Rugby Bridge Club Management Committee
Minutes of Meeting held at Grove Farm, 16 Daventry Road, Barby on 30th June 2014.
Present
Peter Langley(Chair)
Philip Shorey
Anne Carrington
David Hicks
Janet Chappell
David Owen
Graham Lightfoot
Terry Bradbury
Apology received from Wendy Pattinson.
- MCM minutes of 12th May 2014.
The minutes were formally approved.
- Matters Arising not elsewhere on the Agenda
- Saturday Morning Training Sessions
Reference was made to a paper previously prepared following a decision at the April meeting that an approach should be made to members to ascertain their views on how and when training should be delivered, because of the concern at falling numbers and the cost of running such training. In the event no approach was made and the view was expressed that the current training arrangements should continue but there was again disappointment expressed about the numbers of members taking advantage of the training.
In the discussions that followed it was agreed that there needed to be a structured programme of training based on the EBU model, with Wendy Pattinson and Peter Langley teaching the beginners and Sue Osborne and Chris Malthouse leading the improvers’ sessions.
These pairs would meet to develop a logical structured program of training, following the EBU model as far as possible. A taster session would be arranged for beginners in September, before Bridge in the Street, which was planned to take place towards the end of August.
It was also agreed that there was need to have an article in the News Letter describing what it was intended to provide and that there should be something on the Web Site to indicate what was being planned.
- Annual Dinner.
It was agreed that this should take place towards the end of September or early October, a carvery meal, with a vegetarian option and David Owen agreed to finalise the date and menu with Newbold Rugby Club.
The dinner would be followed by a quiz, Phil Shorey to organise and to have a raffle.
- Novice Competition
The Committee referred to the previous discussions on the 12th May and said they supported the suggestion made by Sue Osborne that there should be a novice competition open to members with less than 500 master points, to take the form of a ‘Troughers’ evening and possibly held at the Sacred Heart Church at Bilton, with an appropriate article included in the News Letter to draw attention to the proposal and a similar entry to be made on the Web Site.
- Bridge sessions
Reference was made to the experiment whereby the computer showing the rolling achievement of pairs taking part in the bridge sessions was switched off until 2200 hours on a Tuesday and a Thursday. The view was expressed that this move had been welcome although on the Friday afternoon sessions the screen was always on because the members on the day had voted in favour of the screen being continuously available.
It was agreed that the present arrangements should continue.
- Courtesies at Bridge Sessions
David Hicks confirmed that he had written to all of the TDs with regard to consideration being given to members with physical or eyesight issues being allowed to play at tables which enabled them to fully participate and to enjoy their bridge session. He also confirmed that he had written to two members with regard to the issue mentioned above and they had expressed their appreciation for the letter and for the action taken by the Committee.
- EBU/County Liaison Role
Graham Lightfoot agreed to take on this role, with Peter Langley indicating that he would wish to attend a meeting.
- Roles within Committee.
In addition to the four Officers appointed at the AGM it was agreed that Anne Carrington would continue to act as Membership Secretary, Janet Chappell to be responsible for maintaining contact with members who were unwell and organising the food for ‘Troughers’ evenings with Terry Bradbury and David Owen being responsible for trophies.
- Search for New Premises
David Hicks was able to confirm that he had made contact with the Old Laurentians Society at Fenley Field and was waiting to learn whether there was any interest on their part in the possibility of a joint development.
Action: David Hicks
- Finance
Phil Shorey reported that there was little or no change in the finances to what had been reported at the AGM. So far as the changes in membership and sessions fees were concerned it was confirmed that they would not take place until the financial year commencing in 2015, as was agreed at the AGM, with the point being made that membership fees for 2014 had already been paid.
Action: Phil Shorey/Anne Carrington
- Pairs League.
Graham outlined his initial thoughts on the Pairs League. He said he had already booked the Sacred Heart Church at Bilton for the second Monday in each month and was hoping to attract sufficient numbers to have 12 tables.
He would be the non playing Tournament Director and David Hicks indicated that he would provide a non playing support on the evening. This arrangement would provide a cover arrangement in the event of a late withdrawal or failure to turn up by a pair or individual.
