Minutes of 47th Annual General Meeting of St Georges Bridge Club

                     held at 6.45pm on 11^th  October 2016 at United Reform Church

Apologies

Apologies were received from Andrea and Alan Draper, Julie Godbold, Jan Mackie, Barbara Huxstep, David Pearson, and Rose Caine.  A total of 27 members attended the meeting.

Duncan Burns, Club Secretary, chaired the meeting in the absence of the Club Chairman.

Minutes of 46th  AGM

Minutes of the 46^th AGM had been circulated prior to the meeting.  There being no corrections, acceptance was proposed by Ted Jennings, seconded by Dennis Watson, and unanimously carried.

Matters arising

Mr John Spink’s offer to sponsor a new trophy had been accepted by the Committee.  The new competition – The Bert Gearing Handicap Ladder Shield – was held during the past year, with inaugural winners Elizabeth Brown and Sheila Bloom.

Chairman’s report

The Chairman was unable to attend due to the pressures involved in his recent house move.  He had now been Chairman for 23 years and would now welcome handing over his role.  In the absence of a volunteer he would, somewhat reluctantly, continue to be Chairman, but earnestly asked that a replacement be found.

Thanks were expressed to those whose hard work enabled the club’s affairs to be carried out so efficiently, particularly Helen Stalker (ably assisted by Anne Simpson) in her role as Treasurer, and Ted Jennings for his continuing commitment to running, directing, and scoring Club competitions.

The Alastair Owen Trophy for this year had been won by Dennis Watson and Geoff Hurren.  The St Georges Shield was won by Ralph Cornfield and Allan Stalker.  The winners of the Stan Raine Memorial Trophy were Beryl Pattinson, Geraldine Blake, John Spink and Duncan Burns.

Treasurer’s report

The Treasurer distributed an income and expenditure report, a copy of which is attached to these minutes.

The Club continues to be in a strong financial position.  Funds at the end of the year were £2605, a decrease of only £17 over the previous year. The major expense was the cost of the Christmas Party, subsidised by £10/head, but clearly affordable.  Over the year membership had fallen by approximately 4 to a total of 42.  There was therefore some scope for an increase in membership, perhaps up to a maximum of 50.

Given the stable financial position it was agreed that annual membership would remain unchanged at £5.  Table money would stay at £2, but the 5^th Tuesday of each month would be a free session, as would the Tuesday of the AGM,  the Alastair Owen Trophy, and the Stan Raine Memorial Trophy.

There being no further questions, acceptance of the Treasurer’s report was proposed by Linda Partridge, seconded by Bob Partridge, and unanimously carried.

Election of Officers

David Pearson was confirmed as Chairman, and Duncan Burns agreed to continue as Secretary.  Helen Stalker was to finish her stint as Treasurer, but would be handing over to Grace Birchall. Committee members re-elected were Geoff Deighton and  Ted Jennings, and Peter Wells volunteered to take over from Don Elding, a founder member of the Club, who had now retired.

Any Other Business

The Christmas Party would take place at the Church on Tuesday 13^th December.  As last year the cost would be £15 per head, but the charge to members would be only £5.  Pressure on numbers would mean that only club members could attend.

There being no other business, the meeting closed at 6.55pm.