THE CLOCKHOUSE BRIDGE CLUB
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting
Thursday 10th October 2024
1 ATTENDANCE & APOLOGIES
The meeting started at 18.15.
Present were Mike Welton (Chair), Richard Lowther (Treasurer), Penny Jann (Secretary), Christopher & Christine Bell, Josie Craig, Frances Cousins, Helen Dean, Joyce & Martin Dennison, Pat Gregory-Carlton, Anne Lowther, Maggie McCune, Linda Muirhead, Angela Paterson, Andrew Scott Plummer, Penny Shawyer, Doug & Nina Smit, Joan Stenson, John Wells, Alison Welton, David Winter.
Apologies were received from Pauline Bayliss, Janet Holtham, Barbie & Philip Kitchen, Jane Milton, Lynne Morling, Hasmita Shah, Mike Valmas, Antoinette Williams, Leon & Nicky Wynne.
2 MINUTES OF LAST AGM
The last AGM took place on 6th October 2022. As there had not been an AGM in 2023, it was agreed to take the 2022 AGM minutes as read.
3 MATTERS ARISING
There were no matters arising.
4 ANNUAL REPORT
Mike Welton noted that since the pandemic the membership had reduced. Currently there are 55 members and this number has remained constant despite efforts to encourage new members. If the club can create a new feeder club (e.g. a Wednesday club), this could help but a feeder club would need funding and volunteers to run it. If this could be agreed, members should talk to neighbours and friends and help attract new members to the club. MW alluded to a rather odd relationship with the Clockhouse, mainly in relation to perceived issues regarding the room not being put back properly. However the club has been careful to put the furniture back as required. The club has a good surplus of funds and at some point needs to show how this is dealt with. MW thanked all the members who put get the room ready for the evening and also those who put everything away.
5 TREASURER’S REPORT
Richard Lowther tabled the accounts showing the income and expenditure and balance sheet for the year ending 31 August 2024. Key drivers are the number of sessions and the number of members. In 2023 there were 67 members, currently there are 55 members. In August the club played on Tuesdays which added £400 to room hire. There was a loss of £800 this year. There is also an issue that the club is out of step with Age UK which will need to be addressed at some point but the outlook is good. Post-meeting note: the club’s accounts had been audited by Brian Morrison and RL has thanked BM for his work in auditing the club accounts.
6 ELECTION OF COMMITTEE
Mike Welton confirmed that he was standing down as Chair. Penny Shawyer is also standing down. Doug Smit, Linda Muihead and Angela Paterson agreed to join the committee. It was noted that the committee positions are a matter for the committee and not decided at the AGM. The committee members for the coming year are therefore Doug Smit, Richard Lowther, Penny Jann, Jane Milton, Joyce Dennison, Josie Craig, Linda Muirhead and Angela Paterson.
7 ANY OTHER BUSINESS
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- Andrew Scott Plummer said what a lovely club we have and the friendliest he had ever come across.
- Doug Smit thanked Mike Welton for his hard work as Chair, recognising that MW had saved the club through Covid.
7.3 It was noted that all members can bring a friend for £3 a session, and come as many times as they can. #
The meeting closed at 18.45.
Penny Jann
Secretary
# Item 7.3 has now been superseded by a new rule as at 16.04.2025. Visitors can come three times free of charge. After that they have a choice: join as a fully paid-up member by paying a pro rata fee for the rest of the year or pay £20 for temporary membership for a further 4 weeks. Temporary membership cannot be extended past the first 4 weeks.
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