Minutes of AGM held on 18th September 2019 at St. Werburgh's Club

Present:  Nick Allen, Mark Ashford, Pete Ashford, Alan Biddle, Phil Chesters, Sandy Churms, John Clarke, Linda Craggs, Trevor Craggs, Neil Davies, Terry Davies, Mick Dodd, Shaun Done, Iain Ellis, Shirley Ellis, Luke Evans, Richard Evans, John Ford, Steve Nipper Fowles, Dawn Gillam, Paul Halliwell, John Lea, Margaret Lea, Bill Lloyd, Jade McAleer, Jim McClurg, Tina McClurg, Paul McLaughlin, Jake McNicholas, Danielle Mulgrew, Shaun Murphy, Tommy Murphy, Dan Nuttall, Fred Nuttall, John Pritchard (minutes), Paul Siddall, Brian Walker, Nigel Walker, Adam Wallace, Pat Wallace, Roy Westbury, Dave Williams (42 present). 

Apologies: Ted Randles.

The Chairman opened the meeting at 8.15pm and welcomed everyone to the combined AGM / Presentation Night.   The order for the evening was to be AGM, food and Presentation, and the AGM would be 1) Election of Officials, 2) Treasurers Report, 3) Any Other Business.

1. Election of Officials

The first item on the agenda was the Election of Officials and the following people were nominated, proposed, seconded and all duly elected unanimously:-
 

Ted Randles could not be present at the meeting, but had informed the chairman earlier in the day he wished to resign from the committee.   Ted has given many years fine service to the committee and his experience and wisdom will certainly be missed.

Mike Hillier was not present and was not re-elected as a result.   Dave Williams volunteered to join the committee and was duly elected, welcome to the committee Dave, and Thank You for your service Mike, especially your time as Treasurer.

2. Statement of Accounts

Treasurer Phil Chesters presented the Statement of Accounts for 2018-19 and copies were made available for those present.   It was noted that the League had made a profit of £440 for the year and John Clarke asked what we intended to do with the surplus.   The reason for the profit is the introduction this year of sponsored fixtures for both the Winter 2019/20 and Summer 2020 leagues, and the sponsorships have brought in £550 with another £250 to come. 

The cost of the fixture lists will be minimal, but the plan was to produce 1000 copies of a bagatelle booklet which would cost in the region of £700.   It was hoped the booklets would promote bagatelle and the intention was to distribute them to pubs, clubs, hotels, guest houses, tourist information etc.  

CAMRA (Chester & South Clwyd Branch) have already offered to help with the distribution of the magazines when they circulate their "Out Inn Cheshire" magazine which will help us immensely.   Production of the booklet has been delayed because, so far, only two pubs have submitted articles for the magazine (Cottage and Spital).   It would be of great help if other pubs could submit something ASAP, between 300-500 words, plus photos.

John Clarke asked how we would measure the success of the booklets / distribution, and it's not something we'd thought about, so we couldn't really answer, other than see if there is increased footfall in pubs/clubs with bagatelle tables.    If anyone has suggestions as to how we measure the success or failure of the magazine once it's produced, please let us know.  

Shaun Done proposed the statement of accounts be accepted, this was seconded by Jake McNicholas and carried unanimously.  

3. Any Other Business

Before the proposal was considered, the chairman informed the meeting that the league will start on Wednesday, 16th October 2019 and break for Christmas after games played on Wednesday, 11th December 2019.   League games will resume on Wednesday, 8th January 2020, and all games should be completed well before Chester Races which start on Tuesday, 5th May 2020.

Nine teams will definitely be entering the Winter League, namely Bawn Lodge, Bridgewater, Olde Cottage, Egerton Arms, St. Theresa's, St. Werburgh's, Spital Vaults, Union Vaults and United Services.   The Big Hand Alehouse may enter a team, they are currently trying to put one together and they have about a week to do so, otherwise we'll have to go ahead and produce the fixtures without them.    I will be in touch with them this week.     

Proposal

One proposal was received this year, and a notice and voting form has been in all pubs and clubs for some time.  The chairman read out the proposal received from Neil Davies on 28th August, regarding postponed games.  The proposal was in three parts...

1. No games to be postponed.   

2. If 1 is not agreed to, for any games that a team wishes to postpone, the request must be made at least 24 hours before the game.    (Note: the wording is slightly different from the original proposal, the meeting agreed a clarification was needed from the original which stated "24 hours notice must be given".

3. All postponed games must be played before the last fixtures of the season.

Following the slight amendment to the second part, voting proceeded and was as follows...

Part 1)  Votes for 2, votes against 5 ............. REJECTED

Part 2)  Votes for 6, votes against 1 .............  CARRIED / APPROVED

Part 3)  Votes for 6, votes against 1 ............  CARRIED / APPROVED

Therefore parts 2 and 3 will be added to the rules and will apply for this coming season and henceforth.

Nick Allen asked why the committee had originally said that players from the Bawn Lodge A team (which folded during the season) would be allowed to join Bawn Lodge B who were themselves in danger of folding, and then the decision was reversed so that they could not.   The chairman said it was a case of heart ruling head initially and that's why the committee originally agreed to it, but then it was pointed out that the rules state no transfers can be made after 31st December and it would set a dangerous precedent if we allowed players to transfer over, so we reversed the decision.

There being no other business raised, the Chairman thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 9.10pm when a hotpot with red cabbage and bread rolls was served.   Thanks go to Dawn and Linda from the Union Vaults for providing the food which was truly excellent.

I would also like to thank John Kenyon and everyone at St. Werburgh's Club for hosting this years AGM / Presentations.          The Presentations took place straight after the food.
 

END OF MINUTES