South Manchester Veterans Bowling Association

Minutes of the AGM held on Wednesday November 2nd 2016 at Longsight Cricket Club

Present: Mr W Marshall President Mr R Bestwick Secretary Mr E Pentland Treasurer

  1. President’s Remarks Wally Marshall welcomed all delegates to the meeting. He thanked Longsight CC for hosting us once again, Ladybarn for hosting Delegates meetings, the clubs that had hosted Cup Finals also clubs hosting the Merit and Pairs Competitions.
  2. Roll Call and Apologies
    Delegates were present from all clubs except Northenden Social Apologies for absence: Jeff Dunn (Burnage G V), Keith Jackson (Vice President)
  3. Obituaries
    All present observed a period of silence in memory of: Tom Lang, Paddy Lawler and Bill Yeoman (Northen Etchells); Jim Massie and Harold Johnston (Ladybarn); Ken Meehan (SWMCC)
  4. Minutes of last meeting
    Minutes of the 2015 AGM had been circulated in advance with the Agenda. They were taken as read and approved as a true record
  5. Secretary and Match Secretary’s Report
    Roger Bestwick thanked all team captains for their efforts in sending in results electronically and by post. The last (postponed) league match of the season was completed on Monday 10th October. Some postponed games seemed to take many weeks to rearrange, hence the proposal for a change to Rule 2.6 to be considered at this AGM. The website had functioned efficiently for league results but some limitations had been encountered in its handling of cup results. Roger planned to seek improvements for the 2017 season A preliminary plan had been formulated for the 2017 season, assuming that there was no major change to the number of teams in the three divisions. Cup rounds would take place as near to the end of the season as possible such that teams will have played as many games as possible if handicaps are based as proposed on 2017 results.
  6. Changes to Rules (shown in italics)
    Proposed Rule 2.6 Rearranged Matches (Passed by 15 votes to 1) Matches may be postponed only due to inclement weather or other exceptional circumstances. Inability to field a complete team is not an acceptable excuse for a postponement. If a completion date cannot be agreed by the captains on the day, the home team captain shall provide to the visiting captain three proposed dates for completion of the match and provide full details to the SMVBA match secretary within 48 hours of the original match date. The scores in both completed and uncompleted games shall stand. If players involved in uncompleted games are unavailable for the new date up to two substitutes may complete games. Each substitute that then plays in a second game shall give his opponent a start of 5 chalks.
    Rule 3.1 Handicaps Passed by 11 votes to 1 (4 abstentions) Rules 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.5 & 2.6 for league matches shall apply with the following additions:
    • The 'first out of the hat' of each pair of teams shall play at home.
    • 'Neutral Green Handicaps' to be added to each team's total score shall be based on the results of league games in the current season up to two weeks prior to the preliminary round.
    • Home teams shall play off their neutral green handicap, away team shall have 20 chalks added to their neutral green handicap.
    • In the event of a tie the away team shall go through to the next round.
    • The captain of the home team shall be responsible for submitting a completed score sheet to the match secretary.
    • Postponed cup matches must be completed prior to the date of the next cup round even if it is necessary to postpone league games.
    Rule 3.3 Player eligibility for Cup teams. (Passed by 15 votes to 1) Eligibility for any given team in Cup matches is restricted to club members that have played in at least one third of that team's completed league games in the current season up to two weeks before the preliminary round. Players eligible for more than one team are allowed to play for only one Monday team and only one Friday team.
    New Rule 5 Unacceptable behaviour, (Modified proposal passed by 12 votes to 3) The following are unacceptable and if not dealt with on the day to the satisfaction of both team captains shall be referred to the Disputes and Appeals Panel:
    1. Eating, drinking or smoking on the green during a game.
    2. Taking onto the green a mobile phone without the prior agreement of one's opponent AND both Captains.
    3. Leaving the green during a game without the prior agreement of one's opponent
    4. Foul/abusive language or threatening behaviour on the green.
    The penalty for failing to comply with a), b) c) or d) is immediate loss of the game with 21 chalks to the opponent and no additional score to the culprit. (Captains and players should note that action must be taken at the time of the alleged offence. If the game continues a subsequent reference to the Disputes and Appeals Panel may result in a different penalty) Foul/abusive language or threatening behaviour off the green shall be referred to the Disputes and Appeals Panel.
    New Rule 6 Disputes and Appeals Panel (Modified proposal passed by 12 votes to 3)
    Disputes and Appeals Panel
    1. A club making a protest concerning noncompliance with SMVBA rules, whether as a body or on behalf of an individual member shall within seven days of the incident provide a written statement of the alleged offence to the Secretaries of both the SMVBA and the club of the alleged offender.
    2. The SMVBA Secretary shall convene a meeting of a Disputes and Appeals Panel having at least 3 members. Panel members shall be SMVBA officers/committee members but not members of clubs involved in the dispute.
    3. The panel shall meet within 28 days of the incident. The panel shall consider both written and oral evidence from both parties to the dispute. Where the alleged offender is an individual club member one other member of that club who is not giving evidence may provide advice. The panel shall give its decision and impose an appropriate penalty.
    4. An appeal against the panel decision and/or penalty may be made to the next SMVBA delegates meeting.
    The decision of the delegates meeting shall be final
  7. Treasurer’s Report:
    Eric Pentland presented a summary of the accounts for the year ended 24th October 2016. He was pleased to report a surplus for the year of £130 and a year end Balance of £ 1985.50 The Treasurer's Report was accepted with thanks to Eric for his efficient handling of the funds and clear presentation of the accounts.
  8. Election of Officers
    In the absence of new nominations for the officers' jobs the meeting agreed that the current incumbents continue to serve for 2017. In the light of the discussion on New Rules 5 and 6 it was agreed to co-opt three committee members who could also serve on the Disputes and Appeals Panel. Roger Bestwick stated that the coming year would have to be his last as Secretary and Match Secretary and requested that arrangements for an orderly handover be put in place. The resulting list of officers was: President: Wally Marshall Vice President: Keith Jackson Secretary: Roger Bestwick Match Secretary: Roger Bestwick Treasurer: Eric Pentland Committee Members: Peter Ryan (Match Secretary to be), Ken Scott.
  9. Honoraria
    No change to the current levels was proposed so Honoraria continued as £100 per annum for each of the Secretary, Treasurer and Match Secretary.
  10. Any Other Business
    10.1 Key Dates 2017 Deadline for teams to join/leave leagues: 31st December 2016 Delegates Meetings: Wednesdays March 8th, June 14th, September 12th (all 10.30 at Ladybarn)
    Next AGM: Date and Venue to be decided.
    1st league games - Monday D1 & D2: April 3rd, Friday: 7th April Cup Preliminary Rounds: 28th July (Friday), 21st August (Monday) Cup Finals: 1st September (Friday), 25th September (Monday)
  11. Closure:
    The President closed the meeting at 2.40 pm with thanks to all for attending and especially to Longsight CC for their hospitality.