MINUTES OF THE 65TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF BLABY BRIDGE CLUB HELD ON 19 APRIL 2011

 

Present 44 members

 

APOLOGIES:  Angie and Malcolm Soloffe, David Petrie, Susan Fennell, Roger Cook, Neil and Pat Beasley, Eric Cox, Henry and Beryl Cooklin, Anne Moncrief, Peter Nuttall, Roger Westerman, Roger Wharmby and Maureen Williams.

 

MINUTES OF THE 64TH AGM.  These were approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman.                                                             

 

MATTERS ARISING         There were no matters arising not already covered by the agenda.

 

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT   The Chairman reported that the club had had a successful year,  membership currently 96 and club nights having 12 or 13 tables.  The Bridge Weekend at Buxton organised by Jenny Hand was attended by 32 members and once again enjoyed good weather. The year had been marred by the sad death of Mike West who had been a player in Blaby teams for many years and had also been a very able auditor of the club accounts.  The Chairman reported the following successes by club members throughout the past year:-

Josephs Bowl – Peter Nuttall’s team reached the quarterfinals

Butterworth Cup –  2010 winners Peter Nuttall, Stan Williams, Sylvia Horn and Terry Hyde

This year Brenda Coltman, Alison Nichols, Tony and Maureen Payne have reached the semi-final.

Leicestershire Cup  Roger Cook has reached Round 2 and Ian Bruce and Anne Moncrief have reached the semi-final.

Leicestershire Plate   Won by Julie and David Lashley

Buckby and Olga – this year’s event to be played Wed 20 April. 

2010  Ladies event - 1st Anne Blackwell and Sylvia Horn, 3rd Marjorie Gilbertson and Pat Watson, 4th Brenda Coltman and Alison Nichols and 5th Jenny Grant and Beryl Cooklin.

Barkby Swiss Teams – 2nd Neil and Pat Beasley and Mary and George Brown

3rd Doreen and John Arnold and Mike and Tricia Allsopp.

Greenpoint Swiss Teams 4th Jenny Grant, 5th Pat Watson and Marjorie Gilbertson

Swiss Pairs 1st Mike Deakin and Tony Page

Stanley Trophy Alison Nichols and Simon Stokes leading, Jenny Grant and Bharat Thakrar 2nd

National Pairs Heat Regional Final  3rd Julie and David Lashley, 4th Alison Nichols and Mick Mahoney

Otto and Edith  4th Alison Nichols and Mick Mahoney

 

TREASURER’S REPORT   Roger Cook was unable to be present at the meeting but his previously prepared balance sheet was circulated to members and the Chairman went through the items explaining the various expenditures.  He reported that the club had made a slight loss in the previous year largely due to absorbing the cost of P2P, the purchase of 4 tables, the increase in rent at Blaby and rise in refreshment costs.  The acceptance of the 2010/1011 accounts was proposed by Rowena Payne and seconded by Chris Bancroft and accepted by the meeting.

Dave recorded the thanks of the members to Roger Cook for very ably acting as Treasurer for several years and to Henry Cooklin for auditing the accounts at short notice.

 

The Treasurer in his report stressed that P2P has increased in the coming year by 5.4% and it was no longer possible for the club to absorb this cost.  In view of this and other increased costs it was proposed to the members that table money at Blaby be increased by 50p to £2.00 for members and £2.50 for visitors.  There was no proposal to increase the table money at Countesthorpe and the subscriptions should remain at £6.  The adoption of this recommendation was proposed by Sandy Blades and seconded by Roy Pennington and the rest of the members supported this. 

 

TEAM CAPTAINS’ REPORTS   John Arnold informed members that the B team’s  season had been overshadowed by the sudden death of Mike West who with Anne Blackwell had been a stalwart of the team for many years.  He reported that the B team had fulfilled their aim of consolidating their position in Division 2 after having been promoted the previous year.  After a poor first half they rallied with some big wins in the second half finishing exactly mid table.  He thanked his team of Doreen, Neil and Pat, Lloyd and Val, Susan and David, Dave and Chris, Nick and Teresa, Malcolm and Angie and John Gaunt.

Dave Pollard reported on behalf of Peter Nuttall that the A team had achieved their highest finishing position in Division 1.  He thanked his team of Henry and Beryl, George and Mary, Sylvia, Stan, Dave, Chis, Roger, Anne and John and Doreen.  

Dave also reported on behalf of Neil Beasley for the C team which had had a mixed season finishing in 4th place in Division 4.  He thanked his team and in particular Phil who had acted as team captain on match nights.  Neil is prepared to run the team on the same basis next year. 

 

WEBMASTER’S REPORT   John Arnold reported that the club’s website had been up and running for eight years and this is now the club’s primary method of getting results and information to members as quickly as possible.  He recorded his thanks to Neil for setting this up and maintaining it for so long.  He informed members of the change to a new web provider, the EBU recommended firm Bridgewebs that is now used worldwide.  John explained the design and features of the site and asked for feedback from members so that he could tailor the site to their wishes. 

 

CLUB ACTIVITIES The Summer Cup teams of 4 event is scheduled for 9 August.

Refreshments at Blaby   The Secretary informed members that Sarah Bancroft was no longer able to come along to make tea/coffee and wash up at Blaby.  The matter had been discussed and it was decided at Committee to put a proposal to the members at this AGM that they make their own coffee and tea as and when they wanted as at other clubs and most importantly that they washed up their own cups.  After discussion it was agreed to provide biscuits from a central tin in the kitchen but not serve them up on individual plates hopefully reducing wastage. Members were also willing to try the new system of making their own drinks.  

 

 

PRESENTATION OF TROPHIES 

 

Toon Cup:                           First          Aman Ansari and Win Stocker

                                             Second     Rowena Payne and Ron Munday

                                             Third         Ian Walkerdine and Maureen Williams

 

Club Cup                            First           Ian Walkerdine and Maureen Williams

                                             Second =    John and Doreen Arnold

                                             Second =    Alison Nichols and Mick Mahoney

 

ELECTION OF OFFICERS   The following officers of the committee had been nominated and proposed:-

 

Office                       Nomination             Proposed by       Seconded by

Chairman                  Dave Pollard            Phil Dalloway      Neil Beasley

Treasurer                  Mary Brown             Doreen Arnold    Dave Pollard

Secretary                  Doreen Arnold         Susan Fennell      Maureen Payne

Club Captain            Peter Nuttall             Dave Pollard       John Arnold

B Team Captain       John Arnold             Neil Beasley        Dave Pollard

C Team Captain       Neil Beasley             John Arnold        Phil Dalloway

Chief Controller       David Petrie             Dave Pollard       Rowena Payne

Webmaster               John Arnold             Neil Beasley        Dave Pollard

Dial a Partner           Rowena Payne         David Petrie        Susan Fennell

 

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

 

The Secretary reported that Brenda Coltman, who had won £20 on the Grand National Sweepstake on the Bridge Weekend, had made this up to £50 and donated it to the charity SMILE on behalf of the Bridge Club.

 

The meeting closed at 7.55 pm.

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