Minutes of the Committee Meeting of the DBA held on Wednesday 13 July 2010 at the Isca Centre.
Note : These are draft minutes awaiting approval at the next meeting.

Preamble The meeting on 20 June was not a valid AGM due to lack of quorum. Advice was sought from the EBU and relevant actions in this meeting follow that advice.

Present Terry Cannon, Titch Glenday (East), Paul Ainsworth (South). John Boxall, Denis Davey (North).

1. ApologiesKeith Ponsford (East), Pam Ward (South), John Lankshear, Jon Dixon (West).

2. New Committee Minutes of meeting of 30 Nov 2009 were taken as read and signed as a correct record after minor amendments.

2.1. Section representative are East : Terry Cannon, Keith Ponsford (deputy Titch Glenday). South : Pam Ward, Paul Ainsworth. West : Jon Dixon, John Lankshear. North : John Boxall, Denis Davey [note : Terry Hammett has retired]

2.2. Under Constitution 7(g), the confirmed that the vice-Chairman and Hon Secretary will serve on the committee in those positions until the next AGM.

2.3. Co-option of Chairman and Hon Treasurer will be left until after nominations close for the new AGM. John Lankshear has agreed to continue to act as Treasurer until the new AGM.

Joined the meeting at this point David Hugo (vice Chairman, in the Chair), Terence Treeby (Hon. Sec.).

3. Minutes Minutes of meeting of 31 Mar 2009 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

4. Matters arising from last meeting

4.1. (Mar 3.1). Andrew Robson is not available until 2011; Ron Klinger’s availability to be monitored.

4.2. (Mar 8.1). Affiliation : Caen have now re-affiliated; the current standing is 20 clubs with an membership of 1296 (EBU June figure) out of a club membership of 2076. This gives a projected P2P income for Devon £1733.

Other matters arising are dealt with in separate agenda items.

5. Treasurer's report

5.1. Pay To Play payments from the clubs have started flowing : £84.90 for April, £127.74 for May. Not all clubs have completed all submissions so these are probably less than the future average income. .

5.2. The Treasurer was unable to attend.

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

6.1. The meeting on 20 June was not an AGM due to lack of quorum. With the exception of Chairman’s Report and Presentation of Prizes [minuted as a General Meeting of Members – see Appendix A], the business required by the Constitution needs to be conducted at a new AGM on a date when a quorum of 65+ members can reasonably be expected to attend. A statement was issued to members via the clubs and the website [Appendix B].
The committee agreed to call the 2010 AGM at 6.30 pm on Friday 1 October at Isca, to be followed by the first round of the East Section league. Notices will be sent in due course and also included in the new handbook.

6.2. The committee reconfirmed the proposal that for the year from April 2011 the DBA P2P component remain at 3p; the club subscription will be nil.

6.3. The committee agreed to propose changes to the Constitution specified in Appendix C [wording changes required by the EBU without change of meaning].

6.4. The committee agreed to propose changes to the Constitution specified in Appendix D [this is taken in its entirety from the current EBU model constitution and is needed to comply with the law].

6.5. The committee agreed to propose changes to the Constitution specified in Appendix E [quorum change from 5% to 40 members].

6.6. Annual county return can only be completed on a provisional basis.

6.7. The Committee agreed that the rules for Section leagues need no changes but remind organisers and players that (i) bridge-related matters are covered by the EBU White Book, (ii) a registered player may act as a substitute in a higher division.

6.8. Letters concerning the future composition of the DBA committee and future competitions deferred until next meeting as they refer to actions for 2011-2012. Also review of ways of conducting committee business.

6.9. The committee confirmed that any bona fide member (including anonymous members) of a DBA affiliated club is by default a DBA member and can take part in any county competition.

6.10. Some clubs seem unable to affiliate even though they want to – information being sought.

6.11. County P2P submissions. There was a delay in processing Devon’s congress submission; this was finally resolved in week beginning 21 June.

6.12. duplimate. Cheque for £89 needed for playing cards to be collected at Brighton. Teething problems with new operators being sorted.

6.13. email from Jim Grant / Stefan Lindfors thanking county for supporting Corwen entry (which they won). They are listed as Corwen winners in the new handbook.

6.14. From 2011-12 the EBU propose bringing NICKO and Garden Cities rules in line with our Teams of 8 rule.

6.15. new-type EBU licence application form now available to download.

S6.16. EBU Board minutes 20 Jan.

S6.17. Shareholder minutes 9 Mar. 570 clubs as at 9 Mar. EBU, representation and voting (also discussed at Chairmen’s meeting). Update on masterpoints and licensing. Next meeting 1 July which Secretary / Shareholder was unable to attend. Draft minutes not yet available.

6.18. Presentation by EBU Education Working Group to Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset at Isca at 2 pm on Wed 15 Sep. Agreed to approach teachers re attending.

7. Section Reports

7.1. Sections have filed AGM minutes and accounts. No specific reports from most sections.

7.2. South : 2011-2012 Charity Sim Pairs under review. It may need to revert to 2 days to comply with revised licensing regulations. Letter of thanks from Devon Air Ambulance for £1131 raised in 2009-2010.

8. Congress

8.1. 2010 Congress. All hotel rooms sold with several refusals. Entries 88 pairs, 53 teams (up from 58 and 42). Advert for £345 in EBU magazine attracted many responses. Newcomers’ Pairs cancelled – no entries. Account showing £2419 profit tabled.

8.2. 2011 Congress. Committee confirmed Congress sub-committee of T Treeby, P Ward, M and M Kelsey. Palace Hotel have agreed to deal with room booking. Meeting requested by hotel manager with congress sub-committee. Draft brochure tabled. Costs to be fixed before going to press. Printing estimate £177.35 +VAT (same cost as last year) accepted. Draft budget (tabled). Agreed to set bridge fees as same as last year.

8.3. 2012 Congress. 13-15 Apr 2012 confirmed with Palace and EBU.

9. Expenses and Selection matters

9.1. 2010 and ongoing Tollemache selection : The following agreed to serve : Warner Solomon, Ruth Edmondson, David Hugo, Terence Treeby.

9.2. 2010-11 Western League. Agreed that the selection committee will select the A teams for the Western League primarily from a pool of 7 leading pairs. Teams will be selected soon and circulated to Sections for their B and C selections.

9.3. Devon teams entries soon. Also Jack and Jill..

10. Handbook 2010-2011

10.1. printing estimate £387.17 for 1600 copies (will reduce because it appears print order will be 1400) accepted.

10.2. Agreed to change 2 pages of text for this year to incorporate Notice of AGM. Final version confirmed for sending to printers.

10.3. dates provisionally reserved with Isca 18 Sep, 30 Jan, 27 Feb, 19 Jun. Western league to be added via Tournament Administrator.

11. Any other business

11.1. None.

12. Next meetings

12.1. Wed 8 Sep at 6.30 pm (note new time) preceded by Devon Teams (WMN) draw.

12.2. new 2010 AGM Fri 1 Oct at 6.30 pm

12.3. Tue 30 Nov at 6.30 pm preceded by Devon Teams Plate draw.

Appendices (pdf)

Terence Treeby
DBA Hon Sec

Top