Minutes of the Committee Meeting of the DBA held on Wednesday 8 April 2009 at the Isca Centre.
Note : These are draft minutes awaiting approval at the next meeting.

Present Amos Bridgman (in the Chair, North), Terence Treeby (Hon. Sec.), John Lankshear (Hon. Treas.), Terry Cannon, Keith Ponsford (East), David Hugo (West), Paul Ainsworth, (South), Terry Hammett (North).

1. Apologies John Boxall (North), Pam Ward (South), Jack Thompson (West).

2. Minutes Minutes of meeting of 25 Nov 2008 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

3. Matters arising from last meeting

3.1. (Nov 3.1). David Hugo has put his name in the Handbook as West’s nomination for Vice-Chairman.
3.2. (Nov 3.2). Andrew Robson Mon 30 March to Thur 2 April : see Treasurer’s report.
3.3. (Nov 3.3). Jeanine Keith has agree to be Tournament Administrator. Second Shareholder vacancy still not filled.
3.4. (Nov 3.6). Committee to review (a) new expenses rule for the 2009-2010 season ; (b) the selection of teams for the Tollemache from 2009-2010 onwards. See agenda item 9.
Keep looking for a volunteer.
3.5. (Nov 3.7). Western league : see agenda item 9.
3.6. (Nov 5.3). Possible 2-day green point events jointly with Cornwall : not at this time.
3.7. (Nov 5.7). Agreed to have professional posters for AGM and teams and for one day swiss.
3.8. (Nov 7). Congress : see agenda item 7.
3.9. (Nov 8) Future : see agenda item 8.

4. Treasurer’s report

4.1. The Treasurer’s report was presented. Account balances £7727.99 + £22680.30. This includes £3450 owed to Andrew Robson, plus congress income.
4.2. The Teams of 8 with 13 teams (a record for recent years) was a success, as was the Julia Chadwick with 34 pairs (an increase on 2008).

4.3. Andrew Robson’s visit was a success with 405 people attending. Gross income £3250, cost of Robson £3450. Agreed that it was money well spent. The Chairman thanked all those involved in the organization of the Robson visit.
4.4. The Hon Treasurer was authorised to find an independent examiner for this year’s accounts.

5. Secretary’s report and correspondence (including S shareholder’s report on EBU matters and T Tournament Secretary business)

T5.1. The committee agreed with the actions taken following the Devon Club Teams of 8 and thanked all those directly concerned for their gracious acceptance of the rulings. It was agreed that the statement on the website explained matters clearly and that the matter was considered closed.
S5.2. (Share Mar09). The ACBL teaching program is being adapted by its author Fred Gitelman to British systems and will soon be available free of charge via the EBU website.
S5.3. (Share Mar09). EBU is on schedule to become a Charity in April 2011.
S5.4. (Share Mar09). A first meeting has taken place of Parliamentary Group on development of bridge. Objectives : awareness of benefits to society especially young and old. Series of events planned.
S5.5. (Share Mar09). Review of fees for one day green point events : the Shareholder was instructed to vote for Devon to be allowed to retain the present system of self-financing rather than reverting to the old 50-50 system.
S5.6. (Share Mar09).  EBU Tournament Committee is reviewing all competitions in light of falling attendance and new membership.
5.7. (EBU) new licence fees for events, mostly raised in line with increasing costs.
5.8. EBU Master Point Ranking Lists 2008 now available online.

S5.9. Hon Sec to attend June Shareholders’ meeting, Chairman to attend Oct as proxy.

6. Section Reports

6.1. East. Woolcott successful, £174 surplus. Robson £1700 before expenses; final league 29 May; AGM 29 June.
6.2. West. Hard work to get anybody interested in helping or attending Robson; AGM end of May.
6.3. North. Good support for charity events - £500 for hospice; £480 from another event; best congress ever with £1200 surplus; Robson success; AGM 14 Apr.
6.4. South. Robson poorly attended (local players not bothered); league nearly over; Petit Congress broke even after later entries; Winter Pairs averaged 9 tables; Sims up on last year; next year’s charity to be decided at next meeting; AGM 27 May followed by special competition.

7. Congress

7.1. 2009 Congress. Hotel down on last year; entries  approaching last year’s level. Prizes will be adjusted accordingly.
7.2. 2010 and beyond : EBU has confirmed DBA’s claim for week 14 each year subject to not clashing with Easter.
7.3. The committee agreed to consider in July the financial effect if the pairs is converted to green point to replace the July one day event (the profit needs to be an extra £500). Hon Sec to bring costings based on recent years. Format of Friday evening to be considered.

7.4. The Chairman agreed to review hotel costings for 2010 and 2011.

7.5. Congress organiser from the 2011 Congress onwards : deferred.

8. The future of the EBU and DBA (Strategy document and Bidding For The Future)

8.1. The committee agreed that the Shareholder should continue to operate under the remit to vote FOR P2P / UM at any EBU meetings.

8.2. The EBU document Bidding For The Future is on the EBU website www.ebu.co.uk and reprinted in the Dec magazine. Reports of the BUMP (Board for Universal Membership Project) were tabled and noted. Members are reminded that the P2P fee represents an increase of about 16p and that EBU membership costs to players break even at over 100 plays.

8.3. There is now a Club Committee listening to the needs of clubs; it is working well and 2-way consultation is helping progress various items. Various deals have been offered to affiliated clubs by the EBU.

8.4. In order to implement P2P, and in preparation for UM,  the committee agreed  to propose to the AGM 4 amendments to the DBA constitution. They have all been submitted to the EBU’s constitution adviser and he sees no reason why the EBU Board should not accept them. These are listed separately in Appendix A.

