleased that some of our clubs managed to arrange a friendly fixture this year. I am told that this was a great success in each case. Unfortunately, there were just one or two of our clubs who were not keen to extend a welcome to a new club and some who were not sure. Equally, there were a number who were keen. The upshot is that Charing have decided not to pursue their application for the time being. It is entirely possible that they may try again next year.

Please may I remind everyone that each club must have a “nominated contact person” and that I must be told if and when this changes because it is through this nominated person that the club gets all communications? I realise that there have been several instances of ill health this year and wish those concerned a speedy recovery. But, please do not forget to let me know to whom I should be writing.

I am very sad that our Chairman Joan is not well enough to continue. She has been an immense help, not just to me, but to many of you as well. She provided a valuable local link for match reports etc. There will be some arrangement in place for next season. But the preferred method of communication remains via the web site. This is quick, safe and cheaper than a postage stamp. You will have heard that her husband, John, died very suddenly just recently. This has been an added strain for Joan.

I hope you will join with me in sending Joan our very best wishes for a speedy recovery.

During brief discussion, it was noted that Pett had only voted against Charing due to pressure of fixtures – as had some other clubs. The Secretary apologised for missing out that information in his Report above. The amended Report was accepted unanimously.

  1. Sellings Cup: It was Rother’s turn to host and Staplecross kindly offered to use their ground and facilities, but there is a problem over the correct date. Date due to be last Thursday in July, but they want 17th July (the third Thursday) at Staplecross. If this is not possible for us, we shall have to swop hosting and find another venue as Staplecross’s ground is not free on the 31st. Problem is due to the calendar with 5 Thursdays this year.

Following discussion, it was agreed that we accept the date offered.

  1. Mermaid Fling: Rye reported that they were happy with the outcome of the 2006 Fling. Tenterden are due to host in 2008 but are unable to do so due to it being their Centenary year. The next in line is also unable to host. So there will be no Fling in 2008 and the rota will continue in 2009 with Beckley hosting.

John Kirk (Tenterden) offered apologies to clubs and to the League – but his club felt that this was just one too many events to do justice to. Alf Boorman (Peasmarsh) suggested that St. Leonards might like to fill the void – and this offer was accepted. The Secretary would liaise with Colin Goldsack in due course. Details would follow and the date was confirmed as 6th July 2008.

9.      Presentation Dinner: confirmation of the arrangements for the following evening. We need to find out why there are so few takers after the vote to continue with the hot meal was so overwhelming. The Mermaid is expensive, but Judith does subsidise us to a good extent and gives us 22 free places. We are probably tied to the Mermaid for the venue, but should we look for a cheaper alternative? The Secretary asked clubs to sound out their members and report back to him in around 3 months what the general feeling was. (*See addendum)

10.  Election of Officers:

 a. Chairman:  There being no other nomination, Colin Goldsack is elected nem con.

      b. Treasurer: There being no other nomination, Nigel Pearson is elected nem con.

      c. Secretary: There being no other nomination, John Bennett is elected nem con.

  1. Any Other Business: Amendment to Rule 13:

a.      Should there be trial ends? Or should there be “straight in”? Or should it be “one on the first two ends”?

Should it be “Home jack”? Or should we stay as we are?

Following discussion, Alf Boorman proposed “In the event of inclement weather or impending poor light, Captains may take a mutual decision to dispense with Trial Ends and/or agree to count one shot only on the first two ends. If either Captain was not in agreement, then the normal practice of Trial Ends would apply.” Seconded by R. Morris and carried unanimously.

b.      Propose that Rule 13 have added at the current end “All clubs must ensure that, whether using either Private or Municipal Greens, they take responsibility to ensure that their greens & equipment are available & ready for use by the programmed fixture time. Failure to do so will result in the loss of the full 10 points”. Proposed by Beckley, Seconded by the Secretary. It was made clear that this is not getting at ST Leonards in any way – just a precaution to avoid the travel etc in future. (The Secretary was given to understand that St. L. has now a key of their own). 

      After general discussion, it was clear that the majority felt that an automatic 10-point deduction was too restrictive and the motion was defeated unanimously.                         

c.       Propose that in Rule 5 the word “Chairman’s” be replaced with “Committee’s”. Proposed by the Secretary, seconded by the Treasurer. The Secretary stated “It seems to me that the whole Committee should have to agree to an appointment rather than just the Chairman – particularly because it is feasible that the Chairman might be able to act for a whole variety of reasons, let alone death.”  Carried unanimously.

d.      The Treasurer thanked the Secretary on behalf of all clubs for the great amount of work that he carries out, largely behind the scenes, to ensure that the League runs smoothly.

 

  1. The Date of the next AGM was confirmed as Wednesday November 19th 2008. Rye kindly agreed to host the meeting.
  2. The Secretary asked members from Rye to pass on the Leagues support to Mrs. Woolveridge at the time of Vic’s serious illness.

There being no further business, the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 8.11 p.m.

* Addendum: A circular will be sent to each club to ascertain the feelings of its members.