ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2008
The Annual General Meeting of the Biggleswade & District Friendly Badminton League took place on Wednesday 25th June 2008 at the Weatherley Centre, Stratton Upper School, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire at 8.00pm.
The Chairman, Les Weston, opened the meeting by welcoming the committee, Chris Spring, Elaine Drury and representatives and members of the following member clubs: -
Bassingbourn, Broadway, Cam Gears, Feathers Templars, Ivel, Masters, Onyx Racquets, Redhoods, Royston, St. Johns, Wilbury and Wrestlingworth
Ernulf and Hitchin were not represented
1. Apologies
Heath Hall - their club has disbanded
Smash - probably withdrawing from league as wish to play with Feather shuttlecocks
2. Minutes of Last Meeting
The meeting unanimously approved the minutes of the last AGM which had been previously sent to all clubs
Proposed by Steve Kemp Seconded by Ceri Grenyer
Signed by Les Weston.
3. Matters Arising
There were no matters arising.
4. Fixtures Secretary / Secretary's Report
Elaine Drury read out her report as follows :
Unfortunately I am starting this report on a very sad note.
For those of you who may not know, it is with great sadness that I have to tell you of the death of Carl Couzens on 7th June at the young age of 36. He played for Broadway badminton club for many years. He was training to be a badminton umpire at National level. He was very well known as a referee in the football world. Among some of his achievements he became Chairman of the North Herts Referees Society and Secretary of the South Midlands League Match Officials. He was a lovely man held in high esteem by many people. Well over 400 people attended his funeral. He will be sorely missed.
I hope you have all had an enjoyable season.
Seventeen clubs played in the Leagues this season and entered 40 teams. 222 matches were played
We unfortunately had 10 conceded matches. Two of these were due to Heath Hall dropping out of Men's Division 1 League. We are very sorry that their club which had been in existence for over 50 years has folded due to injury and lack of players.
I would like to congratulate all the winners of the leagues. There have been some extremely hard fought matches throughout all the leagues, none more so than Hitchin A's final match against Masters A which finished 3 all with 165 points to Hitchin and 166 to Masters, just 1 point in it!!
It has been a very long season with several matches having to be played in May. It seems to have been particularly difficult for some clubs to rearrange matches this year maybe because several clubs play on the same night and have several teams, but please, please could the fixture secretary be informed of these rearranged fixtures.
Can I stress again that score sheets should be sent in within 7 days of the match being played by the home team. 70% of score sheets were sent in on time. I know that they get lost in the bottom of sports bags but it does seem to be the same clubs that lose them. It does seem a little unfair on those clubs that do send in their match sheets on time ....... should there be a penalty against those that don't????
Again, as mentioned last year, could match sheets be filled in properly. At the beginning of the season clubs are sent match sheets to cover their home games, but I don't mind if it's on the back of an envelope as long as I have the necessary information!!.....
At the least I need the Team names at the top and date played. If you have more than one team could the captains fill in the score sheet clearly with A B or C team and also could the surnames be filled in. Both teams should sign the sheet.
The rules are sent out to all clubs at the beginning of the season to help to make the running of the leagues as easy and simple as possible. I do wonder if these get lost in the bottom of sports bags too!
Can I take this opportunity to remind clubs of Rule 12. That if you have more than one mixed, men's or ladies team in the leagues, will you make sure that you use your nominated players in the correct teams and that if they have not played for 3 consecutive games another player must be nominated.
This year, apart from the few weeks when I had to replace my computer I have relied on the web site to show the results of matches and the league tables rather than sending out printed matter. I would like to thank Roger Gamage for all his efforts in getting the web site up and running, and keeping the results up to date. He sends his apologies for not being here this evening and also wishes to apologise for not having the web site in place at the beginning of the season. He is willing to continue doing the web site next year, but he would like ideas on how to make the site more interesting.
I know that having updated my computer some clubs had difficulty opening the attachments I sent out but thank you to those who told them how to.
E mails are a wonderful way of communicating but can I just ask you to make sure when you fill in your entry forms for the league that you check your email addresses' and make sure that you have put in the dot, or the underscore, or co or com very clearly.
