Included in this Bulletin is the official notification of the Annual General Meeting to be held at the County Show Ground on Wednesday, 16th May, 1979. Members will see from the Agenda, and the County Captain 's report and Secretary's report that there are various recommendations from your County Committee concerning the selection for County teams - viz. the Dawes Trophy and the Tollemache. This is a very important issue, and it is hoped that as many members as possible will turn up at the AGM to air their views.

AGENDA FOR THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Notice is hereby given that the AGM of this Association will be held at the Bridge Rooom, The Members Pavilion, Stafford Show Ground on Wednesday, 16th May, 1979 commencing at 7.00pm prompt.

Will members please note that the names of any person to be proposed as a candidate to any office of the Association must be sent in writing to the Secretary, together with the names of the Proposer and two Seconders, to arrive five clear days before the meeting. Any proposition which is to be binding on the Committee must be sent in writing, together with the names of the Proposer and two Seconders, to arrive five clear days before the meeting.

AGENDA

1. Apologies
2. Minutes (copy attached)
3. Matters Arising
4. Reports - Secretary, Treasurer, Captain, Master Points Secretary, Delegate representing Staffordshire on Council of EBU. To consider the following resolution:
   That the present Treasurer be permitted to restart the accounts of the Association as from the 1st May, 1978, ignoring all previous accounts and using as the commencing date the actual sums of money handed to him at that date, together with the existing unpaid bills.
   Proposed by the Secretary
   Seconded by the Chairman
5. To consider the following resolution: That selection to play in any County Team shall be restricted to those players who are prepared to assist in improving the standard of County Bridge by playing a minimum number of times in specifically nominated County Events (as detailed in the article "Selection As I See It" contained in this Bulletin), thereby giving less experienced players a chance to play against really strong opposition.
   Proposed by the Secretary
   Seconded by the Chairman
6. Presentation of Trophies to the Winners.
7. Runners-up will be announced and may collect their prize money from the Treasurer after the meeting.
8. Election of Officers

   Office	Committee's Recommendation
   Chairman	David McDonald (Newcastle)
   Vice -Chairman	to be nominated at the meeting
   Secretary	John Hudson (Alsager)
   Treasurer	Mrs Sheila Green (Wolverhampton)
   Captain	A. Bloxham (Stafford)
   Bulletin Editor	G.C. Davies (Stafford)
   Teams of Four League Sec	Arthur Bloxham (Stafford)
   Pairs Trial League Sec	G.C. Davies (Stafford)
   Master Points Secretary	Roy Martin (Newcastle)
   E.B.U. Delegate	John Hudson (Alsager)
   Room Committee Delegates	John Hudson, Basil Cooke, Geoff Davies, David McDonald

9. To Appoint Auditors
10. Newly elected Chairman will take the Chair and address the meeting.
11. Any Other Business
12. Bridge Lucky Dip Teams of Four.

MINUTES OF THE AGM OF THE S.C.B.A. held at the Bridge Room in the Members Pavilion, Stafford Show Ground on Wednesday 17th May, 1978 at 7.30pm.

PRESENT: Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Master Pints Secretary and 37 members.

