Action by…date

The meeting opened at 15.00 and the minutes of the last meeting were reviewed.  We had made progress on most of the items on the list.

BRIDGE    

There was some discussion as to how we can enable everyone to play everyone else on a Thursday evening and still finish at 22.10 latest. We can’t start earlier as this has been already tried, unsuccessfully.  

It was decided that we would try 2-board rounds.  Steve will send Ken a Howell movement which should achieve this.

It was suggested that we might ask people to advise in advance if they are coming.  David pointed out that card payments indicate how many tables are required, which helps.  

We could possibly put table cards out and boards at the same time.

SH

1

Teams Tournament will be held twice this year, on 13 April and 16th November.  It was decided that players come in pairs, cut for teams for the first round, then stay in those teams.

2

Local Teams Challenge

Ken will continue to push to get more than 9 tables

KL

3

Trophies

It was decided to buy a trophy for the Local Teams Challenge.  There is  member who wishes to buy a trophy, for no more than £100.  Ken will remain skipper.  

Best partnership throughout the year trophy will remain but no individual trophy as it’s a partnership game.  

Most improved partnership trophy will be awarded, provided they have played a minimum of 10 times

Marian Day trophy remains.  No further trophies to be bought or awarded at this time but other events may happen in the future.

Players who gain 70% will receive a bottle of wine.

Still no booby prize for Tricia!

4

Bridge Drive will be held for a local charity, such as a food bank.  We will advertise it and charge say £20 to include morning and/or afternoon sessions of bridge plus lunch.  We can host 20 tables and should get 10 tables from club members.  Participants will need to book and pay in advance.  We need someone to take responsibility for it, with a sub-committee.  KL to ask for volunteers on Thursday.

KL

Diana

Duplimate

We are buying this - about £1500.  Steve will familiarise himself with it first before using it at the club.  Ken will need to order more boards to use in the meantime.    Steve will produce a manual tailored to our club’s use.  

More cards need to be purchased, including some packs of bar-coded cards.  12 packs for the beginners’ course.  Ken will buy 120 packs for £160.  We will be able to dispense with some cards once the Duplimate is in use.   Steve will email a link for us to see the Duplimate 

SH

KL

SH

KL

SH

5

Square

The Square payment system is proving a success.  5 people have been trained to take payments, and Mike Ryan has also volunteered.  Some of the 5 need extra training, especially in how to charge for specials.  4 people are filling in spreadsheets for Anthony.  Steve’s concern is that a very transparent spreadsheet be produced, for instance for the eventuality that Square receipts are audited.  

The fee for using Square is 1.75%.  Square support will deal only with Steve or nominated people, at the moment Ken and David.

SH

DH

6

Wednesday mornings

Table numbers are increasing but very few players have made the transition to Thursday evening. Ken suggests that one Wednesday morning half a dozen Thursday people are asked to attend to partner someone.  

Steve has started a teaching table, but this makes it difficult for him to circulate to offer help.  He will play it by ear whether to offer a teaching table, depending on who turns up. 

Evelyn, Corrine and Mark will be Wed scorers.  

The monthly duplicate session is generally accepted by the group.

To avoid cliques, players will be allocated a table and position. 

Convention card - a standard card will be distributed for people to change according to their game.

KL

EL

Corrine

Mark

KL

SH

7

AGM will be held on 23 March

Bridge year ends 31 December.  Financial year 31 January  AGM to be held in March.  Subscriptions run July to June so we will charge half year subs in June.  

8

Christmas Party

Carol Gray will take responsibility for organising this, using commercial caterers.  She suggests that we allow more time for eating, drinking etc. before play.  We will be in the large hall.

9

Marketing and Education  

A beginners’ course has been organised at the Sibfords Village Hall beginning on 15 Feb.  We will have a minimum of  13 and a maximum of 18 participants.  13 have already paid, plus there are 6 from Banbury attending the free taster, who may sign up.  We are in profit with 11 attendees.  An assistant teacher will be needed if 16 sign up.

Ken would like to start a transition/intermediate course. Steve agreed that we need to encourage improvers, not just beginners, maybe by seminars.

Teachers will get together to sort out seminars to all players, not just Wednesday people.

 5 people are interested in a fast-track beginners’ course.  

No mentoring online has been done. Steve posts an  analysis of an interesting Thursday hand on the Facebook page.  People can ask for advice on FB and Steve will write a sentence for the FB page to this effect.

EL, KL, SH

KL

SH

Steve will take over the website and he and Ken will discuss what is posted on the website.  Steve will add a click through to Facebook from the website. 

Tricia will change the FB page name to Kings Sutton Bridge Club, which will be more easily searched for.  

The budget assigned to Facebook hasn’t been used up but we will postpone any other paid work on it for 6 months

SH KL

SL

TH

10

Chairman’s Workload

Jean Pitman has volunteered to be Secretary. A computer/laptop will be bought for her use at a cost of £250 and she will use Ken’s software.

Evelyn will take over some responsibility for scoring

The Director is responsible for 1. organisation of the meeting and 2. application of the laws.  Ken will write a list of responsibilities and we will try to find someone to take over the first part in his absence.

KL

EL

11

We thanked Anthony for his hospitality and the meeting closed at 16.53 
No date was set for the next meeting.