Can I apologise now for the lack of a Singles Tournament or indeed any tournament. Although I could get a venue it was the lack of time and expertise on our part. When it comes to voting for a new committee we do need at least four people so if there is anyone who would like to be responsible for tournaments or indeed, if any club would like to organise one please come forward .
I am sure that it will be inevitable that we will be using the new scoring system this coming season. It certainly speeds up the game and there will be no more finishing matches in the wee small hours on 1 court venues. You will have to find some other excuse to explain to your partners as to why you are rolling home at 2 in the morning!! Gone also will be the opportunity to come back from a long way down to win the game, or indeed to be a long way up and lose!
However, I do hope that you will all be rejoining next year.
Please could all entry forms be in by 1st August
I would like to thank the committee and all the club secretaries and fixture secretaries for the hard work they put in to keep their clubs running and also thank all those who have played and helped to make it a successful and enjoyable season.
5. Treasurer's Report
The treasurer Christine Spring, submitted the Income and Expenditure Accounts, and reported as follows:
This season sees us with a profit of £53.50. Four more teams were entered which generated an extra £28.00 and our expenditure was less than the previous season. As always our aim is to break even and therefore I see no reason to increase the subs further.
The accounts were unanimously accepted. p. Elaine Drury s. Steve Kemp
6. Election of Officers
Chairman: Les Weston p. Ceri |Grenyer
s. Carol Nash
Fixtures Secretary: Elaine Drury p. Les Weston
s. Ray Nash
Secretary p. Simon Bromilow
s. Derek Cox
Treasurer: Christine Spring p. Les Weston
s. Linda Hall
The three members were elected unanimously
It was still felt that there should be another member on the committee who could perhaps run a Singles tournament. No one was forthcoming, so in his absence Mark Cook from Onyx was suggested as a possibility and it was agreed that Elaine would approach him on his return from America!!
7. Proposals / AOB
(a) The new system of scoring was discussed again (best of 3 games to 21 and every point counting.) One or two people still preferred the old method but felt we must move with the other leagues
That the new system of scoring should be implemented.
p. Bob Tucker s. Ceri Grenyer
Proposal carried as all clubs voted in favour with one abstention
(b) Format of the Men's and ladies '4's
A discussion took place as to whether we reverted back to players playing against their own number for the entire match
i.e. 1 & 2 play 1&2, 3&4 play 3&4, 1&3 play 1&3, 2&4 play 2&4, 1&4 play 1&4, 2&3 play2&3
or stay with the present format
1&2 play 1&2, 3&4 play 3&4, 1&3 play 2&4, 2&4 play 1&3, 1&4 play 1&4,
2&3 play 2&3
That players should play against their opposite numbers
p. Steve Kemp
s Carol Nash
3 votes for - 8 against - 2 abstentions
Therefore we will stay with the present format
(c) A discussion also took place regarding where players should be playing in the team
i.e. strongest player number 1 down to weakest at number 4.
Although it is not in the rules it has always been assumed that this is the fairest way of playing. However this has not always happened, which some clubs thought was unfair. It was suggested that names should be drawn out of a hat at the beginning of each match then it would be pot luck for whoever played against who and would add a bit of fun to the game.
Names drawn out of a hat
p. Derek Cox
2 votes for - 10 against - 1 abstention
Elaine was concerned about the number of late score sheets - 7 days is supposed to be the time given. In the rules it does say the match could become void if result sheet not sent in on time!!
Derek Cox suggested that a strict eye should be kept on late match sheets and if it does not improve this season proposed that some sort of penalty should be imposed the following season.
A brief discussion as to whether to have Runners up trophies but there was no real interest in this and it would be an unnecessary cost.
If teams would like details of their club on the web site they can send them to Roger Gamage www.biggbad.co.uk or indeed any other items that might be of interest.
8. Presentation of Trophies
Les Weston presented the trophies
to the winning clubs as follows:-
Ladies '4' Division Ivel 'A'
Mens '4' Division 1 Masters 'A'
Mens '4' Division 2 Masters 'B'
Mens '4' Division 3 Onyx
Mixed Division 1 Ivel 'A'
Mixed Division 2 Royston 'A'
Lady of Eindhoven Royston 'A'
The meeting closed at 9:15 pm
Entries for teams for the new Season should be received by 1st August.