8.5. The committee agreed to propose to the AGM that for the year from April 2010 the DBA P2P component will be 3p; the club subscription will be nil; and ,if relevant, the county element of the EBU subscription will remain at £3.

8.6. Paper master points issued on or after 1 Apr 2010 will not be valid. Electronic submission means are being notified directly to clubs; other methods will be released soon.

9. Expenses and Selection matters

9.1 Western league : confirmed that selection of teams for the Western League from 2009-2010 onwards would revert to each section selecting all 3 teams. The new Tournament Administrator will take responsibility for administration. The rota tabled by the Hon Sec for 2009 to 2012 was accepted. Agreed to pay 25p per mile per team of 4 for away matches. Hereford away match was cancelled twice; an apology has been sent.

9.2. "8 out of 15 rule". As this rule has only just started to take effect, it was agreed to retain it unaltered for the duration of the 2009-2010 handbook.

9.3. Tollemache selection. It was agreed that Tollemache selection for 2009 and 2010 would be determined by a trial or trials to be held on dates to be determined, involving mainly invited pairs. Details to be decided in July. There will be clear rules stating how selection for trials and the final team will be made.

10. Handbook 2009-2010

10.1 Agreed to modify the handbook in view of increased membership from 1 April 2010. 2009-2010 handbook will be issued to all players in Devon affiliated clubs (normal cost of £244 increases to £418). Drafts of new pages approved in principle. 

10.2 Agreed to retain the existing rule for Teams of 8 as it determines Devon’s Garden Cities entry and has to be consistent with EBU Garden Cities rules.

10.3. Final decision in July on (a) Northern heat of Winter Pairs with identical hands to South, to be scored across the board; (b) possible new competitions for new members.

10.4. Discussion held over on possible new competitions for new members for 2010-2011.

11. Any Other Business

It was suggested that the County’s surplus funds be used to promote bridge at all levels in the county.

12. Next meeting

10.1. AGM 14 June

10.2. Wed 8 July at Isca at 7.30pm.

Appendix A
Amendment 1 : to take effect from 1 April 2010 on the approval of the members and subject to approval by the EBU Board.

4)   MEMBERSHIP
(Note : this entire section to be replaced with the text from the 2009 EBU Model Constitution)

4. MEMBERSHIP

4.1 All members of the Association must be Player Members of the EBU.

4.2 A Player Member of the EBU shall become a member of the Association when their primary allegiance to the Association is recorded with the EBU.

4.3 A Player Member of the EBU whose primary allegiance is with another Association can become a member of the Association by meeting its terms and conditions in force at the time of the request for membership.

4.4 A member of the Association must be a paid up member for the relevant Membership Year in order to vote at its Annual General Meeting and to participate in its main competitions within that Membership Year.

4.5 The Membership Year shall run for the twelve month period from 1st April to 31st March.

4.6 A member of the Association becomes a paid up member through payment of any Association Pay to Play county component when participating in events at an affiliated Duplicate Bridge Club, and/or through payment of an annual subscription fee for their Association membership category.

4.7 If any Association member has not paid their annual subscription fee by 31st May then that Association member will not be able to vote at the following AGM as a paid up Association member.

4.8 An Association member ceases to be a paid up Association member on 31st May if at that date the Association member has not paid any outstanding annual subscription fee. That member can subsequently become a paid up Association member on payment of the current Membership Year’s subscription fee, but this late payment shall not override clause 4.7 above.

4.9 For the avoidance of doubt, if an Association member is within a membership category that has a nil Association Pay to Play county component and a nil annual subscription fee for a Membership Year, then that member shall automatically become a paid up Association member for that Membership Year.

4.10 The Association Pay to Play county component and each of the Association member category’s annual subscription fee, for the Membership Year starting in the following 1 April, shall be determined by a simple majority of the paid up members at the preceding Annual General Meeting.

4.11 The Association membership categories shall be as follows:

4.11.1 Ordinary Association Member-a Player Member of the EBU who has their primary allegiance recorded with the Association on 1st April of the Membership Year. An Ordinary Association Member shall also be a new Player Member of the EBU whose EBU membership start date is within the Membership Year and that member’s primary allegiance is recorded with the Association on their EBU membership start date.

4.11.2 Dual Member-a Player Member of the EBU who does not have their primary allegiance recorded with the Association by 1st April of the Membership Year.

Amendment 2 :  to take effect from 1 April 2010 on the approval of the members and subject to approval by the EBU Board.

4d) Honorary Membership
Members who have given distinguished service to the Association may be elected Honorary Members for Life by the Association in General Meeting. Proposals to this effect must first be submitted to and endorsed by the Central Committee. An Honorary Life Member shall receive from the Association a voucher valid at County events to the value of the direct subscription to the EBU.

Amendment 3 :  to take effect from 1 April 2010 on the approval of the members and subject to approval by the EBU Board, except that the clause concerning determination of subscriptions to take effect immediately.

5)   SUBSCRIPTIONS

• Members and dual members shall pay a Pay-to-Play component to the Association for all sessions played at and affiliated clubs in the county. 
• Affiliated clubs shall pay a subscription to the Association and the levy imposed by the Ebu on all members and clubs.  
• The annual subscriptions to the Association and the Pay-to-Play component shall be determined by the Central Committee and subject to its approval at the Annual General Meeting of the Association shall take effect in the following year.
   Only members of affiliated clubs are eligible to play in County competitions.

Amendment 4 :  to take effect immediately on the approval of the members and subject to approval by the EBU Board, except that the clause concerning determination of subscriptions to take effect immediately.

The second clause of 13 to be deleted.

Top