Minutes of the Committee Meeting of the DBA held on Wednesday 5 December 2007 at the Isca Centre.
Note : These are draft minutes awaiting approval at the next meeting.

Devon Teams Plate Draw. This was made prior to the start of the meeting.
Present Keith Ponsford (in the Chair, East), Terence Treeby (Hon. Sec.), Terry Cannon (East), David Hugo (West), Paul Ainsworth, Pam Ward (South)

1. Apologies John Lankshear (Hon. Treas.), Tim Walton (Paul Ainsworth deputised), John Boxall, Terry Hammett, Rosemary Caddy.

2. Minutes of meeting of 4 September 2007 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

3. Matters arising from last meeting

3.1. (Sep 3.1). Duplimate : the North have ordered one for delivery mid-January. This should ensure that all County events requiring boards (eg Plymouth congress) should now get them.
3.2. (Sep 3.2). West subsidised seminar early in 2008 – section progressing but nothing fixed yet. Committee to consider (a) how we can help teachers start teaching and (b) a package whereby a prominent teacher (e.g. Andrew Robson) is available within the county to all sections over, say, a 4-day period. Discussion held over.
3.3. (Sep 3.4). Vacancy for Tournament Secretary not filled. Hon Sec and Hon Treas named to share taking entries. Keep looking for a volunteer.
3.4. (Sep 3.5). Ann Slee will do the magazine report for a final 12 months only. A possible replacement is being contacted.
3.5. (Sep 3.6). North Devon weekend : the requirement that all entrants be members of the EBU has been restored.
3.6. (Sep 3.9). Website now prepared; no info on uptake yet.
3.7. (Sep 3.11). 2008 Congress brochure in circulation – copies to members.
3.8. (Sep 3.13). We are still seeking suitable candidates for the next available county directing course.
3.9. (Sep 4.3). Devon Pivot Teams was cancelled with fewer than 7 entries by 16 September.

4. Treasurer’s report

4.1. The Treasurer’s report was tabled. Account balances £1787.04 + £24278.85.
4.2. Discussion next time on duplimate charges for non DBA events and operator’s rates.

5. Secretary’s report and correspondence (including shareholder’s report on EBU matters)

5.1. The Secretary attended the EBU AGM on 3 Oct. Full minutes will be on the EBU website shortly.(a) some counties resent Krys Kasmierczak visiting their clubs!
(b) Chairman (Stocken), vice (Bugden), Treasurer (Hill), Directors and Committees elected
(c) Subscriptions set for next year; note that no surcharge for not paying by direct debit
(d) Selection committee refused an extra £19k
(e) Next meetings Wed 25 Mar, EGM re strategy Wed 4 Jun, AGM Thu 2 Oct
(f) Youth committee to be appointed by Board – large majority preferred this to election
(g) Tournament committee justified changes to Ranked Pairs and National Teams [to encourage new tournament players]; also hospitality next year at Brighton [seeking sponsor to help]
(h) There will be law changes from 1 Aug 2008
(i) More information to follow on charitable status for EBU and/or clubs
(j) Strategy document – see separate agenda item5.2. Western League (i) match v East Wales : communications problems led to our C team not knowing that the A and B matches had been cancelled and to Isca charging all players for food when they should have invoiced the Treasurer. An apology has been sent to East Wales and they will be reclaiming their meal expenses from the Treasurer. (ii) Selector to be asked to provide sections with a list of the A team pool players; (iii) Selector to be asked for a report on the pool system for the May meeting so we can consider how to operate in 2008-09.
5.3. Confirmed congress date is as per brochure – changed after EBU diary went to press. EBU magazine and website have been told. Overlap with Mercian holiday starting Sunday at the same hotel being investigated.
5.5. Calendar – usual procedure agreed.

6. Section Reports

6.1. South : (i) Sims clubs slightly down but extra donations mean amount raised is holding up;
(ii) A team inadvertently fielding an ineligible player in a league match was penalised by having 5 VP’s transferred to the opposition after advice from the EBU;
(iii) The following change to league rule 4.2 was agreed :
4.2. In all divisions except the top Division, no substitute may be of higher EBU rank than the highest ranked registered player in the two teams in the match, unless agreed by the opposing captain before the start of the match. For this purpose, the “star” grades within each ranking are ignored.
(iv) (held over for May) an increase in expenses for Western League matches is proposed
6.2. North : see 3.1.
6.3. East : July swiss teams provisionally booked for Exmouth.
6.4. West : Plymouth Congress just viable with 30 pairs and 18 teams. 14 teams at Heart swiss.

7. EBU Strategy Document

7.1. Revised proposals October 2007.
(a) clarification that the proposals are income neutral
(b) “… substantial decrease of … 43p …” Consultation with clubs will determine amount (see 7.3)
(c) parties and charity events exempt
(d) reduction of about 10p in P2P for social clubs who do not issue Master Points
(e) Rebate for those who play more than 150 times per year in clubs
(f) English Bridge to be made more relevant to members; not practical to offer a no-magazine alternative
(g) Counties to set own part of P2P (this may be changed)
(h) Flat fee of £30 for club affiliation
(i) Clubs may find it an advantage to register for VAT in order to recover VAT on P2P
(j) P2P for leagues as part of entry fee. Teams of 4 (allowing up to 6 players) £5 (ie per season)
(k) £5 registration removed. Anonymity available to all members but they will pay full P2P and not get any mailings (including no diary or magazines)
(l) No P2P for playing sessions supervised by an EBUTA teacher
(m) Alternative options were considered but rejected (i) universal membership with annual sub : costs too high;
(ii) 2-tier membership : failed when piloted; (iii) hybrid (part sub, part P2P) : needs two types of admin
7.2. The Secretary attended the EBU AGM on 3 Oct. Full minutes will be on the EBU website shortly. This considered the revised proposals formulated following the initial round of consultations. It was agreed by the meeting that universal membership is the aim and that the strategy is the tactics.
Each county spoke, some repeating points already made, but including
(a) EBU need to be trusted; EBU to be transparent in their finances
(b) Smaller clubs will need convincing; do not antagonise social clubs
(c) Better marketing will be needed
(d) A business plan will be needed (see 7.1)
(e) Several counties had met with their clubs collectively
(f) High risk strategy; is there a Plan B?
(g) Compare the extra table money to petrol costs
7.3. What happens next(1)? Clubs have been approached via their counties for accurate details so that the sub-committee can formulate a detailed financial plan together with implementation and transition costs. Not all have replied yet and it has been found that not all of our listed clubs have affiliated for the current year.
7.4. What happens next(2)? The financial plan is expected by 1 May. We need to find the views of clubs during May. It was agreed that it is geographically impractical to arrange a meeting and, if possible, a simple Q&A sheet be sent to each club, to be returned within a week.
7.5. What happens next(3)? There is an EGM of EBU shareholders on Wed 4 Jun which will vote on the strategy proposals. The county’s 2 votes will be cast on the advice of the results of 7.4.

8. Any Other Business

8.1. Request from Kingsbridge and Regal for Directors courses; Secretary to investigate.
8.2. Coverage of Strategy in Sunday Telegraph and Today programme reported.

9. Next meeting

9.1. Wed 7 May at 7.30

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