Minutes of Broxbourne Bridge Club AGM 7^th July 2016

Members present:  Dick Roscoe.Mike Carn.Anne Dunn.Stan Frost.Denver Gorman.John Hirons.Ken Hayward.Phil Taylor.Ken Hills.Michael Hunt. George Lock.Ann Robinson.Jim Robinson.Jan Cooke.Joan Mills.Lynette Belch.Shirley Frapwell.Andy Holland.John Dore.Mike Robson.Sheila Evans.Val Neyland.Sheila Macdonald.Marian Haldane.Margaret Murphy.Pat Flavell.Sally Burney.Gill Cunningham.Peter Byford.David Neyland.Mike Whittles.Colin Haywood.Ian Kemp.Mike Robson.Apologies for Absence were received from Tony Clayton.Val Cole.Amanda Barnes.John Leake.

The Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved by Dick Roscoe Seconded by Mike Carn.The Chairman’s Report: Stan thanked all the people that have helped him during another successful the year.The Treasurers Report: Anne started by thanking Tony Clayton for auditing the books. She reported a healthy Bank Balance although the table money for both sessions was down due to falling attendance. This also meant a fall in our payment to the EBU P2P scheme. The Christmas party costs were up again for another year. And we had the additional expense last year as we purchased 2 Laptops for scorebridge, resulting in a slight shortfall in profit.  Anne was going to research moving some money into a reserve account to guard against replacing the bridgemates or other expense. The table money and subscriptions will remain the same for a further year.The accounts were proposed by Val Neyland and seconded by Sheila Macdonald.

Presentation of cups: 

Founder Members Cup:   Mike Robson & Sheila Evans         AGM Cup:    Stan Frost & Dick Roscoe

Team Trophy:     Sue & Ed Devine,Phil Taylor,Sara Barnett

Cadet Cup: Ken Hills & Ken Haywood                        Handicap Pairs:  Mike Carn & Anne Dunn

Club Championship    Phil Taylor & Mike Whittles

Ladder Trophy:   Ian Kemp                    Improvers Cup:  Lynette Belch

Election of officers: All officers being willing to stand again the present officers were proposed by Mike Carn and seconded by Shirley Bull.

We review the 24 boards proposed last AGM. After a lively discussion, with many different opinions given, it was decided to revert to leaving the number of boards played to the discretion of the Director.  Slow play was a hotly discussed topic, and so it was  decided that we would purchase a computer system as they have at Harlow to enable the club to limit the annoyance felt by many at slow play.  We will discuss again next year to see how the members feel the clock has been a success.

In order to promote attendance a Monthly team’s night was proposed.  This topic evoked strong opinions both for and against. But the subsequent vote was for there to be no regular team’s night, with several members saying they would not attend the club on  a team’s night.

Phil Taylor raised the question of EBU Sims nights.  We had discontinued the EBU Sims as during our recent troubles with our roof the EBU had proved difficult.  But the members voted to resume the EBU Sims again as the nights are popular

There being no other business the meeting closed at 19.55

Present: Stan Frost, Sheila Evans, Anne Dunn, David Turner, John Leake, Dick Roscoe, Sue Devine.

1:            The club has made a slight loss so far this year, mainly due to us buying two new laptops (one for each bridge session)

2)            The Christmas parties were more expensive for 2015, but it was decided to leave them as they are for another year at least.

3)            It was decided that money should be put regularly into a deposit account as a contingency against having to replace the Bridgemates

4)            A cheque from the club will be sent to Bill Peddar’s chosen charity

5)            Stan has offered to update the Clubs website with all members’

 Names, telephone numbers and email addresses.

6)            Enquires are going to be made to try to establish the exact start date of the club, as it is nearing its 50^th Anniversary

7)            In an effort to eradicate slow play, we are only going to play 24 boards for a trial period

                               Minutes of the Broxbourne AGM held on 2nd July 2015

Members present:Stan Frost, Dick Roscoe,Phil Taylor,Mike Whittles,Colin Haywood,Ian Kemp,Mike Hunt,Sara Barnett,Sheila Evans,Gill Cunningham,Sally Burnay,Joan Mills,Lynette Belch,Barbara Wallis,Angie Heini,Ray Cole,Alan James,Michael Carn,Anne Dunn,Shirley Bull,Pat Flavell,John Leake,Pat Cooper,David & Margaret Murphy, Marion Haldane,David Turner,Bernadette Mathias,John Metcalfe,Tony Clayton,Ken Hayward,Andy Holland,John Dore.

