BRIDGE CLUB OF CHIANG MAI
AGM - March 5, 2011, 10:30 a.m. The Pub, Chiang Mai, Thailand
INTRODUCTION:
Neil Robinson welcomed those members present for our meetingwith an acknowledgment of our obvious growth, with a recent 10 and a halftables being played on a Friday session and also the success and popularity ofour Monday training sessions. The Clubis in good financial condition. Memberspresent for the meeting were: ChrisHedges, Bernard Garwood, Connie Geller, Michael Geller, Jim Peukert, JohnBucher, Martin Bagnall, Murray Forgie, Neil Robinson, Sheila Bagnall, StewartSimpson, Mark Barber-Riley, Mike Williams, Norman Moreau, and Rado Nordtvelt.
MEMBERSHIP REPORT
Bernard reported a good growth in membership since lastyear, with 60 regularly active, paid members now, five people playing regularlyon a "pay as you play" basis, and six or eight persons who play on an irregularbasis when they are in the city.
FINANCE REPORT
The group had no current financial statement as thetreasurer was out of town and Neil therefore presented the group with the mostrecent statement, end of December 2010, which indicated a total cash balance onhand of 61,811 baht but it is thought that the actual current balance is in the75,000 baht + range. Neil did notanticipate any large expenditures but advised the group that a future possiblelarge expenditure would be the purchase of a new, or refurbished, card-dealingmachine and due to the cost of this item we would need to accumulate more inthe account before such a purchase.
COMMITTEE ELECTION RESULTS
Neil reported theresults of the recent election of Club committee members for the upcoming Clubyear. They are:
Martin Bagnall,
JohnBucher,
Penny Ellis,
Bernard Garwood,
Chris Hedges,
Neil Robinson and
StewartSimpson
MEMBER FEEDBACK/AOB
Martin asked about the status of a bank account to beopened for the handling of Club funds. Chris indicated that he had talked withPenny about this recently and she would do this on returning from her trip.
Chris thanked Bernard for his work on the Monday trainingsession and he also advised that the firm, Personal Financial Management, (PFM), has renewed their sponsorship, good news for the Club.
Norman inquired if our Pub host, Graham, was happy with the currentarrangement with BCCM. Severalmembers who had talked with Graham recently about this confirmed that Grahamwas satisfied with the arrangement. Moreover, Graham had indicated that he has plans underway to improvethe air conditioning in the Club dining room. Stewart reminded the group or the need tocontinue encouraging members in all sessions to buy their drinks, coffee,snacks, etc. from Graham during the bridge sessions.
Considerable discussion then followed regarding the managementof playing time during the sessions and various ideas on improving slowplay, thoughts on lowering the allotted time per board on the Friday sessionsand the Sunday sessions, the problem ofplayers starting a board after the clock warning has sounded, people having towait for slower players, etc. Nospecific remedy or solution was arrived at and it was left to those in chargeof those sessions to consider changes or try different approaches which mighthelp. Murray pointed out, however, that the newer players on Friday liked this extratime for critique and hand evaluation after the play since it was valuablein their increasing their understanding of the play and what went wrong, orright. Those present were in agreementon this point.
Rado pointed out the differences in the Mitchell andHowell movements regarding the North/South positions versus East/Westpositions and the frequently related sit-outs, and some members preference forspecific seats. No conclusion wasreached regarding this.
Martin raised the subject of cards being returned to a board andplaced in the wrong direction. This has become a problem recently duringthe Friday sessions, where fines have been imposed on culprits. It was asked ifa ruling was necessary forbidding players to handle cards other than their own.Neil said it wasn't a problem during Sunday or Wednesday sessions. Martinagreed to ensure that the regular Friday players were made aware there is thisproblem and for them to take extra care when looking at hands after a board hasbeen played.
Sheila proposed that more members should be involved in thejob of collection playing fees for each session and that perhaps aroster of volunteers could be created from which to draw a person who wouldagree to collect the money for a one month period.
Stewart suggested a newapproach to publicity for the Club by trying to get coverage in CityLife and also making an announcement at the Expats club. There was general agreement that this shouldbe done.
Mark Barber-Riley proposed that the meeting be adjourned andhis motion was carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned 11:30 a.m.
Bernard Garwood, Sec. |