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July 2015 Meeting Minutes

Published July 2015

Minutes of the Committee Meeting of the DBA held on Wednesday 7 July 2015 at the Isca Centre.

Draft minutes awaiting approval at the next meeting.

Present: Michael Hamon (Chairman), George Simnett (vice-Chairman), Terence Treeby (Hon Secretary), Vivien Peters (Hon Treasurer, for items marked* only, taken out of order), David Clarke (North), Ros Morgan (West), Jeanine Keith (Tournament Administrator). Jean Whitlam was welcomed as a new East representative.

*1. Apologies. Clare Hamon (West), Paul Ainsworth, Geoff Clements (South), Terry Cannon (East). Jeanine Keith was co-opted to the committee as Tournament Administrator,

*2. Minutes of meeting 27 May 2015.

2.1. The minutes were then accepted and signed as correct.

3. Matters arising.

3.1. (May 3.1). Spreyton have started the process of affiliating. No further information on possible affiliation of Noss Mayo or Twixt Moors (Winkleigh and Chulmleigh).

3.2. (May 3.2./3.3.) The new Rule Book has been posted on the website. All events on the website have been audited and links to rules, etc checked and amended.

*3.3.( May 5.2.) Plymstock had submitted a copy invoice and agreed to the county using their bridgemates when required. The committee agreed to make a contribution to their costs. The committee agreed that future applications from clubs will not be considered retrospectively.

3.4.( May 7.4.) The North Section Committee is negotiating with EBED to hold director training in the section.

3.5.( May 5.4.) Letter of thanks from George Delafield for the financial support offered.

4. Constitution of new committee and formation of sub-committees. Includes annual review of Terms of Reference

4.1. (AGM 5.5.) The Hon Secretary, on behalf of the committee, listed current and forthcoming job vacancies: Congress organiser(s) (ideally now but Apr 2016 at the latest; Education sub-committee to replace Andrew Leslie and to organise any future Andrew Robson or Michael Byrne sessions tour from NOW (or July meeting); East section Chairman and second committee rep; Youth Officer; representative on EBU Counties Working Group; Treasurer from June 2016; Tournament Administrator from June 2016; duplimate organiser and operator.

4.2. New committee and sub-committees were confirmed or discussed.
(Re-)elected at AGM : Chairman Mike Hamon, vice Chairman George Simnett, Hon Secretary Terence Treeby, Hon Treasurer Vivien Peters
Section reps : East Terry Cannon and Jean Whitlam (new East Chairman), South Paul Ainsworth and Geoff Clements, West Ros Morgan and Clare Hamon, North John Boxall and David Clarke
Co-opted Jeanine Keith
Technology sub-committee [George Simnett, Paul Ainsworth, Ruth Edmondson]
EBU Counties Working Group / County Forum Dick Andrews was thanked for his efforts; the post was left vacant until the future of the system is clarified.
Tournament Sub-Committee [Jeanine Keith (Tournament Administrator), Terence Treeby , Vivien Peters]
Education Sub-Committee [Carol Ritzen]. The Chairman is negotiating with potential members of the sub-committee.
Selection Sub-Committee [Warner Solomon, Ruth Edmondson, Alison Pollok, Jeanine Keith (liaison)]
Congress Sub-Committee [Marion Kelsey, Terence Treeby, Mike Kelsey, Vivien Peters]. Shadows for 2016 Mike Hamon, Clare Hamon. Lead Organiser for 2017 Clare Hamon to be confirmed.
Conduct Sub-Committee: [Steve Quinn, Maureen Baser, George Simnett, Keith Ponsford, David Clarke]
Disciplinary Sub-Committee: [Michael Hamon, Howard Kent-Webster, Robin Barker, Paul Ainsworth, Ann Slee].
EBU Shareholders: Terence Treeby, Dick Andrews, Michael Hamon.
Youth Officer: Responsibility for youth matters included within the Education sub-committee.

4.3.Terms of reference: it was agreed to amend the first paragraph of the terms of reference of the Education subcommittee to "The Education sub-committee is responsible for carrying out the DBA’s policies on education and training, including youth matters."

