CAMBS & HUNTS CBA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Held at the Thursday Bridge Club, Adrian House, Grange Road, Cambridge, on
Thursday 10^th May 2001

Present

Members: 38

1. Apologies for absence

Ann Curtin, John Turner, Chris Larlham, Ray Keech, David Allen, Margaret Jude.

2. Minutes of the AGM held on Wednesday 3rd May 2000

These had been distributed to the Clubs and were taken as read and approved.

3. Matters arising from the minutes

• Members' Delegate - a Bridge for All representative had been sought but without success.
• Chris Jagger had been unable to obtain any reply from Swinnerton Dyer and the matter of the Presidency would be considered later in the Meeting.

4. Reports

• Secretary
  
  David Carmichael read out his report. A copy is attached to these Minutes. The report was accepted without any queries.
  
  
• Membership Secretary
  
  Margaret Jude was unable to attend but had provided a report to David Carmichael for presentation to the Meeting. The key points were that we have 338 Members, the County sub remains the same at £3, the EBU sub has increased by 50p to £14, and the Club affiliation fee is now due and remains the same at £22. It was also reported that a County Member, not being an active Member of any particular Club, did not receive a copy of the County Newsletter - it was agreed that the Committee should look into the means of distribution of the Newsletter.
  
  
• Tournament organiser
  
  Philip Wraight read out his report. A copy is attached to these Minutes. The report was accepted without any queries.
  
  
• Captain
  
  Chris Larlham was unable to attend but had provided a report to David Carmichael for presentation to the Meeting. The key points were that the 2000/01 ECL results would be reported in the Newsletter, the new season has got off to a bad start with 3 defeats by Herts, we narrowly failed to qualify for the final of the Tolly, and the South Cambs League was won by Saffron Walden (on VP's after a tie on points with Shire Hall).
  
  
• Youth representative
  
  There had been one Schools event this year at the Perse School. There was some discussion about whether more activity at Schools could be encouraged and it was left to the Committee to consider the subject further.
  
  
• Treasurer
  
  The Accounts were circulated to those attending the Meeting and a copy is appended to these minutes. There was a surplus of £554 for the year and the Association is financially healthy. The Accounts were accepted - proposed by Brian Copping, seconded by Tony Oram and carried unanimously.

5. Subscriptions for 2001/2002

Chris Jagger pointed out that this item should be Subs for 2002/3, the idea being that the subs are set in advance so that they can be collected on April 1st 2002 without waiting for the AGM in May. In view of the healthy state of the finances, it was agreed unanimously that the subs for next year should remain unchanged at the present level.

6. Trophies

Rosemary Bissett presented the County Individual trophy to the winner David Carmichael. The County Pairs winners, Ross Midgely and Neil Pimblett were not present to receive their trophy. Other trophies on display but not presented were for the Jubilee Pairs (taking place on June 10th) and the County KO (not yet completed).

7. Election of Officers for 2000/2001

The present Office Bearers, with one exception, are happy to continue and therefore remain in place. The exception is in the post of Membership Secretary where Margaret Jude has indicated a wish to hand over as soon as a replacement can be found. It was agreed that the Committee should deal with this.

8. Election of President

Chris Jagger spoke on behalf of the Committee to recommend to the Meeting that Andrew Lansley CBE MP should be appointed President of the Association. Andrew is a Member of the Shadow Cabinet and Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party. He is a prominent public figure and a local resident. Committee Members had met him and he had presented the prizes at the New Players Tournament. It had been ascertained that he did play Bridge and would be prepared to accept the position. The aims of the Association had been explained to him as the encouragement of Bridge as a social and competitive activity throughout Cambs and Hunts, recognition of Bridge as a sport of the mind and as a suitable activity for young people at Schools and elsewhere. It was agreed unanimously that Chris should write a formal invitation to him to become our President.

9. Members' Delegate

It was reported that Mr Allan Threadgold was a local Bridge Player not being a Member of an affiliated Club who had shown some interest in County affairs. Chris Jagger would contact him to see if he would be interested.

10. Appointment of Auditor

David Man was available for re-election and this was readily agreed by the meeting.

11. Chairman's Remarks

Chris Jagger offered his thanks to each of the Officers on the Committee for their work during the year. He also offered special thanks to Jonathan Mestel for his work on the County Newsletter, David Allen for his work on the web site and Brian Copping for initially suggesting Andrew Lansley as a prospective President.

The Thursday Club was thanked for hosting the Meeting.

Chris also said that the Association was keen to develop and there were encouraging signs in the introduction of the New Players Tournament and the resurrection of the Jubilee Pairs in Swiss Pairs format. He looked forward to the enthusiastic support of all Members in the future.

12. Any other business

Brian Copping noted that the Membership Secretary used to send out reminders to Clubs of the affiliation fee becoming due. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to David Harrison for Chairing the Meeting at approximately 7.45pm.

David Carmichael
Hon Sec.

Note:

Subsequent to the Meeting it was agreed that the next AGM should take place on Friday May 10th 2002 at the Cottenham Club.