Apologies for absence: Sheila Mc Donald, Ed & Sue Devine, Ken Hills. Minutes of last year’s AGM, were read, and then proposed as accurate by Ray Cole & Joan Mills

Chairman’s Report:   Stan  thanked The Committee and all the helpers who help with the tables’ etc. then announced the exciting news that we were to be the first club in Hertfordshire to have a sponsor. Simon Frost who organised the sponsorship with his Company GPFM could not attend tonight’s AGM but would be coming along next Thursday with some of the sponsorship materials

The Treasurers report:  Anne Dunn in her first year as Treasurer was happy to report that we had made a profit last year, and that the clubs finances seemed in a good place. Helped in part by the fact that Broxbourne Sports Club had not raised the rent during the year.The Accounts were Accepted by a show of hands  Proposed by Shirley Bull & Seconded by Dick Roscoe.

Presentation of Cups:  Prize-winners for the year 2014-2015.

Founder Members Cup:  Sara Barnett & Joan Mills

AGM Cup: (Tied)  Amanda Barnes & John Hirons:   Ian Kemp & Colin Haywood.

Team Trophy: Colin Haywood, Ian Kemp, George Lock & Mike Hunt.

Cadet Cup:  John Metcalfe & Bernadette Mathias.

Handicap Pairs:  Marion Haldane & Wendy Leverett

Club Championship: Sheila Evans & Mike Robson

Ladder Trophy:    Ian Kemp                 Improvers Cup:    Anne Dunn

Election Of Officers: There being no resignations or nomination the current Committee were re-elected by a unanimous show of hands.  Proposed by Pat Flavell ,seconded by Mike Hunt

Any other Business:  Ian Kemp advised members that the HBA were looking for a pair to act as a ‘stand by’  pair for the upcoming HBA Swiss Pairs In Ware  on July 18th.

Sheila then raised an issue from Sheila MacDonald, asking that bridge at the club could be restricted to 24 boards, this was discussed but it was decided to leave the number of boards to the Director of the night.  But slow play was to be more rigorously penalised with the Director being given the power to ‘take a board away and award the score he thought appropriate, even if the hand had started.  This proposal from Stan was soundly approved and voted for.

 The meeting ended at 7.25 pm

Broxbourne Bridge Club Committee Meeting 12^th March 2013

Present:  Stan Frost, Tony Clayton, Sue Devine, Marion Haldane, John Leake

Apologies for absence: Sheila Evans

1.       One new table has been purchased. Further new tables to be purchased as and when older tables become unserviceable.

2.       In order to safeguard the club against action from any members who have their membership terminated it was agreed that the EBU proposed disciplinary procedures would be adopted. John Leake will modify the club constitution to reflect this and the new constitution will be published at least one month before this year’s AGM for agreement at the AGM. The EBU

procedures recommend that the club appoint a Conduct Committee chairman and John volunteered to take this on.

3.       Tony Clayton will take out EBU Premium Schedule insurance for the club with effect from 1^st April 2013.

4.       Tony provided a financial update. There is a projected deficit of £300-£400 for the current financial year but the club will still have reserves of around £4,000 at the end of the year. The Sports Centre has increased the rent we pay from £200 per month to £225 per month for the Tuesday sessions and from £216 per month to £225 per month for the Thursday sessions.  Although we are running at a deficit for the current year and the rent is being increased, the temporary reduction in table money from £2.50 to £2 which is in effect for the current year ends in June.  The reversion of table money back from £2 to £2.50 from July will result in a projected surplus for the next financial year in spite of the rent increase.

5.       The committee decided in principle to purchase Bridgemate II scoring terminals. These will replace handwritten travellers and will allow the result for a session to be displayed on a laptop computer at the end of the session before members leave to go home. The total cost for the terminals and software is about £2,200. This should still leave the club with reserves of about £2,500 at the end of the 2013-2014 financial year. If any members have views on the use of Bridgemates could they please contact any member of the Committee. Given the need to train the club’s tournament directors in the use of the equipment and in the light of holiday plans the best time to introduce the terminals would be at the end of April. John Leake will check on delivery lead times and liaise with Tony Clayton on finance.

6.       Last autumn both Broxbourne and Lowewood bridge clubs held heats of the HBA Championship Pairs. This resulted in a large number of players playing without standing in one of the heats. It would be sensible to try to avoid this in future. To be followed up with Sheila Evans when she is back after her current illness.

7.       Next meeting May 9^th May 2013 at 11.00

We try to keep up with our members achievements away from Broxbourne, so if you know of any success by a Broxbourne player, please let us know by contacting STAN FROST  or SHEILA EVANS