1. APOLOGIES were received from A. Bloxham, G. Salwey, Mrs. S. Green, D. Downs, D. Kennedy, Mrs. Charlish, J. Day, Mrs. Sumberg, A. Moore, Mrs. B. Gane, J. Bieganski, P. Morley, S. Zychlinski and Mr & Mrs. C. Edwards.
2. MINUTES The Secretary read the Minutes, Mr, Dumbleton proposed and Mr Goodwin seconded that the Minutes as read be taken as a correct record of the AGM held on Friday, 20th May, 1977. Passed unanimously.
3. MATTERS ARISING - None.
4. TREASURER'S REPORT
   • The Treasurer presented an account which, he explained had not been audited. The year had been one of many personal difficulties for him and the accounts of the Association had been one of the many duties he had been forced to neglect in consequence. He had, therefore, offered to resign. He explained that the account did not reflect the true position showing a profit of £125.00. There were a number of bills waiting to be paid and he was afraid that when paid the account would show a loss of about £400, and that if this trend continued the Association would soon be in serious trouble.
   • Mr Dash asked what steps the Committee were taking to put the financial affairs of the Association on a firmer basis.
   • The Secretary replied that on this years activities - taking the year as an isolated account - there was to his certain knowledge a surplus of £100.00 or more when expenses were deducted from income. This had been the situation for each of the three years he had been Secretary, ss he felt that no other steps were needed other than to produce accounts that showed accurately the financial affairs of the Association.
5. CAPTAIN'S REPORT
   • Was unfortunately unable to attend due to professional commitments on the night. His written report was read by the Secretary.
   • Salient points:
     • Tollemache Cup The County was third in the qualifying round.
     • Dawes League Support for this event was still very moderate and a move to egister the event for the award of green points was rejected by the E.B.U.
       • 1st Team finished 6th
       • 2nd Team finished 4th
   • The team of A. Monckton, Jan Bieganski, Peter Morley, Stan Zychlinski had won the Staffs Cup and would represent Staffordshire in the Pachabo. They had also reached the final of Crockfords and were to be congratulated on this fine performance. STOP PRESS from Secretary - they had finished in overall in 4th position.
   • The team of Geoff Davies, David Downs, Bob Beech and David Beavon were to be congratulated on reaching the 6th Round of the Gold Cup. They play a Scottish team in a home match at Carlisle tomorrow. (Lucky it wasn't an away match - they'd have been playing in Iceland!)
   • Three Staffordshire based pairs reached the final of the National Pairs and they were to be congratulated, especially D. Davies and Mrs Wellsbury who had done so for the first time.
   • The League Committee hoped to raise the number of entries to 32 teams. The entry date had been brought forward to 31st July and entry forms should be available before the end of the month.
6. MASTER POINT SECRETARY
   • All points had now been computed and were ready for collection. He asked club representatives to be sure to collect all those that were there and ready for distribution to club members.
7. MOTION TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION
   • A short discussion took place on the resolution which had been proposed by B.A.F. Cooke (S) and seconded by G.C. Davies (S).
   • MOTION - as per Agenda. The motion was put to the vote and carried unanimously.
8. The President's lady wife was then introduced by the Secretary and graciously presented trophies and prizes. A list of trophy and prize winners was contained in the Bulletin.
9. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
   • He had enjoyed his first year of office and he had excellent support from his Officers, all of whom he wished to thank. He wished, however, to express a special thank you to the Secretary for his continued hard work (applause). Things must be getting better as this year the Secretary had only lost his cool on three occasions, which was a record, being about a quarter of the average for the past two years. He hoped that next year would continue the upward trend in the affairs of the Association.
10. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
    • There being no nominations other than those proposed by the out-going Committee, these were elected on block.
    • The newly elected chairman then addressed the meeting. Having been re-elected, he would be very brief. He would continue to do his best (applause) and hope all present would spread the good news that County Bridge in Staffordshire was improving from year to year.
11. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
    • Mr Dash drew the Associations notice to the affairs of the Droitwich Congress. It was our shared Congress with Warwickshire and Worcestershire.
    • Mr Beech reminded the Chairman that no vote of thanks for his work for the Association had been proposed to the outgoing Treasurer. The Chairman apologised and proposed a vote of thanks for the work done by David Marshall during his years as Treasurer (applause).

BULLETIN

CHAIRMAN'S REPORT

Once again a Bridge Season draws to a close. The AGM takes place in a few weeks and the final struggle for positions in the four leagues is taking place.

The Bearn, Mixed Pairs, Ladies and Men's Pairs will be decided in the next two months. May I personally thank all the people who help run and organise all these competitions so efficiently.

I should also like to express my thanks to the Management Committee, the League Committee, the Room Committee and various other sub-committees that meet and work on your behalf. Being Chairman is an easy job with such a large number of willing helpers.

I should especially like to thank certain members of Stafford B.C. for putting in so many hours improving the playing facilities.

Your Management Committee has many varied personalities. Sometimes views differ greatly. This is as it should be. Certain points may have to be resolved at the AGM. However I feel that the County is in a fairly healthy position, notwithstanding the fact that we could do with more members. Please support your County by attending all the events you can, especially the new Summer Pairs League.

Once again, if I can help in any way, give me a ring or drop a line. I'll be only too pleased to give my assistance.

Jim Riley, Foxcroft Close, Chasetown, Walsall. WS7 8ST

FROM THE SECRETARY'S DESK

Our membership this year is 238, an increase of four from last year. This is disappointing in a way, because a lot of work has been done to make County Bridge more attractive. However, there are a number of signs that our Association is gathering momentum. Entries to County events are up all round and at no time this year has it been necessary to plead with players to turn out to make up viable numbers. In fact, the Men's and Ladies Pairs turn out this year has been the best ever and I hope, when you read this, you will be able to say "and we enjoyed it".

The Room Committee has also worked extremely hard to provide our association with what must now be a very good venue. When you look at our accounts I'm sure you will see a healthy financial state; but rememberalso, we own 25% of the capital equipment at the playing venue, which when written down to half its cost price, is still worth £200.

In all I'm optimistic that our County Association will continue to thrive, flourish if only the central Bridge administrators, the EBU would give back to County Bridge some status - status it had before "Green Points" started to be scattered around like confetti.

John Hudson

SELECTION AS I SEE IT

County bridge for me has three objectives:

1. To organise County teams to play Inter-County matches and to win them. The main prize being the Tollemache Cup, the Teams of Eight English Counties Championship.
2. To organise events that will assist players to improve and so lift the standard of play within the County.
3. To organise events that will give players of all standards a chance to play against players of other clubs.

To me, (2) is more important than (1) for it follows that if we are successful in this objective we will eventually be successful in the first.

To be selected to play in a Dawes match in either the first or second team still provides you with an afternoons bridge which will help you improve your game - and an exciting afternoons bridge. I therefore believe very strongly that to generate a County spirit our top players have a duty to play in certain of our County events to give reserve team pairs a chance to have a really challenging evenings bridge that will help to improve their game.

