AGM 2024 Minutes

Stewartby Bowls Club – AGM November 19th 2024

Apologies – Christine Evans, Sue Flynn, Stewart Graham, Tim Hill, Lynne Mead, Sylvia Stocking, Colin Paul

2023 AGM Minutes

Last year’s minutes and today’s agenda on chairs for members to read.

No action required

Attendance registered and Quorum reached for meeting to go ahead.

Chairperson Report 2024 Season

There was no welcome address given and no annual report given but a statement was read out by the Chairperson…..” I want to know how members think of how I’m doing my job, any complaints come and see me personally because I don’t want members having a dig behind my back”

 Secretaries Report 2024 Season

2024 has been a season of positives for the club and the highlight for me was the arrival of new members that has brought a new energy to the club and making the club a positive place to be again. I’m sure that over the next couple of years we will be able to attract more members and still be able to have just as much fun and being competitive across all competitions and friendlies.

Another highlight is now seeing the ladies section blossom with new members joining this year and hopefully we can recruit a few more for next season.

Again, this year we had a fantastic turn out for every Saturday friendly, home and away. Let’s hope we can continue this for 2025.

Phil, and towards the end of the season, Ian, and the ground team, have continued to do a fantastic job on keeping the green to the high standard they set. This is backed up by a high number of the opposition complementing on the trueness of the surface.

We made a great show of it, from the B team, in the Bedford Bowls League Division 2 by winning the league outright, captained by Mick Sullivan. Unfortunately, the A team got relegated from Division 1. Hopefully we can again get two strong squads out for the 2025 season on Monday evenings.

I would personally like to thank Billy, not only for his contribution to the bowling, but for his passion to get the social aspect for the club moving forward for the 2025 season and beyond. I know he has a few ideas and hopefully members will support this.

I have set up the website this year which has all the relevant information for internal and external games and messages which are relevant to members. This is updated weekly.

Finally, we as a club have tiptoed into the 21st century and now members have the modern type playing shirts which have male and female fittings. Any member new or old who would like to order one please do so prior to the season as there is a six-week turnaround.

Club Captain’s report 2024 season

Quite a good year for us this year. We had to cancel some games on Wednesday afternoons due to a lack of players, this was due to clashing with the Wednesday evening County League. Next season I will be a non-playing captain on Wednesday afternoons.

Treasurers Report 2024 season

Had a steady year financially with the exception of a large water bill of £1600 which covered the water service since we moved into the new building 5 years ago.

Apart from that it was normal expenditure and income throughout the season although we have lost one of our main sponsors CRANFIELD HAULAGE so that leaves us with VISION BLINDS and RICHES SKIPS so we need to get a replacement.

Although we are looking at a healthy balance at the moment, we have already spent over £1700 with no income until next year.

Bar, progreen and new sprayer, so it does require keeping a tight rein on expenditure, as we do have a lot of expense before money starts coming in again in the new year (April 2025)

Account has been audited and are tabled for members to look at.

On conclusion Phil asked if there were any questions regarding the finances for the club. There were no questions forwarded by the members.

Nominations of committee roles

Committee Roles clarified in AGM

President – Norman Bichener

Chairperson – Martin Greener

Secretary – Dave Randall

Treasurer – Phil Croxford

Club Captain – Martin Greener

Club vice-captain – Andrej Iwanoff

A Team Captain – TBC

B Team Captain – Mick Sullivan

Membership and Welfare – Teresa Sharpe

Midweek Triples Captain – Martin Greener

Fixture Secretary – Mick Sullivan

Tournament Secretary – Andrej Iwanoff

Bar Manager – Martin Greener

Head Greenkeeper – Ian Flynn

Greens Committee (part of Management Committee) – Steve Virgin, Stewart Graham, Mick Sullivan, Teresa Sharpe

AOB

Chairperson would like some of the lady members to volunteer to cook and prepare the food for an upcoming event on the 31st August 2025. This was challenged and should be all members have the opportunity to volunteer to cook and prepare. Sheila Flynn verbally volunteered to help in anywhere she can in catering, gardening etc.

Billy Moore informed the members that he and Colin Flynn will be organising a winter social evening and the theme will be “Bullseye” darts on Friday 10th January. Hopefully this will generate some income for the club. Ticket price £3 per person plus income from the bar.

A question from Dennis asking how we are getting on with our application to the council for a grant to extend the clubhouse. Answer was that there was no progress due to not having all the proposal details in place yet.

Billy suggested at the next Bar-B-Q we should have the green open for guests who don’t play the game, to have a try, and this might encourage new members if they take to it.

Proposal 1

In the club’s constitution the quorum is 25% of the committee who can make critical decision for the club. There are 12 members on the committee so 3 members could make these decisions. The proposal from the committee is to change the quorum to 50% on decisions and 75% on key financial decisions for purchases for £75 (not including bar purchases and greenkeeper purchases) and over. A show of hands was asked for, and a majority of the members agreed. Proposal carried

Proposal 2

The proposal from the committee is to standardise the match fees to £3 per player for Saturday friendlies, Monday night triples league and Wednesday night county league. A show of hands was asked for, and a majority of the members agreed. Proposal carried.

Proposal 3

The proposal from the committee is to raise the membership fee for new members from £10 to £15 for year 1. A show of hands was asked for, and a majority of the members agreed. Proposal carried.

Men’s full membership will go up by £1 (as previous years) to £68 for 2025 season. Ladies and Juniors remain at £30 and social members remain at £15.

Meeting Ended – 10.45am