He continued by saying it was his wish to get the league functioning and successful and would be contacting adjacent clubs with a view to their members participating. In the event of their being 12 tables it would be necessary to arrange a reprocharge evening to determine which pairs played in each league.
On the question of table money it was suggested that the prize money should not be the same for each division and should be differentiated to reflect the standing of each division.
Graham said he was intending to follow the practice established at Coventry with regard to the prize money paid but would look at what took place elsewhere.
It was agreed that a suitable advert would be placed on the Web Site and an article would appear in the Newsletter to outline the arrangements proposed.
Action: Graham Lightfoot /David Hicks.
- Perrin Trophies
Terry Bradbury informed the Committee that he had had no success in tracing the Perrin Trophies. Previous winners had been contacted with no success.
It was agreed that new trophies would be purchased and Terry Bradbury would speak to Dennis Angove who at the AGM was able to describe in some detail what the trophies looked like.
Action: Terry Bradbury/David Owen
- Psyche Bids
Graham informed the Committee that he would research the subject of ‘pysche’ bids, because he was concerned about some decisions reached and would examine the current register with a view to starting with a clean sheet. It was his intention he said to meet with the TDs once he had completed his research and it was suggested that he should prepare an article for the Newsletter and to have something on the web site, once he was in a position to do so.
David Hicks informed the Committee that he had come across a detailed paper which described ‘psyche’ bids in some detail and would share this with the Committee.
Action: Graham Lightfoot/David Hicks
- Scorebridge and EBU NGS
Phil Shorey informed the Committee that the EBU were concerned about Scorebridge and NGS and were of the view that it did not provide the correct information for Team events, although this was disputed. To await confirmation.
Action: Phil Shorey.
- Teaching in Schools Initiative.
Peter Langley reported that there had been a mixed success with the initiative, with limited interest being shown at Lawrence Sheriff School but a much better response at Rugby High School. It was the intention to continue with the initiative at the latter school and this was supported by the Committee. It was also agreed that a further approach should be made to Lawrence Sheriff to see whether they would be interested in resuming sessions.
Action: Peter Langley
- Matches against other clubs.
Reference was made to the fact that there were matches arranged against other clubs but it was not clear who was in the initiative to organise such events
Anne Carrington said she had organised the teams against Daventry and Lutterworth and Chris Malthouse had arranged a match against Coventry.
It was agreed that there was a need to have a focus person to organise such events and Peter Langley undertook to speak with Chris Malthouse with a view to him taking on this role.
Action: Peter Langley
- AOB
- Improving the Better Players
John Drake had kindly organised the initial series of seminars.
The first seminar had taken place with Craig Hutton leading the session and 9 members had attended. The evening was viewed as a success with good debate involving all those present. On the question of fees paid for attending the point was made that the room had to be paid for and visiting speakers may also need to be paid. It was thought appropriate to ask those attending to pay £4 but this would not apply to the person delivering the session.
Action: John Drake/Craig Hutton
- Club Calendar on Web Site
Graham said that he had looked at the club calendar on the Web Site and had discovered there were no entries. He undertook to contact Liz Edwards with a view to having club events and other events included.
Action: Graham Lightfoot.
- Tournament Directors
Graham informed the Committee that it was his intention to arrange for a meeting of all of the TDs.
Action: Graham Lightfoot
- Keeping in Touch with Members
Janet was able to confirm that she had sent cards to Theo Schilderman and Geoff Lea who both had recently been incapacitated
- Membership
Anne Carrington informed the Committee that membership stood at 146 and she suggested that there should be a new members evening at the Ex-Servicemen’s Club at Hillmorton and she undertook to look at the possibility of doing so.
- Monday Afternoon Bridge Sessions
Anne Carrington said she was hoping to run a Monday afternoon bridge session commencing on the 15th September, apart from two Mondays at the Townsend Memorial Hall Clifton. The Committee welcomed the initiative but suggested that the first 3 months should be treated as a trial period to test cost effectiveness.
Action. Anne Carrington
- Date of Next Meeting
Date was not agreed but would take place in the early Autumn.
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