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July 2013 Meeting Minutes

Published July 2013

Minutes of the Committee Meeting of the DBA held on Thursday 11 July 2013 at the Isca Centre.

Present: Howard Kent-Webster (Chairman), George Simnett (vice-Chairman), Terence Treeby (Hon Secretary), Vivien Peters (Hon Treasurer), Ros Morgan (West), Keith Ponsford (East), Jeanine Keith (Tournament Administrator), Paul Ainsworth, Pam Ward (South), Andrew Leslie (Education).

1. Apologies. Denis Davey, John Boxall, David Clarke, Neil Marsden (North), Terry Cannon (South), Dick Andrews (Clubs).

2. Minutes

2.1 of meeting of 19 Mar 2013. Agreed and signed.
2.2 of special meeting of 16 Jun 2013. Agreed and signed.

3. Matters arising

3.1. (Mar 5.2.) Barnstaple borrowed bridgemates for a demonstration and may well be applying for help to proceed.
3.2. (Mar 6.1.) What insurance exists for county and section trophies?

4. New committee and sub-committees

At the AGM Howard Kent-Webster was elected as Chairman, George Simnett as vice-Chairman Terence Treeby as Hon. Secretary. At a special meeting immediately afterwards Vivien Peters was co-opted as Hon. Treasurer. Dick Andrews was re-elected as County Club Representative to serve on the EBU Regional Club Committee.
Jeanine Keith was co-opted as a committee member.
The sub-committees were confirmed as follows :
Tournament Sub-Committee Jeanine Keith (Tournament Administrator), Terence Treeby. Financial questions will routinely be referred to the Hon Treasurer.
Education Sub-Committee Andrew Leslie, Carol Ritzen
Selection Sub-Committee Warner Solomon, Ruth Edmondson, Terence Treeby, Bill Ellis
Congress Sub-Committee Marion Kelsey, Terence Treeby, Mike Kelsey with Pam Ward as reserve entries secretary.
Technology sub-committee George Simnett, Paul Ainsworth, Ruth Edmondson, Jayne Kent-Webster
EBU Regional Club Committee Dick Andrews
Conduct Sub-Committee: Steve Quinn, Bill Ellis, Maureen Baser, Geoff White, George Simnett.
Disciplinary Sub-Committee: Howard Kent-Webster, Robin Barker, Andrew Leslie, Paul Ainsworth, Ann Slee.

5. AGM

5.1. The proposal to the AGM that for the year from April 2014 the DBA P2P component will remain at 3p; the club subscription will remain at zero was accepted. Review at March 2014 meeting.
5.2. The Committee proposal re Constitution to conform with EBU requirements and suggestions: Remove second bullet of clause 13 (Licences) following change in EBU bye-laws was accepted.
5.3. A discussion on psyching and how clubs and county should deal with reported hands was referred to the committee for clarification and recommendations. A report was prepared with Robin Barker’s help and circulated. The committee agreed to maintain a register of hands recorded at any club or county event and to circulate the report to clubs.

6. Treasurer’s Report

6.1. The Chairman and Treasurer had met with Tony Rusbridge who is acting as independent examiner on the accounts and as adviser to the Treasurer.
6.2. Committee agreed that in future cheques would be signed by any 2 of 3 nominated signatories and suitable arrangements made to ensure continuous access to internet banking.
6.3. It was agreed that sections' accounting practices and procedures would revert to those set out in clause 9 of the DBA Constitution as soon as practicable. The Treasurer will make the appropriate arrangements with the section treasurers.
6.4. Pay to Play invoices will be cross-checked with event organisers and assigned to sections even if paid centrally.
6.5. Vivien Peters was congratulated on her efficiency in producing the AGM account and making progress with ongoing matters.
6.6. It was confirmed that EBU affiliation fees for 2013-14 would be refunded to each affiliated club.

