EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday 6 March 2024 at 5 pm via Zoom
PRESENT: Mark Goddard (Chair), Shirley Ashtari, Chris Frost, Jane Hall, Mel Shepherd, Keith Spencer, Julia Staniforth, Roger Stock and Dave Treharne.
- WELCOME AND APOLOGIES
Mark welcomed everyone to the meeting. The apologies of Claire Batten and Sue Wright were noted.
- MINUTES OF LAST MEETING HELD ON 6 DECEMBER 2023
The minutes were agreed as a correct record.
- MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
- Presidents Cup Entry
Entry would be determined when the full details including cost were known.
- Training Seminars/ Feedback on Re-Introduction of a Wednesday Evening Event
Seminars had been held in January and February and had been well received, although attendance in February was only four tables. Mark would assess the viability of further sessions after the March date.
Keith was willing to run a county pairs night on a Wednesday evening pending training on Realbridge if at least 5 tables participated. Mark would arrange the necessary training.
- Storage of trophies and insurance provision
Roger would obtain valuations and an estimate for the repair of one of the Journal Cup trophies which had been damaged during transit following collection from the engravers and transfer to Roger. The valuation would enable Woodborough BC to arrange the necessary insurance. It was believed that there may be too many trophies for the storage area allocated and decisions may need to be made to dispose of a small number of trophies.
- Mixed Pairs and Priday Cup winners’ entry to an external event
The winners of the Priday Cup had declined to enter an online 9 High event and no suitable F2F was available. The winners of the Mixed Pairs had entered the Midland Counties F2F Mixed Pairs event and had finished in the top third.
- Review of Teams of 4 event and update on Journal Cup arrangements
Seven teams had entered the Teams of Four event and the top two teams had played in a head to head match to determine the team to play in the Pachabo. Shirley was the team captain and would supply the required information for Julia to submit the entry to the EBU.
19 pairs had entered the Journal Cup to date and at least one further entry was expected. A closing date of 10 March was agreed in order to finalise the catering that Jane would order and Clare collect. Shirley would reply to the non NCBA member regarding the £15 entry fee. It was agreed that a draw would take place for the seating positons.
- County Club Contact Responses
A copy of the responses received had been circulated and it was agreed that as no matters had been raised any further communication take place at the AGM.
- 23/24 Teams of 8 update
Jane reported that there had been no issues or concerns to date with 7 matches left to play and thre likely winner would be Nottingham BC.
- County match against Leicestershire
The date had been re-arranged to 21 April 2024 following a venue booking error by the home team.
- ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 2024 AGM
In view of an April date being unconstitutional and no dates being available in May/early to mid- June due to bridge commitments, the date of the AGM was agreed as Sunday 30 June 2024. Shirley would contact the caterer and entry for anyone not attending the AGM would be £10 per player. An entry form would be placed on the website immediately after the closing date of the Journal Cup. Keith agreed to direct a session of bridge (24-27 boards) with a break for food around 4.30 p.m. with a trophy presented.
It was agreed that the UMS proposal would remain at 4p, the proposal from Julia to amend dates for receipt of submissions to be received three weeks prior with publication of all documents two weeks before was agreed. Julia and Keith were willing to continue as Shareholders.
- ONE DAY GREEN POINT EVENT ON SUNDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 2024
The EBU had confirmed the licence and the event displayed on the EBU calendar. Keith confirmed he would direct and make the necessary arrangements for the boards, the required equipment and for the awarding of master points. An entry form would be uploaded to the website immediately after the AGM and flyers would be distributed and available at the AGM for members to take to clubs and any other county events. A supply would be taken to Sponden at the 19 May event.
- TREASURERS REPORT
Roger had circulated a report denoting details of income and expenditure since the last meeting outlining expenditure to date of around £2.5k which included £490 for attendance at a county TD’s course. Total expenditure for the year was expected to be just less than £3k following costs for the Journal Cup event. The reserves would now be within the Reserve Policy agreed after the last AGM.
Roger also outlined that the £11k investment with the Cambridge and Counties bank would yield around £500 interest at the end of the term in May 2024 and it was agreed that £10k be reinvested in a suitable one year fixed account with the interest and £1k be transferred to the current account.
- EBU MEETINGS AND CORRESPONDENCE
- Festival of Bridge – 9-15 September 2024
Counties and clubs had been approached to consider holding a special event during the week as a means of promoting bridge and to raise money for cancer charities and had been asked to nominate a co-ordinator. Mark agreed to draft an email to members to ask if anyone was willing to be the co-ordinator and if so further consideration could be given to the matter.
- 2025 ODGP events
As the requested closing date was the end of March it was agreed to request a licence for holding a further event on the same Sunday as the current year. Julia would submit the request.
- Proposed National 9 High Event
Julia reported she had completed the survey denoting the county would support a qualifying event for any national 9 High competition but no further communication had been received to date.
- Midland County Working Group Meetings
There were no issues raised and Julia had responded to an email from Clare who had enquired about two matters.
- Changes of dates for the Garden Cities Final, Corwen and Inter-County League Final
The EBU reported that the dates for the above finals had been changed and was noted. At this stage the decision was not expected to impact adversely.
- AOB/ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING
Mark explained that the Zoom subscription currently being used would expire shortly and consideration needed to be given as to whether to operate on a free platform which may have interruptions or to subscribe to Zoom at a cost of around £130 per annum. It was agreed to trial the free options at the next meeting and decide if a subscription was needed. Thanks were extended to Nottingham BC for facilitating the Zoom meetings.
There were no specific issues relating to the website although it was felt further maintenance of the information contained within it would be beneficial.
Shirley requested that anyone reading emails on the NCBA email mark them as unread if a reply was not being made.
Mark indicated his wish to step down as Chairman due to the time commitment and it was suggested that he seek to identify a successor.
9) DATE OF NEXT MEETING – To be held remotely on Wednesday 3 July 2024 at 5.00 pm
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