It was this firmly held belief that drove me to try and persuade the Committee to realise there ought to be two facets to selection when selecting our County Teams. One - ability; two - a commitment to give reserve team pairs the chance of a strong workout. The result is the resolution passed in Committee which at the AGM you are being asked to endorse. It only remains to spell out the commitment expected of our leading pairs. The committee consider the following guidelines should be used:

A pair should play as a pair:

1. In the Pairs Trial League on at least five nights in each season. (This is the competition we most want supported by all pairs who wish to be considered to play in our County Teams). OR
2. Play as a pair in the Teams of Four League on at least five nights in each season OR
3. Play as a pair in the Bearn and play in the Bearn Semi-final.

Exceptionally, if any partnership are unable for specific reasons to play in any of these three events as a pair, then if one of them plays in either events 1. or 2. five times with another partner and the partnership plays as a pair in any other County event, the Committee will consider this shows a willingness to support the County. If leading players do not feel they can put themselves out in this minimal way, I feel it is only right that their place in our County teams should go to the next pair on ability who are prepared to make this commitment.

John Hudson, Secretary

CAPTAIN'S REPORT

Invitation Events

• The League Champions G. Davies, D. Downs, R. Beech and D. Beavon represented the County in the Frank Cup (Warwickshire Invitation Teams) and were placed third
• The Bearn Holders J. Riley and H. Pickering represented the County in the Edgar Foster Pairs (Warwickshire Invitation) and came a very creditable ninth in a very powerful field.
• One of our regular and loyalist pairs in the Dawes first and second teams, G. Shaw and R. Keane, represented the County in the Joyce Cup (Leicestershire Invitation Pairs).

Tollemache Cup
Our team P. Topley and P. Tottenham, G. Davies and D. Downs, R. Beech and D. Beavon, G. Link and R. Harris performed well and came third in the Midland heat. We congratulate Leicestershire on not only winning this heat, but also going on to win the Final for the first time, as we did in 1976.

Dawes Trophy
It was great news that we had been successful in the Midland League Championship and it is an extra fillip for our prestige. This was a fine team performance and I wish to thank all those players who played in the side last year, especially those players with a great deal of first team experience who played in the second team when asked. I hope players will be readily available this year to try to retain the Trophy and that good players will support the County by playing for the second team when selected and being available away at Oxford as readily as at home. I believe it is an insult to refuse to play in the second team with players such as myself. We can field an excellent first team and it is no disgrace to play in the second team, even if you do not agree with my team selection.

The next six months could be the most crucial, even for the County. The County Committee are recommending to the AGM that County selection in 1980 should only be available to players who take part in certain County events. I have never been prepared to play pairs in the first team who refuse to play in the second team and I don't pick pairs for the Tollemache who have not shown some commitment to the Dawes. Apart from these criteria, I have selected teams purely on my estimation of ability but rarely do we field the teams that are selected. I would like to see all our top players involved in County events but realise that successful players at national level can be committed to half the week-ends in the year before considering County events and I had hoped to encourage increased participation without an ultimatum. The resolution has been put by members in good faith, believing it in the interests of the County; if it backfires I believe it could destroy the County, so if it is passed, I appeal to our leading players to abide by its terms and still be available for County selection in the interests of our County.

Whatever your views do come to the AGM and let us know your opinions.

A. H. Bloxham

TREASURER'S REPORT

Playing bridge at the Stafford and County Bridge Club Rooms, members have no doubt been impressed by the improved playing facilities. I, as County Treasurer, am even more impressed as I have not yet been asked for any of the County's money to help towards these improvements. Finance, so far, has come from "The Room Committee Account". This is a Joint Committee made up of members from Stafford Bridge Club and County Club representatives. They have put to good use the profits made by making the rooms more comfortable for us all. The biggest source of revenue is the bar. So let's fill our glasses and a toast to this very hard working bunch.

Our financial position at present is:

Sheila Green

COUNTY PAIRS LEAGUE

The Summer Pairs League will again be run during the Summer, to "bridge the gap" before the start of the 1979/80 Bridge season.

The competition will be run on similar lines to the Winter Pairs Trial league, with some small amendments.

1. The competition will run from May to August inclusive, on the second and fourth Wednesdays (eight sessions in total);
2. The scoring will continue to be imp'd on the Butler method;
3. However to cover the summer period, with holidays etc., to qualify for a place in the final league table the best four scores only will count. To qualify for a place in the final league table, you only need therefore, to play in four sessions. Furthermore, it will be possible to count towards these four sessions one occasion when one half of the partnership does not play with his regular partner.
4. Prize money will be as follows:-
   • 1st Prize £20 per pair
   • 2nd Prize £15 per pair
   • 3rd Prize £10 per pair
   • 4th Prize £5 per pair
   • The Pairs League Sub-Committee reserve the right to revise this prize money if there is not an average of eight tables per session;
5. Table money will be 50p per session, with a competition entrance fee of 50p per player.

THE HEATS IN MAY WILL BE ON THE SECOND (9th) AND FIFTH (30th) WEDNESDAYS. IT HAS BEEN NECESSARY TO CHANGE TO THE FIFTH WEDNESDAY BECAUSE OF THE COUNTY SHOW