JOINT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS OF

STOURBRIDGE INSTITUTE BRIDGE ASSOCIATION

STOURBRIDGE BRIDGE CLUB and

STOURBRIDGE INSTITUTE BRIDGE SECTION

Tuesday 20th June 2023

* DRAFT MINUTES *

Apologies

 Fiona Hahn, Sheila Williams                                                    

Minutes of AGM of June 2022                                                   

The minutes were approved unanimously      

Chairman’s Remarks

Our Chairman, Linda Wright, welcomed everyone to the meeting and said how pleased   she is that we continue to have a good turnout on both our Tuesday and Friday sessions.  Our Monday afternoon sessions are also going well with 4/4:5 tables and are proving to be an excellent stepping stone for students wishing to progress to our evening sessions.

On Thursday afternoon Linda Wright and Georgina Lineker, aided by Margaret Hanson, are teaching 16 students and now David Philpott and Paul Sansom are teaching 12 students who were on a waiting list for bridge classes.  This is 28 students in all. This is very good news both for the Bridge Club and SISC

The Chairman’s Cup is a new competition being run by WCBA and is for students currently having bridge lessons.  Linda was delighted to report that 4 or 5 pairs of our students will be entering the competition.                        

Linda wanted to thank everyone who helps run the Club and gave special thanks and a bottle of wine to Paul and Freda Sansom who arrive at 6:30 to help set up the room for bridge.   Linda also thanked the Committee for their hard work which often goes on behind the scenes.             

Adoption of 2022 Accounts and Treasurer’s Report

James Taylor presented the accounts and reported that takings in 2022 were slightly down on those in 2019. This is because before Covid, in 2019, we were running 3 sessions a week but in 2022 this was reduced to 2 sessions

James said that we are moving along nicely. The accounts have been audited by Sally Johnson and everything is in order.

The accounts were approved unanimously

Election of Officers and Committee

For the first time in a while we have a new nominee for our Committee, Fiona Hahn

The Officers and Committee were appointed unanimously

Any Other Business

a) Programme Of Events

The Evening Order of Merit competition is taking place

 Linda said that our Championship Pairs event, rather than being a 2 session event, had just been an ordinary evening of bridge and should perhaps be discontinued.

Richard Smith suggested teams events and there was support for this idea. However Georgina pointed out that it would be necessary for players to be in teams on arrival since we no longer operate a host system.

Sue Craddock was in favour of the return of the Individual competition but there was little support for this.

Elaine Buchan felt that something for the beginners would be a good thing.  It was agreed that such a competition could be arranged during a Monday afternon session. 

b) Sue Craddock felt that mobile phones are often a distraction and Glen Walker agreed saying that bridge sessions can at times be too noisy.  It was agreed that mobile phones should be silent during sessions.   Georgina to email directors to remind them that they can request that players make less noise.  James asked if players can themselves ask a director to request less noise.  Yes, they can.  

David Horton wondered if it would be possible to play bridge on Thursday rather than Friday evenings.  SISC has been organizing some successful Friday events and this has resulted in Friday bridge sometimes having to be played in the restaurant in rather cramped and sometimes noisy conditions.    Linda said that she would ask Jerry Roper if this change might be possible but a number of members said that they would be unable to play if this change were to be made.

 Presentation of Trophies and Prizes

David Horton and Barry Brice were declared the winners of the Championship Pairs

Georgina Lineker said that an enormous vote of thanks was due to Linda for all the work that she does for our club and that a large part of our success is due to her.

The Chairman closed the meeting by thanking everyone for attending and wished them a good evening of bridge

The meeting ended at 7:20pm