4.4. Future vacancies: Treasurer from June 2016; Tournament Administrator from June 2016. Possible solutions were identified

5. AGM matters not covered elsewhere

5.1. The AGM approved the proposal that P2P from April 2016 will be 4p.

5.2. AGM minute 8 includes “Items raised in the discussion (non affiliated clubs, funding for encouraging younger players, reserves too high) were referred to the committee.” The committee agreed that the current arrangement of listing non-affiliated clubs on the website should continue without charge. Ways of encouraging younger players was left until the Education sub-committee is formed. Item 6.1. refers to the reserves.

*6. Treasurer's Report and Financial Matters

*6.1. The Treasurer reported o the state of the finances. The current account balance is £9958. The AGM (with Swiss teams event) cost £470 to stage.

*6.2. East and West had submitted budgets. It was agreed to defer consideration of reserves until a later meeting.

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

7.1. Revised lists have been circulated of committee etc contacts, affiliated clubs and non-affiliated clubs. It is possible that we will open a free gmail account for the county and use Google drive to hold these sort of documents.

S7.2. The Chairman reported on the EBU Chairmen’s meeting of 1 July. Matters not previously reported to Shareholders include : Regional Improvers’ Pairs initiative in North; judicial review of bridge as a sport 22 Sep; EBU would like county websites to display EBU logo (agreed that Devon should do this); County Working Groups to continue, using Skype or similar. A document highlighting “Best Practice for County Associations” was noted.

7.3. Jonathan Taylor (now living and teaching bridge in Devon) has been appointed Manager for EBUTA, the Bridge Teachers Association.

8. Calendar 2015-16

*8.1.(May 5.5.) Following a change in EBU entry fees for the Corwen, the entry fee for the Devon Pairs (Julia Chadwick) will revert to £12 pp (£15 on day)

8.2. Contact details on the calendar will be moved to the website; the printable version was amended and confirmed subject to confirmation of dates for North events. A clash with the DAA sim pairs in May was identified.

8.3. The date of 7-9 Apr for the 2017 Congress clashes with the EBU National Pairs Final that year. It was decided not to attempt to find an alternative.

9. Section Reports

9.1. (East) Jean Whitlam has been co-opted as Chairman and will represent the section on the DBA committee. The league is likely to be full or nearly full.

9.2. (North) A one-division league will be run.

9.3. (West) Plymouth Congress brochures circulated; the league will continue.

9.4. (South) Nothing new to report

10. Sub-committee reports

10.1. Technology sub-committee [George Simnett, Paul Ainsworth, Ruth Edmondson]
No report.

10.2. EBU Counties Working Group.[vacant]
See 7.2

10.3. Tournament Sub-Committee [Jeanine Keith (Tournament Administrator), Terence Treeby, Vivien Peters].
AGM swiss teams numbers were down from 15 to 9 teams.

10.4. Education Sub-Committee [Carol Ritzen]
The Hon Secretary was asked to contact Andrew Robson regarding dates in Oct 2016 or Mar 2017. The Education sub-committee asked to review teacher listing. No decision was taken on future Michael Byrne seminars. (May 8.4). Ongoing strategy for education (including schools and youth) and training held over.

10.5 Selection Sub-Committee [Warner Solomon, Ruth Edmondson, Alison Pollok, Jeanine Keith (liaison)]
No report

10.6. Congress Sub-Committee [Marion Kelsey, Terence Treeby, Mike Kelsey, Vivien Peters. Shadows for 2016 Mike Hamon, Clare Hamon.]
Congress report circulated. The committee confirmed: there will be only one break on Sunday and the finish will be 30 minutes earlier; the quote for printing a reduced number of brochures was accepted (£126 for 500 down from £148 for 600); there will be a small increase in fees and prize money; the draft brochure was approved.

10.7. Conduct Sub-Committee: [Steve Quinn, Maureen Baser, George Simnett, Keith Ponsford, David Clarke]
No report.

10.8. Disciplinary Sub-Committee: [Michael Hamon, Howard Kent-Webster, Robin Barker, Paul Ainsworth, Ann Slee].
No report.

11. Any Other Business.

11.1. A discussion on how to conduct very early director training (e.g. how to run a club movement and basic rules) was best left to individual clubs. .

12. Next meeting

*12.1. The next meeting will be at the Isca Centre at 6.30 pm on Mon 12 Oct. Committee members are sub-committees are asked to send documents for circulation to the Hon Sec by 21 Sept at the latest.

12.2. Feb or Mar. Hon Sec away 31 Jan to 24 Feb.