- In attendance – 45 members
- Apologies received from 34 members.
- Minutes of AGM Sept 2019 – The acceptance of these as a true and accurate record was proposed by Roy Brixton and seconded by Bill Keast. Unanimously agreed.
- Matters Arising – None
- President’s report – see separate sheet.
- Secretary’s report – see separate sheet
Plus questions from floor a) Pat Donaldson queried liability insurance – SB explained Officers of the club could be held legally liable if sufficient measures were not in place with regard to Covid. However measures across Lincolnshire clubs ranged from what we as a club were implementing , at the top, down to virtually nothing at all at the bottom. The questions being asked were to help determine whether we should slacken some of the strictures in place.
b) Stuart Watson enquired whether by raising table monies it would deter some members from attending.
c) John Walker asked whether guarantees from companies tendering for the roof repair were worth the paper they were written on. SB explained that the club was looking for the companies to provide an underwritten insured guarantee of at least 20 years.
7. Treasurer’s report.
2020 income and expenditure only based on eight and a half months due to lockdown. Surplus for year £4000 largely due to community grant received without which there would have been a deficit of £6000. Balance sheet shows £180,000 for building value with remainder of total net value £182,500 down to minor equipment. June 2021 shows income from online bridge which commenced June 2020 and two further grants from council of £19,218, without which a deficit of £5000 for the year would have occurred. Expenses were considerably less as closed. P2P down as less activity. Balance sheet shows capital expenditure for hand gel dispensers. £180,000 for building worth and £1,200 for equipment. Creditors figure shown down to bridge holiday cheques being held and not paid out until August for the balance of the holiday.
Net assets of £41,951 of which £12,000 should be retained for contingencies leaving £30,000 available towards roof so a shortfall in the region of £25,000.
Thanks to Keith Stewart for his prompt and efficient auditing of the annual accounts.
Stewart Watson asked what proportion of P2P monies came from online play to the club. ML said that from the £2 table monies 40p went to Real Bridge, 47p to the EBU and £1.13 to the club. It was difficult to predict uplift in income from return to F2F bridge and table money rising to £3, as it wasn’t clear as yet the numbers returning on a regular basis to the club.
Lawrie Chapman asked whether the building worth should stay static year on year. ML said unless building was going to be sold it was academic but assured him that it was insured for more than this. Insurance was due to be paid in the next month at a cost of £3000.
Bill Brocklesby asked if we should shop around for cheaper insurance. ML explained that company used specialised in insuring bridge clubs via the EBU.
John Walker asked why roof wasn’t covered by insurance. ML said wear and tear and maintenance issues not included.
Proposed for approval by Jackie Walker, Seconded by Glynn Elwick, Agreed unanimously for both years.
- Election of Officers and Committee.
Phillip Harland announced outcome of the secret ballot held in accordance with the Constitution for the posts of President and Vice President.
President – Andy Lewis
Vice President – Sue Keast.
Secretary – Sue Barraclough ( returned unopposed)
Treasurer – Mike Llewellyn ( returned unopposed)
Committee – Roy Brixton, Val Threadgould, Wanda Kowtoska, Jennifer Selby, Rod Williams and Glynn Elwick.
Proposed by Pam Readhead, Seconded by Margaret McLeod, Passed unanimously.
- Trophy presentations – None made this AGM.
- AOB – no prior notification received so meeting closed at 19.40pm
OUTGOING PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS
The last time I addressed the Club I said “Once more I should say that to represent the Club as President for yet another year is a task which is made considerably easier when you are lucky enough to be surrounded by voluntary helpers who run the club efficiently with a minimum of disruption.” Of course 2020 and 2021 was a time which meant that the Club had a maximum of disruption. Nevertheless the volunteers have been exceptional in their support, and it is because of that support that we have survived thus far, and are, indeed, able to hold this meeting. As the Club Secretary Sue Barraclough has worked tirelessly to help bring everyone back to F2F sessions: Mike Llewellyn has been very innovative in securing extra funding to keep us afloat: Sue and Bill Keast have made sure that our potential as a training platform has been maintained and Roy Brixton has been responsible for the mammoth task of keeping all of the online bridge sessions available. Those tasks have been undertaken in addition to their other Committee duties. In fact all of our Committee members have made themselves available to help whenever required.
