Cheadle & Gatley District Bowling League

Minutes of Annual General Meeting, 1998

27 January 1998, 8.00pm

Held at Cheadle Conservative Club

Present President, Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Veterans’ secretary, Treasurer and delegates

Absences Benchill Conservative, Cross Keys, Wembley

1.
The chairman asked delegates to stand for a few moments in memory of bowlers who had passed away. These included Ron Healey, Ken Brady.
2.
Roll-call – see above.
3.
Minutes of previous AGM. The minutes were read and approved. Proposed Stockport Cricket, seconded Edgeley Cons.
4, 5, 6
Secretary’s report. See attached notes.
Robinsons proposed a vote of thanks to the Secretary, which was passed unanimously.
7.
Veterans’ secretary’s report (Mr L. Shinner).
Due to green problems, Shaw Heath would only use one green, and their C team would play on Tuesdays.
Great Moor Conservative would have three teams, the C team playing at 11am. Marple Park objected to this, and pointed out that Rule 7 stated that matches should start at 2pm. They argued that this should have been proposed as a rule change, and they were also concerned that it may set a precedent. Much discussion followed, including a suggestion from Klondyke that 11am starts should only be allowed were a club had three teams. The Vets’ secretary pointed out that the proposal had been mentioned at the two previous meetings without any objection.
In conclusion, it was accepted that we were technically out of order. However the 11am start would be allowed for this year only, on probation and pending a formal rule change.
The merit qualifying round would be on one date again. There as not room in the calendar for another date. Anyway, the qualifiers would be expected to play four games on the final day, so they should be able to do so on the qualifying day.
It was decided to issue a replica for the Merit winner.
8
Treasurer’s report (Mr J Forrest)
The treasurer highlighted the salient features of the accounts.
A donation of £27.50 was anonymous, but matched an expenditure item.
Club fees were still owing from National Oilwells.
The Presentation night had made a surplus of £297, thanks mainly to the raffle.
The treasurer thanked Mike Broome of Deanprint, for their very economical printing of the handbooks etc.
Only £140 instead of £180 had been paid last year as Jennison Shield prize money – the treasurer’s mistake.
In view of the healthy surplus the treasurer proposed a reduction of £2 per team for next year.
9.
The accounts had been audited by Me D. Walker.
A vote of thanks to the treasurer was passed unanimously.
10.
Rule changes. Three rule changes (see attached sheet) were accepted with no votes against.
10.1
“19(i) If agreement has been reached between Clubs for rearrangement of a Match, the Match Secretary must be informed in writing with an agreed rearranged date for the match to be played. The new date shall not be later than two weeks after the last date for scheduled evening league matches.”
Proposed by the Secretary
10.2
“19... Failure to observe the above rule will render the defaulting Club(s) liable to a fine of £10.00 and deduction of the points scored in the offending match(es). Such instances to be referred to the Management Sub-Committee for ratification.”
Proposed by the Secretary, amendment proposed by Heald Green.
10.3
“2a Where a Club has more than one team no player can play for more than one team on the same day. Where match dates are rearranged, players who played for another team on the original date are not eligible.”
Proposed by the Secretary.
11
Election of Officers
The following officers were elected en bloc (proposed Robinsons, seconded Gatley)
12
Honariums
An all round increase of £10 was approved:–
13
Other matters
The Presentation night would be at Bungalow again.
The President appealed for adverts for the handbook.

The meeting closed at 9.10pm.

Secretary’s report, 27 January 1998

At least one of the letters notifying tonight’s meeting had no stamp on it. If there are any others I missed out, then I’m sorry. I did have a slight feeling after sticking the stamps on that there were more left than there should be. Actually, I’ve always got a funny feeling after licking 60 stamps.

Correspondence includes letters to other leagues to try to fit our programmes together. There won’t be a clash this year between the Bob Newlan Trophy and the S&D knock out. Discussions with other leagues don’t get any easier, and I’m grateful to Alan Bligh for taking most of this on, and sorting out the fixtures.

We had enquiries from two clubs about joining the league, but unfortunately these came to nothing, at least for this year.

Poynton WMC have withdrawn from the evening league. We’re sorry to see them go, I understand they have difficulty guaranteeing use of the green for matches. Bramhall Park have merged with Bramhall Queensgate, who will now have two teams. Cheadle Sports have effectively merged with Cross Keys. I had hoped that Cross Keys would therefore field two teams, but they tell me they can only raise one. Heaton Mersey Conservative have re-entered their second team. They withdrew this team at the last minute last year, but they now have a new secretary, and I expect they’ll be better organised.

The upshot of these changes is that we have 48 teams, so effectively two vacancies. I propose to run three divisions of 10 and two of 9. The fixtures I’ve distributed tonight are based on this.

You should all have received the fixtures relevant to your club tonight. Please tell me if you’ve got the wrong pages. Clubs in the evening league that host cup matches and so on will also have a copy of the green rota. Please check this against your club’s programme, and let me know in good time if you have any problems. All clubs also have a summary of the key dates for the coming year - get them in your diaries now!

I had a few teething problems with the web site, but I think it’s now working reliably. All the fixtures are available there. During the season there will be an update of the league tables most weekends. I’ll carry on sending them to the paper, and posting them, so the technologically challenged need not feel left out. The site address has changed slightly: see me.
http://members.aol.com/cgleague/web.