East Cleveland Duplicate Bridge Club

Minutes of the Annual General meeting held on 7th April, 2016

The meeting opened at 6.30pm with 23 out of 52 members present.

By the conclusion of the meeting there were 36 members present

1. Apologies for absence were received from Betty Knudsen, Yvonne Bowes and Robin Wright

2. The minutes of the 2015 AGM were accepted as a true record. Proposed by Hilary Dobson and  Seconded by John Upton

3. There were no matters arising

4. The Treasurer circulated a paper showing the accounts for 2015/16.  During the financial  year the club averaged seven and a half tables per session.

The club made a donation of to charities of £330—all via competitions (Children in Need, Kidney Research and Syrian Refugees) except for £16 for whiskey to Cheshire Homes.  Assuming that the club would continue to support three charity bridge evenings and hold one party Geoff Taylor proposed that subscriptions remain at £5 and Table Money at £2.  Last year £13 was spent on bits and pieces for Christmas (mince pies etc.)  At the end of the year any excess in reserves of over £500 should be available for parties during the following year.  This prompted the idea of a Spring party after the accounts were closed in February.  At the end of the year the club was £757 in credit making £257 available for parties in the 2016 year.  £190 was spent on the Spring party. 

His report and proposals were accepted proposed by Alan Tinkler and seconded by John Upton.

5. The Secretary reported that the club had 52 (expecting 49 this year) paid-up members during the year.

We continue to be involved in three charity bridge competitions:- Children in Need, Kidney Research, and the Charity Challenge.  We plan to continue these three events.

Four Club Competitions took place:-  The Anniversary Cup, The Bill Frith Memorial Shield, The Hutton Chemicals Cup, and the Midsummer Cup.  There was some confusion as to who held      these trophies and their whereabouts, there being no record available.  This will be clarified and duly recorded.   The competitions for this year are scheduled and the dates are on the Web Page.

The annual party took place on 17th March, 2016. It was a Spring Party rather than a Christmas Party and 24 members were present, enjoying the party bridge and tasty repast provided by Elaine Swift.

The committee has been looking at possible ideas for increasing club membership.  One suggestion was that an extra table be included but not part of the movement and sharing boards with another table  This would allow new members to come along and experience an evenings duplicate bridge in a no-fear situation.  This and other strategies will be explored and any suggestions would be welcomed.

6. The Chairman announced that Arthur Ogden was retiring as Club Secretary. A vote of thanks was passed for his many years of dedicated service as both Secretary and Bridge Director.

The Chairman asked the meeting for their preference as to a Spring or Christmas date for the party with the votes being 14 for Spring and 13 for Christmas.  Given the closeness of the voting the possibility of alternating the dates was suggested.  Both Redcar and East Cleveland Clubs will make their own arrangements for parties but continue to order stationery on a joint basis.

7. Election of Officers and Committee.   Chair: Berenice Hunt   Secretary: Lesley Smith  Treasurer: Geoff Taylor   Committee Members:  Norah Davies, Brian Williams, Frances Simon and Margaret Harrison.

The meeting closed at 6.48pm

EAST CLEVELAND BRIDGE CLUB

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting on the 4^th April 2013.

The meeting opened at 6.30 p.m. with 23 out of 49 members present. 36 Members played Bridge that evening. Sadly the death of Jean Sunley was reported. Jean and her husband Brian were members for many years. Funeral arrangements were announced and the Clubs  condolences were sent to Brian.

1) Apologies

Apologies were received from Graham Anderson and John and Gail Garbutt..

2) Minutes of the last Meeting.

The minutes of the last AGM were accepted as a true record.

Proposed by Rosemary Willows; Seconded by Robin Wright.

3) Matters arising.

There were none.

4) Treasurer's Report.

The Treasurer circulated a paper showing the accounts for 2012/13 and the budget for 2013/14. The past year produced a surplus of £129 bringing the reserves to £643, slightly higher than necessary.

The budget for 2013/ 2014 was for a deficit of £165. The assumptions were that the average attendance would be 7.5 tables per evening compared with an average of 7.7 in 2012/2013 and we would continue to support 4 charities and one party. Subs would remain at £5 and the treasurer budgeted for 49 members.

The report was accepted.

Proposer: John Upton; Seconded: Betty Knudsen

5) Secretaries Report.

We had 49 paid up Members during the year [55]. We welcomed Stan Wooton, Margaret Neeson and Bernard Hayhoe. Sadly we lost Roslyn Thorndike who died.

It should be noted that the membership has declined over the last 5 years from 64 to 49.

We played 4 Charity Competitions, Children in Need, Kidney Research, Charity Challenge and the WBF Charity Pairs. The plan is to continue with these 4.

We also played our four Club Competitions the winners being as follows.

Anniversary Cup- Bernard Hayhoe and Stan Wooton

Bill Frith Charity Shield- Norah Davis and Lesley Smith

Midsummer Cup- Pat and Geoff Taylor

Hutton Chemicals Cup- Yvonne Bowes and Betty Knudsen

Overall league for the year to 31st December 2012 [played 10 times or more] was:-

Individual.

 CONSTITUTION OF THE EAST CLEVELAND BRIDGE CLUB

[Revised following the AGM of 25^th March 2010]

1. NAME:  The Club shall be called East Cleveland Bridge Club

2. OBJECTIVES

(i) To play duplicate bridge according to the Laws and Directives issued from time to time by the English Bridge Union. 

(ii) To prohibit smoking at all times in the room where play is taking place.

3. MEMBERSHIP 

(i) The Club shall consist of its Members and a Committee elected by them at a General Meeting for the Management of the Club.     

(ii)  A Proposer and Seconder, who are both Members of the Club, shall support Membership applications.  

(iii) The Committee will consider applications for Membership. Applicants may play at the Club as Members until the committee has considered the application. 

4. GENERAL MEETINGS  

(i) Annual General Meeting 

The AGM shall be held in March of each year with the following purposes:   

To approve the minutes of the last AGM 

To receive reports from the Secretary and Treasurer   

To elect a Committee 

To appoint an Auditor for the club accounts 

To change the Rules of the Club  

To discuss Club plans for the coming year  

To discuss additional items of interest to Members                                   

Any items for the AGM agenda shall be given to the Secretary 28 days before the meeting and the Secretary shall produce an agenda for circulation to the Members 14 days before the meeting.                          

Only members of the Club shall attend the AGM

(ii) Special General Meeting

A Special General Meeting may be called at any time by the Committee at its own discretion or in response to a written request by a minimum of three Members. The Secretary shall circulate the agenda 14 days before the meeting. 

(iii) Quorum

At any General Meeting a quorum shall be half the number of Members, plus one Member.

5. SUBSCRIPTIONS

Subscriptions to the Club shall be in 2 parts

(i) A Club subscription decided by the members

(ii) Table money for each session of play to be decided by the members

6. OFFICERS

(i)The Committee shall consist of a Chairman, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Tournament Director and 3 ordinary members, all of whom shall retire annually.

(ii) No Committee member may be related to another. 

(iii) The Committee may fill casual vacancies.

7. DIRECTORS

(i) A panel of Directors, who shall direct in rota, shall direct play on club nights.

(ii)Appeals against decisions of any Director shall be to the committee.

8. VISITORS

(i)Visitors shall be allowed into the Club on club nights for a maximum of four nights per year.

(ii)Table money for visitors shall be as for members.

9. EXPULSION

(i) The committee may at its discretion suspend the Membership of any Member.

(ii)Any suspended Member may appeal to an EGM at which Membership may be restored or terminated.