Report of AGM and Council Meeting

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Roger Bray and Bill Arliss with their Council Medals (Photo: Christopher Roberts)

The AGM started promptly at 11am at Hurlingham on Saturday 19^th October, with 61 people attending. The Chairman of Council, Jeff Dawson, gave its annual report in two parts, with an opportunity for questions and discussion after each.

The first part covered the general work of Council and its committees, emphasising:

• the report of the AC regeneration working party, which reports from the floor indicated that some clubs had taken on board and found useful;
• involvement with the WCF GC Rules Committee's revision process and trial of an alternative wrong-ball law. It seemed clear that the current revision was likely to be a tidying up exercise, whereas in discussion it seemed that a more fundamental review was wanted;
• the AC World Championship and the efforts and generosity of the clubs hosting it.

He then went on to outline the concerns raised by the Federation Working Party and announce that three club conferences were being arranged to consider them. The extensive discussion and straw polls taken at the end of it suggested that the majority of those present were happy with the constitutional changes suggested and felt that there was a case for looking at boundary changes, but were less convinced about the idea of restructuring the CA's income by (a) increasing the subscription paid by individual members of clubs, (b) decreasing the amount paid by Individual Tournament members, and (c) extending the principle of pay-to-play to Federation events.

Roger Bray gave his Treasurer's report, briefly commenting on the 2012 accounts, explaining that Council had decided to simplify the balance sheet by closing the Benefactors' Fund and reduce the amount held in the Development and International funds. He anticipated a modest surplus this year, but 2014 was not looking good. There was a brief discussion of how the accounts should be published.

The constitutional changes were overwhelmingly agreed, after it was stated that the intention was that the CA should still be able to select Great Britain teams.

Those standing for re-election to Council were unopposed and the vacancy was filled by co-opting Robin Brown at the start of the Council meeting. Peter Wilson and Brian Christmas were welcomed as new Federation Representatives, for the North West and West Midlands respectively.

The Steel Bowl was presented to Francois Garcia (Bowdon); the Apps Bowl to Nick Mounfield (Bygrave) and the Spiers Trophy to Harry Dodge (Nailsea). Ken Cooper will be given a Lifetime Coaching Award. The Apps Heley Award was shared between Fylde and West Worthing; Rother Valley got the Townsend Award and Nottingham the Millennium Award. Diplomas were awarded to Les and Alwen Bowker (Cheltenham), the late Susan Edwards (Cheltenham), John Handy (Kenilworth and Nottingham), Zoe Hawkins (Ramsgate), Jonthan and Chrissy Isaacs (Sussex County), Paul Miles (Medway), Neil Morrison (Swindon), John and Jo Munt (Preston), David Parkins (Medway) and Hilary and Tim Smith (Compton).

Bill Arliss and Roger Bray were then presented with Council Medals in recognition of their outstanding service.

The only item of AOB was to congratulate Chris Roberts, the new editor of the Gazette, on his first few issues.

The President, Quiller Barrett, in his closing address, thanked Liz Larsson and her colleagues in the Office; mentioned the excellent community involvement of the Swindon Club; expressed his pleasure at the creation of an AC international development squad; and ended by wishing the England MacRobertson Shield team every success in the forthcoming test matches. The trophy was on display en-route to New Zealand. He then closed the meeting at 13:15, which made it the longest for many years.

The Council meeting in the afternoon was shorter, consisting mainly of formal business, though there was a useful discussion of how to review committees' policies and objectives. The Chairmen of Council and its committees were re-elected, with the exception that Martin French has taken on the Equipment and GC Laws Committees and David Maugham has resumed chairmanship of the AC Selection Committee.

There was, however, one significant item of other business. In response to a request from several clubs which host CA events, the lawn and ball hire fee will increase from £25 to £30 for 2014, to reflect increased maintenance costs, and then be reviewed annually. This will be funded by an increase in entry fees for CA events.