DEVON BRIDGE ASSOCIATION
Annual General Meeting
held on Sunday 17 June 2007 at the Isca Centre
draft minutes awaiting approval at the 2008 AGM

Present Mr K.Ponsford (Chairman) Mr J.Lankshear (Hon Treasurer) Mr T.Treeby (Hon Secretary) and about 45 members

1. Apologies Terry Cannon, Tim and Pat Walton, Pam and Geoff Ward, Nigel Hamlyn, Ruth Edmondson, Alan and Jette Bailey, Bill Ellis.

2. Minutes The minutes of the 2006 AGM were taken as read and signed as correct.

3. Matters arising none

4. Chairman’s report The Chairman reported on the events of the past year with all county competitions running successfully. The Devon Charity simultaneous pairs had raised £825 for the Children’s Hospice South West and he hoped more clubs could be encouraged to take part. He thanked all of those who had worked for bridge in the County in the past year. He highlighted the present vacancies for Tournament Secretary and Youth Officer but there were no volunteers. He gave a brief outline of the very recent strategy document from the EBU for proposed implementation in 2010. No discussion took place as the document was so recent. The County was asked to check if the EBU is circulating clubs and to co-ordinate reactions for presentation to the EBU in October.

5. Presentation of prizes The Chairman presented the trophies to the following competition winners (other trophies having been presented at the events) :

Western Morning News for Devon Teams : A.Bailey, J.Bailey, J.Grant, S.Lindfors

The Devon Teams Plate : R.Mardlin, M.Mardlin, W.Oke, J.Foster

The Kevin and Ann Slee Trophy (Victor Ludorum) A.Slee

Swiss Teams trophy was presented at the end of the event to C.Taylor, W.Davis, J.MacTaggart, J.Adams.

6. Elections etc J.Lankshear was re-elected as Hon Treasurer and T.Treeby as Hon Secretary. Sue Dillingham was re-elected as auditor.

7. Treasurer’s report The Treasurer’s report was presented explained and discussed. DBA currently receives £3 from individual members and £1 from affiliated clubs. Clubs also pay £20 to EBU. The accounts were accepted.

8. Motion proposed by Jean Whitlam seconded by Nigel Hamlyn. If a disqualification occurs in a County event, it should be clearly stated in writing prior to any competition taking place what method of recalculation the county will use in deciding the eventual winner. This method should be applied whatever the final position of the disqualified members.

Mrs Whitlam spoke to the motion, the Secretary outlined the present position as regards The Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. After some discussion the motion was defeated on a show of hands by about 18 to 10.

9. Motion proposed by Jean Whitlam seconded by Nigel Hamlyn. If a situation occurs as described in motion 8 and if prize money is involved, that money should go to the eventual winner as described by the recalculation.

The motion was carried on a show of hands by about 17 to 5.

10. Motion proposed by Jean Whitlam seconded by Nigel Hamlyn. Copies of Minutes of the Association’s committee meetings should be provided to every affiliated club’s Secretary to enable them to be placed on the relevant club notice board and thus be available for every member to read.

The motion was carried with one vote against on the understanding that the minutes would be draft minutes not yet signed off by the next meeting.

11. Motion concerning EBU subscriptions was withdrawn.

12. Motion proposed by Jean Whitlam seconded by Nigel Hamlyn. Members chosen to represent the county in competitions should be named. Results are put on the web page so surely those taking part can also be shown at the same time.

The motion was carried.

13. Any Other Business. (a) The Committee agreed not to seek an increase in County subscriptions or affiliation fees.; (b) The Committee passed a change to the rule for the Garden Cities qualifier from 2007 requiring team members to have played at the club they represent 12 times in the previous year. This has been reduced to 10 from 2008 and the competition renamed (more accurately) Devon Club Teams of 8 Championship; (c) The meeting agreed to rename the Victor Ludorum Trophy as The Kevin and Ann Slee Trophy (Victor Ludorum).

The meeting closed at 11.51 pm.

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