STOKE MANDEVILLE BRIDGE CLUB

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

MONDAY 24 APRIL 2023 AT 7.00 PM

Item		Action
Item 1	WELCOME The Secretary welcomed everyone to the Meeting. Apologies were received from: Yvonne Benz, John Rogers, Fiona Scriven, Pete & Ginny Weisner, Betty Aston, Ann Shepherd, Erica Stride, Beryl Atkins
Item 2	MINUTES OF The ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Monday 9 May 2022. The minutes had been available on the Website for members to read in advance. The Minutes were accepted as a correct record. Matters Arising. AOB 9 d) The Chairman had spoken with the Caretaker regarding the lighting in the Large Car Park. He said it was the responsibility of the Council and it was unlikely that they would do anything. Members are advised to bring a torch.
Item 3	<a.) ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. The Chairman Mary Baker had agreed to stand again. Proposed by Gill Grigg, seconded by Andy Melville- Jackson. Elected unanimously by the members. b.) ELECTION OF COMMITTEE The Chairman reported that the Treasurer Richard Clark was standing down from that position and that Steve Marshall had agreed to take on this role. The Chairman reported that the following Committee members were willing to stand again Gill Grigg Secretary David Barker. Richard Plummer Chris Kaye Richard Clark. She asked the membership to support the election of the Treasurer Steve Marshall and the re-election of the rest of the Committee. Proposed by Mike Francis, Seconded by Sue Mercer. Elected unanimously. c.) CHAIRMAN’S REPORT. We have now been back playing F2F bridge for a year. We played one Club night on BBO last July when there were warnings of extreme heat. I would like to thank the Committee for their help and support over the last 12 months. Chris Kaye has taken over from Brian Smith and prepares the boards every week. He also helps manage the website along with David Barker and myself. I would like to welcome Steve Marshall onto the Committee as our Treasurer. I would like to thank Jean Carter and Kathy Gray for organising the refreshments. Thanks, must also go to our Directors, David Barker, Richard Plummer, Steve Marshall, Fiona Scriven and Bill Astles We appreciate the help from our members every week with setting up and clearing away. It all helps to make the evening run as smoothly and efficiently as possible. During the year we have averaged 14 tables. Unfortunately we have lost a few members due to age and health issues but have also gained new members. Thank you all for supporting the club over the last year. Richard Clark has been Treasurer for 25 years. The Committee wants to give him a thank you gift from the Cub. When I spoke with Richard’s wife, she said he liked a bottle of wine. We decided on a gift voucher from the Oxford Wine Company. Richard, I hope this £100.00 voucher will keep you in wine for a few weeks and that you will think of us whilst enjoying a glass or two.
Item 4	TREASURER’S REPORT. a). Financial Situation. Copies of the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 had been e mailed to members. Financial Assets £5,681.31 Bank £5,680.83 Cash £0.48 The main monthly outgoings are Hall Hire and EBU Pay to Play. The Treasurer reported that the majority of members pay through On Line Banking. Charitable Donations this year have been to Children in Need, EBU Juniors and the MS Centre at Halton. It is advisable to keep one year’s expenditure in Reserve. Replacing the Dealing Machine and Bridge Mates would be our largest expense apart from the Rent costs. One member suggested that we should have more expensive prizes for the Ladder winners. One member reported that a Club she had belonged to had been sued so reasonable reserves need to be kept. b.) Membership Fee is £5.00 which will be due on 1 September 2023. The amount of the Quarterly Fee to be advised in the Quarterly Newsletter. Table money to remain at £3.00 per session for members paying on the Club night.
Item 5	ELECTION OF AUDITOR It was unanimously agreed to appoint Mrs Suzie Walton to Audit the 2023-2024 Accounts. Proposed by Richard Clark, seconded by Richard Plummer. The Chairman reported that the Club had neglected to thank the Auditor for her services over the Lockdown period so had sent her a £75.00 Gift Card.
Item 6	ORGANISING THE EVENING. a.) Arrival time. The Chairman reminded members that they are asked to arrive by 7.20 so that sections can be organised and Table numbers and Bridge Boards put out. Once this has been done late arrivals would be unable to play. b.) Sit out Table. The Director tries to allocate any Sit Out Table to each section on alternate weeks. Whenever possible It will be alternated between NS / EW but that depends on the movement.	Chairman
Item 7	DIARY DATES a.) The Christmas Party Monday 11 December 2023. b.) Charity Evening Monday 26 June or 3 July 2023. Members are requested to inform the Chairman about local Charities we may wish to support. c.) Children in Need Monday 6 November 2023. Table Money will be donated and members will have the opportunity to give a cash donation on the night.
Item 8	THE LEAGUE OF EIGHT The Chairman thanked the Team Captains and all players who had represented the Club. The Club entered three Teams in the 2022 -2023 Competition Captained by Mary Baker, David Barker and Richard Plummer. It has taken place online on REALBRIDGE. If it remains online it is hoped to enter three Teams. if it returns to F2F then possibly only one Team will be entered. Richard Plummer wishes to retire from Captaining a team. Decisions will be made later in the year regarding Number of Teams entered and Team Captains and members.	Chairman
Item 9	ANY OTHER BUSINESS a.) The Club will be open for Bridge on May 1^st,8^th, 29^th the Bank Holidays. b.) The Chairman has ordered double sided wall beakers so members are asked to use one for their tea / coffee when the new beakers are introduced. c.) The start time was raised again but there was little interest in changing it. Steve Marshall suggested that a questionnaire could be sent to members to gain their opinion. On nights when all members arrive early once the table set up is completed play starts, sometimes before 7.30 e.) It was suggested that there should be a N/S winner and E/W winner named each week whenever possible. f.) Thank you to the Chairman and Committee for their work on behalf of the Club was proposed by Carol Harris.

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