Minutes of Larkhill Bridge Club AGM on Thursday 9th October 2014

Attendance: Judith Rees, Ruth Ward, John Carter, Brenda Carter, Janet Hardman, Pat Choularton, Caroline Mallion, Dorothy Dawson, Jane Caffrey, Joyce Woolley, Irene Robinson, Pat Copeland, Bob Copeland, John Knappett, Diana Calvert, Joan Slack, Sheila Holt, June Pritchard, Linda Smith, Pat Corker, Sylvia Klaus, Gideon Klaus, Hilda Parkinson, Pauline Boynton, Carmel Williams, Jill Matthews, Barbara Dickie, Bridget Warren, Jean Banks, Audrey Greaves, Keith Tomlinson, Paul West, Anne Richardson, Chris Embury, Moira Bloomfield, John Beattie, Bernard Shea, Susan Triggs

Apologies: Jill & Mike Trenholme

Minutes of previous AGM: The minutes have been available for a few weeks on the website so it was no longer necessary to read them out in full.  The minutes were agreed.

Matters Arising: None

New Items

1. Election of Officers:  Anne welcomed Bernard Shea who is our newest committee member.  Bernard is our Friday Club organiser.

2. Chairman's Report :  Anne recorded her pleasure in being able to report another successful year for the club. 

Larkhill members continue to represent us well.  In the Players Progress Cup at the Manchester Congress, Rak Kapur and Sue Bloor came 3rd, in the Kevin Comrie Cup Rak Kapur and Paul West came 2nd.  Six pairs from Larkhill took part in the Manchester County Autumn Intermediate Pairs held in November 2013 with Susan Triggs and Graham Winn coming first and Paul West and Rak Kapur in 2nd Place.  Carol McKinnon/Diana Calvert & Maureen Beresford/Irene Robinson came equal 6th. 

Anne said how delighted we all were to see the great improvements in Paul's health and were grateful that he had returned to directing at the club. Anne thanked all the members who volunteered to act as directors and, with Moira heading up the team, we have a strong team to share the workload.  Susan had trained a number of the new directors in the use of Scorebridge. We need to thank Roger who carries out the time-consuming task of duplimating all the boards for each week.  Anne thanked all the committee members who worked hard for the success of the club.

Anne reported that the Friday Club did not get off to quite the start we had hoped but it was enjoyed by all those who attended.  We hope with a little bit of tweaking that we can improve on last year and, with help from Linda Williams, Paul West and Bernard Shea we can strengthen the future of the Friday duplicate.  The cost for play on Fridays has increased to £2.50 as it was felt it would be unfair for Thursday only players to be subsidising Friday play.

Anne reported that we continue to raise money for charities and Janet organised the last raffle for the Michael James School owned by club members Kath and Mike Blears.  Our next raffle is for Christies and it is one which Janet is directly involved with - Cancer Care Therapies.  This will be held on Thursday 17th October.

Anne mentioned our club events which had taken place during the last 12 months.  Rak Kapur very kindly sponsored a new cup for the Pairs Trophy which was won by Avril and John Knappett.  Paul West sponsored the Single's Cup, a complicated to run competition which was run successfully for us by Linda Williams, Graham Winn and Susan Triggs and resulted in a win for a delighted Charles Harding. The Richardson Anniversary Shield was won by Jean Banks, Eric Clarke, Karen Jones and Sally Duncombe.

Anne reported on the very successful holidays we held with Bridge Overseas.  We had holidays in Stratford upon Avon and again to Albrighton Hall.  Next year we are going to Tuscany in June and in July Carmel is going with a group to a hotel near Glasgow.  There may well be another UK holiday subject to demand.

Anne outlined future plans for the club.  We plan another Christmas Buffet and we hope to run another Kevin Comrie seminar in 2015.

Anne also confirmed that we have a hire agreement for the coming year at the Community Centre until August 2015 and Chris will cover the cost of this in her report.  Anne also reported that the waiting list had increased from 33 last year to 35 this year.

3. Treasurer's Report: Chris circulated copies of the annual statement (October 13 - October 14)

Chris said that most of the charges were the same from year to year.  Trafford Bridge Club had increased their charge for using their duplimate machine from £10 to £25 per month. Charity donations had remained the same.  The main new equipment charge was for new cards and the pink set of duplimate boards.  There had been a small subsidy of the coach cost to Stratford.

Chris highlighted the need to keep a good contingency fund in case we find, at some point in the future, we can't use the Larkhill Community Centre.

A member said it would be useful to show the costs in the previous and current years in the statement so it was possible to see how things had changed.

Keith queried the charity costs.  Chris confirmed that £150 goes to Larkhill Community Centre and we 'round up' amounts raised at our raffles etc.

Jean asked about our refreshments expenditure and asked whether it includes the Xmas buffet.  Chris confirmed that it did.  Jean queried whether biscuits were needed and if so could we get cheaper ones.  Anne mentioned that an item in special business was about biscuits.

Keith asked what the carry forward amount was at the end of this year - Chris confirmed it was £5,417.43.

John Carter queried the Director's charge.  Chris explained this was the petrol money we gave to Linda Williams for running the Friday event for us.  We had offered Linda a Director's Fee but she had refused to take this.  We were extremely grateful for Linda's help and expertise without which the Friday club could not have continued.

4. Correspondence:  Anne confirmed that no items of correspondence had been received.

5. Special Business:

i) the committee recommended that membership charges should stay the same and this was agreed.

ii)Anne proposed allowing another 10 people to join the club from the waiting list.  This was agreed.

iii)  Susan proposed that the Committee should have the ability to increase membership numbers during the year if fewer people started to attend the Thursday session making it difficult to run two sections ie fewer than 56 people attend.  This was agreed.

iv) A member asked that mobile phones should be put on silent before the start of play.  It was agreed that the Director would remind members of this before play starts.

v) Moira and others asked that abolishing the tea break should be considered again.  A number of members made comments supporting keeping the break.  It was an important part of the social side of the club (John K and Paul), it allows slower players to catch up (Keith), Anne (it allows Anne and Chris to do their 'house-keeping' in terms of running the club).  A vote was taken with an overwhelming number of members in favour of keeping the break,  with  4 voting against.  Linda asked if we could shorten the tea break and keep it to 10 minutes - Directors said they would try to do this.

vi) A proposal had been received to have individually wrapped biscuits at the break - this was agreed.

Date of next AGM Thursday 8th October 2015.