7. Secretary’s Report and Correspondence (including Shareholders’ report on EBU matters)

7.1. Annual County return sent to EBU naming officers, contacts etc. It was agreed that in future the Hon Secretary would also be Membership Secretary (proposed Paul Ainsworth, seconded Pam Ward).
7.2. There are 2 new affiliated clubs at least one of which was influenced by the incentive of 6.6.
7.3. (EBU) (i) Shareholders May 5 year Strategy Document Bidding for the Future; (ii) Blue Book slimmer and revised to replace Orange Book in Aug 2013 and also revised White Book. Summaries in August magazine; (iii) budgets on target at least; (iv) new VP scales from 1 Sep 2013; (v) licence fees 2013/14; (vi) youth etc charity update; (vii) Next meeting (AGM) 2 Oct which Hon Sec will attend.
7.4. Report on County Chairman’s Conference June 2013. To be circulated for next meeting.
7.5. Agreed to propose Robin Barker to EBU Laws and Ethics Committee at next EBU AGM.
7.6. The education sub-committee will review the list of teachers’ names on website and appropriate links
to ensure that entries are restricted to and clearly distinguish between accredited / affiliated teachers
7.7. Clubs who have equipment part-funded by DBA are reminded of the county’s expectations with regard to use for county events.
7.8. Form submitted to EBU to request / inform congress date in 2015..

8. Section Reports

8.1 East. Nothing to report.
8.2. South. Committee asked South to review the decision not to use bridgemates at the Winter Pairs. League will be moving to 4th Monday. Clubs within reach who do not play on Mondays will be approached directly. Paul Ainsworth wishes to hand over the running of the league. Sim pairs raised a new high of £1620.51 in the 5 events (68% of the table money plus over £600 of donations). Paul Ainsworth was congratulated on his work on behalf of the county and the South.
8.3. West. Brochures for the main and Really Easy congresses are in circulation.
8.4. North. No report submitted.

9. Sub-committee reports

9.1. Tournament Administrator report circulated and accepted.
9.2. Selection Sub-Committee reported a relatively successful season (A good Tollemache qualifier; Western League A won 4 matches; B won 5 matches; C won 5 all out of 7) and start on work to prepare A and B pool lists for 2013-14 and selection for matches. Sections will be informed as soon as possible and are reminded that A pool players with the exception of the Tollemache team are eligible to play in B team matches. Sections are asked to liaise with Bill Ellis as selector with special interests in B and C.
An inconclusive discussion of the Selection Sub-Committee role in pools of actual and potential B and C team players followed.

9.3 Education Sub-Committee
(i) Agreed to offer support to clubs sending trainee directors to the EBU courses at Newton Abbot. Limited to 4 trainees per club. Officers to agree details.
(ii) Andrew Robson dates of 4 days 29 Sep to 2 Oct 2014 accepted, with financial conditions to be set later.
(iii) Michael Byrne dates of 3 days 26-28 Sep confirmed. Charges for sessions were agreed and the sub-committee and venues will proceed with detailed arrangements. The workshops on Sat 28 Sep will be open to members of potential C team standard and above and not restricted to invitees.
9.4. Congress Sub-Committee
Quote for hotel rates for 2014 Congress accepted (same rates as 2013). Recommend pricing for 2014 at same level for pairs and full congress with a small increase of £2 per team for teams only. Quote of £182 for printing 800 brochures accepted (reduced from 1000 due to intention to issue e-brochures to last year’s entries). Agreed to continue with advert in December EBU magazine. Agreed to buy 10 new tables to replenish ageing stock.
9.5. Technology sub-committee no report
9.6. EBU Regional Club Committee
One county provides name badges for Western League players.
9.7. Conduct and Disciplinary Sub-Committees: nothing to report.

10. Calendar 2013-14

10.1. Final calendar version accepted to go to printers (quote of £270.83 confirmed).

11. Any Other Business None

12. Next meetings

12.1. Tue 17 Sep. Apologies Jeanine Keith, Keith Ponsford
12.2. Wed 27 Nov.