Report of March Council Meeting

[<<] [>>] by Ian Vincent
31st March 2009 (CqE Official News)

Council met on 28th March at Hurlingham with glorious spring sunshine outside. Patricia Duke-Cox, the Chairman, cunningly sat opposite the mirror so that she could see hands raised on both sides of the table. In opening the meeting she welcomed Cliff Jones back after his illness.

Bernard Neal, the President, informed the meeting that he intended to retire with effect from the AGM, because he felt he no longer had the stamina required to meet the exceptional demands of hosting the
MacRobertson Shield. Patricia expressed Council's regret but understanding of his decision. Roger Bray proposed that he should be accorded the title of Past President and invited to attend Council meetings.

Jonathan Isaacs gave notice that he also intended to resign from Council at the AGM and it was Julian Tonk's last meeting as Representative of the Northern Federation.

The 2008 accounts were approved for submission to the AGM and the 2009 budget confirmed. Although 2010 looks as though it may be a difficult year, it was decided not to increase subscriptions, though entry and course fees may be reviewed later this year. Half the cost of the office extension will be met from the Benefactors' Fund.

The office extension is now in use and the office staff were thanked for their forbearance during the work.

A number of decisions by committees were reported by Barry Keen, the Chairman of the Management Committee:

a) Coaching courses are to be opened to non-Associates, but at extra cost and only if there are spaces after priority booking for Associates.

b) The guidelines for the automatic handicapping system are being revised to include more games, particularly those involving overseas players.

c) Motions about drugs policy, the MacRobertson Shield and World Team Championship, and common processes for changes to AC Laws and GC Rules have been submitted to the WCF Council meeting in May.

d) John Spiers has donated a trophy for the most improved Golf Croquet player each year and is organising, and underwriting a major part of the cost of, a bid to hold a Golf Croquet World Championship at Hurlingham and Surbiton in 2011.

e) Hoop specifications are to be relaxed to allow 3/4" uprights.

A report from the Juniors Working Party was considered and its recommendations, including mentoring and a bursary scheme, adopted.

Amendments to the CA Constitution will be proposed at the AGM so that Individual Associates no longer need to be elected and Regional Representatives are renamed Federation Representatives, to reflect common
usage.