Minutes of Committee Meeting held on 30^th September 2013

at Lane End, Merttens Drive, Rugby at 17.00

Present:

N. Bainbridge;  J. Carrington;  C. Cooper;  S. Downton;  J. Drake;  L. Edwards

1.         Apologies

L. McClean

2.            Minutes from Last Meeting

Passed unanimously.

3.         Matters Arising from last Meeting

S. Downton had not yet added Jane Carrington to the list of signatories at the bank.

4.         Review of Actions

(i)        Job Descriptions

See item 12.

(ii)       Rules, Constitution and Code of Conduct

These have not yet been amended.  These to be finalised by the January 2014 meeting. 

N. Bainbridge pointed out that the latest version of the Rules were not on the website and it was noted that this should be done.

(iii)      TDs

N. Bainbridge had circulated all Team Captains with the complete information about the TDs and asked that the information be put in full on the League website.

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(iv)     EBU

There was a query as to why this item was on the Agenda.  It was noted again that the League cannot be affiliated to the EBU and we will not be issuing Master Points this season.  Therefore there is no need for a vote.  It was agreed that this matter is now closed.  (All mention of the EBU to be taken out of the revised Rules, Constitution and Code of Conduct, except that the League accepts their Laws.)

5.         Treasurer’s Report

There is a balance of £570.75.

J. Drake queried the Team fees being reduced from £15 to £10 – there is no minuted decision regarding this matter.  No-one from the previous Committee could explain why there had been a reduction in the fees for last season, which has followed through to this season.

Discussion took place regarding future expenditure.  N. Bainbridge suggested an advertising campaign to attract new teams for the 2014-15 season.

J. Drake said he would visit Southam Bridge Club and C. Cooper agreed to go with him.

J. Drake said there are a number of small bridge clubs around Rugby and we should try to reach them.  He suggested hiring a hall and inviting groups to attend and play, at the League’s expense, in order to try attracting new teams.

6.         Correspondence

L. McClean was absent and had not forwarded any correspondence.

7.         League Status

The first League match had been played, also the pre-Handicap match between JCBC and Rugby Rabbits, which was won by the Rabbits.

J. Drake had been told that some matches may have to be postponed due to the illness of Terry Bradbury.  J. Drake to send an email to Terry Bradbury requesting that he appoint S. Downton as his deputy for the Diamonds team.

The new teams had all been set up with new equipment.

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J. Carrington noted that some teams did not know how to play in a League event and were uncertain of what they should do.  There was some discussion about the ease of playing in a League.  N. Bainbridge offered to send L. Edwards a copy of a document she had written for the Village Maids explaining the League and requested this be put on the website.

8.         Convention Cards

Complaints had been received by some Committee members as some League members do not want to use convention cards.  J. Carrington suggested a workshop to promote the use of convention cards and N. Bainbridge offered to arrange and host a workshop.  L. Edwards to promote this on the League website.

9.         Limit teams to a maximum of 8 players

J. Drake recommends having discussions with all the Team Captains to explain the changes and get their opinion prior to the 27^th January Committee meeting.

(This change to go into the amended Rules.)

10.      Conduct Committee

No report had been received from Graham Lightfoot.

L. McClean to write a reminder to GL for a report about a week before each meeting.

11.      Rules and Constitution

Already discussed under item 4(ii).

12.      Job Descriptions

N. Bainbridge circulated a report to each member, noting that the list on the website is presently outdated.  These to be reviewed before the next meeting.

There is no Appeals Committee at the moment.  It was suggested that if a player is not happy with a TD decision, then an external referee should be appointed (at a fee) and it was agreed to approach John Pyner.

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If the ruling went against the complainant then the complainant should pay the fee, but if the ruling was in favour of the complainant then the League would pay the fee.

13.      Purchasing of Equipment

The new equipment for this season was bought from Rugby Bridge Club at a cost of £161. N. Bainbridge could have purchased this for £124.

J. Drake pointed out the Treasurer should be involved in the decision about the purchase of equipment.

The Treasurer to be allowed to spend up to £100 without reference to the Management Committee.

S. Downton to draw up a budget for the Summer Event.

14.       Any Other Business

(i)         J. Carrington to project what we are going to do over the coming months, in consultation with L. McClean.

(ii)      N. Bainbridge circulated a press release to go into the Rugby Advertiser and the Rugby Observer next Tuesday.

(iii)     A new name for the League was discussed – Heart of England.  This will be for discussion and vote at the 2014 AGM.

(iv)     L. Edwards said that although the teams were shown upside down in their positions on the League website, once the results come in they will be shown in their correct order.

The meeting closed at 18.25.

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