Sadly there have been casualties amongst our members. Fortunately not all have been fatal (but Pete Wilson’s accident set him back considerably). Some of the fatalities, though by no means all, have been as a result of this hideous pandemic. I know that Sue has already arranged for the appropriate respect to be shown, and where possible the Club has been represented at memorial services, if only virtually. We have also had a resignation from our Committee. Brenda Goodacre has been the Vice President of the Club for years and years. It is difficult to detail what Brenda has done for us without missing out some important points. Certainly most of our members have moved into the Club through the teaching sessions which Brenda, and Ted, undertook for many years. All our calendars, competitions and trophies have been overseen in some way by Brenda. Brenda (usually with Ted, unless Scunthorpe United were at home) played on Monday evenings, Tuesday afternoons, Wednesday evenings, Thursday afternoons (with the ‘Ladies’), Thursday evenings (teaching and improvers), Friday evenings and most of the ad hoc Saturday sessions. If ever a club had a stalwart member, then that member is Brenda Goodacre. Her contributions as Vice President will obviously be missed, but I know that she is a fount of knowledge which will be plumbed whenever necessary.
I have also decided to step down as President. 2020 and 2021 have been difficult times for me. I have had many non-bridge issues which have needed my attention, as well as suffering a significant deterioration in my health. I have been delighted to represent the Club for so many years and really thought that I had been able to make a difference. . . but the pandemic has really shown me that I was no longer up to the task of managing the organization in a way which maintained the support of its members. I do not regret wanting the online sessions to move from BBO to RealBridge. The advantages (not least that a playing director would be available) were, I felt, obvious to anyone who made the effort to try out the new system (such a trial being made much easier because I ensured that extra computers were made available for those members who couldn’t log on). Sadly, the membership did not support me. I felt I should consider my position and, along with the other issues which I have just mentioned, I decided that I did not need be a part of an organization which was being ruled by Donald Trump style social media. The Club is now entering a new phase. I am certain that your new Committee will continue to ensure that it remains the best club in the county, and indeed one of the very best in the country, and I wish them every success.
SECRETARY'S REPORT
I would like firstly on behalf of the committee and membership to thank Stuart for his many years of service to the club and assure him that he will be greatly missed by us all and that we hope to see him in the near future back to playing F2F bridge with us all.
I would also like to mention two additional members – Andy Lewis, who has filled the void left by Pete Wilson and who has been doing maintenance jobs in the club, from filling cracks in the roof to running repairs on the toilet systems and to Malcolm Broughton for taking over the gardening jobs and helping to keep the outside areas tidy and weed free. Thank you both.
I wanted to take the opportunity of straw polling you while you are all together, to aid future discussions at the committee with regard to Covid measures and whether you feel they are sufficient or too much and you would like a quicker return to “ normal practices” whatever the new normal now is, sooner rather than later.
By this I mean
- Less windows and doors open during play and heating cranked up. Yes…60%…….No…40%…….
- Catering facilities reopened – Drinks first – there are some risks attached to this e.g. Queuing, touching of knobs, taps work surfaces, cups , teaspoons, teabags etc.
Yes………70%………..No……30%………………..
Biscuits provided – handling not controllable
Yes…………40%……No……60%…………..
- Other sessions - We have taken an incremental approach to these at present to allow for cleaning regimes between sessions. It is hoped to restart Weds evenings in Nov as the next step. If Fri afternoon, Thurs Ladies club and Sat monthly events wish to follow, it would be with the proviso that each of these would have to undertake to disinfect door handles and light switches, Bridgemates, table tops and kitchen areas including washing pots and utensils after the session has ended and prior to the areas being reused on Thurs, Fri and Mon evenings.
Do you agree with these measures
Yes………80%…………No………………….
Now we come to the issue of the Club roof. During lockdown a leak occurred at the side of the main room. Andy went up onto the roof and discovered large cracks in the fibre glass coating which we got patched up as a temporary measure.
Val got some roofing companies round who provided some quotes but also a company called IKO who produce industrial strength roofing felt and as a favour via Stuarts daughter, they inspected the roof and it was them that highlighted the fact that there were 3 layers of roof laid one on top of the other and the wood areas of each were damp. From the quotes it then became clear that we couldn’t determine what they were actually quoting for in detail and that financially we couldn’t compare like with like.
I finally managed to get an Independent Surveyor and Building Engineer to come and provide a specification for the roof’s replacement and this has been sent out to tender to various roofing companies with a closing date of Oct 22nd. From these the committee should be able to make a recommendation as to the way forward which will be taken to the Club Trustees to agree financing issues. Currently we believe this will be in the region of £45K plus VAT. As you will hear from Mike it is a sum we haven’t got, so we will be looking to loan arrangements to cover some of it. So, any member willing to loan part of the sum at a low rate would be welcomed with open arms! Because of this we have also had to look at income into the club and the committee are recommending that annual subs raise from £10 to £15 and table fees from £2 to £3 per session. These have been held at their current price since moving from West Street so are probably overdue for an uplift to keep up to current cost of living and inflation.
Members asked if in agreement with the recommendation to raise annual subs to £15.
Proposed Jackie Walker, seconded Paul Readhead, Unanimously agreed
Show of hands in favour of raising table monies 90% in support.
Thank you very much for your attention and input.
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