The Falmouth Bridge Club AGM, held on Thursday 16th April 2009 at 6.00pm
Those attending [at start] Laurie, Richard, Barbara, Graham, Ann, John, Anne, Rosa, Dulcie, Jim, Lorna, Nina. Apolgies, from Bill, who is ill, Liz, Dot, Val, Pat.
The Secretary opened the meeting and explained that Bill was ill and would be unable to attend. She then read the minutes from the previous year. No matters arising. Laurie then continued with a yearly report starting with congratulations to all the Trophy winners for the past year. Ann & Liz for the Salver, Dulcie & Nina for the Holman Cup, Teams of 4 winners Liz, Nina, Dulcie & Keith and finally Nick & Joan for the Mixed Pairs.
A new development for this year has been the weekly reports of the Club results placed in the Falmouth Packet. She hoped the winners enjoyed seeing their names in print! In all we have had a very successful, happy & troublefree year. Our Club is thriving, by membership and financially. Our average table size is around 9 which is most pleasing. By this time next year the P2P scheme will be up and running and as you all know, we confirmed at the last committee meeting that our Club will remain affiliated to the EBU. For those of us who run the Club it will be a testing time with a steep learning curve coming our way during January when all the new software enabling us to run P2P arrives. Laurie continued with grateful thanks to the Woodlane SC and in particular Dougie who does so much for us. Most members little realise how much he actually does. I know some of you - and myself included find the stairs a little difficult especially at the top. We need a better rail with a good grip and Laurie hopes to arrange this during the summer, when she believes Dougie plans to give the room a coat of paint, We may have to bear the burden of the cost of the rail but we can easily afford it. During the past year we have also purchased a dish washer, which has made such a difference to the Drives and events where we serve tea. Also the new heavy weght curtain to block the draughts coming from the stairs. Another big success. In all, we are very lucky to have all these facilities.
Long term member, and in the past an enormous supporter of the Falmouth Bridge Club, Betty Ratcliffe has phoned Laurie with the news that she will be unable to play again. She suffers from quite severe osteoporosis and her back has finally succumbed. She is in a lot of pain, although quite cheerful and asked Laurie to pass on her best wishes to all of the members. Another long term member and past Chairman, Betty Monk will also no longer be able to play. She is now quite frail and Laurie and Barbara visited her a few weeks ago with a bouquet and chocolates. Laurie continued with grateful thanks from the absent Chairman and herself to all their fellow committee members for their help and support throughout the past year, especially Richard and with no matters arising she handed the meeting to Richard for his Treasurers report.
Richard was very pleased with our financial state, especially the sum carried forward to the previous year, considering our large purchases. There being no matters arising it was unanimous we accept the report.
Other business. Laurie suggested that a bouquet of flowers be sent to Betty Ratcliffe with thanks for all her efforts over the past few decades. Dulcie proposed we do this and Graham seconded. Laurie further proposed that we abandon the Saturday Drives during the summer months of July and August, as we used to do a few years ago. Lorna seconded this proposal and all agreed.
Dulcie asked about the Holman Cup movements as she had been concerned that the arrowswitched movements may be unfair. In anticipation of Dulcie's concerns, Laurie had emailed Jim Barker about his opinions and he had replied:
"Arrowswitches are much fairer than they seem, decent mathematicians have written at length about it. Look at it this way: because all the boards are switched then you will be playing against two pairs of the opposite delineation on every board. Not just the ones you enter the scores on. However that is just a part of the argument. The fact that at least half of the N/S pairs change direction for the following week makes it even fairer." After a short discussion where it was agreed that as long as a good proportion of the N/S change directions for the second week and there are two arrowswitches at the end of the movement, it was a very fair way the run the two week competition. All agreed and Dulcie was happy with the outcome.
Rosa then suggested that it was perhaps unfair, especially for someone who has so far to travel to sit out for four boards when there is a half table. Would it not be better to play a Howell movement? There followed a discussion where it was generally agreed that such a movemnt was extremely slow and cumbersome. We would be finishing very late and Ann pointed out that some of these movements for eight or ten tables had 13 rounds. No one wanted this. There being no other business the meeting closed at 6.25pm
A Meeting was held on Thursday 12th February 2009, at 6.00 pm.
Those attending were Bill Berks, Laurie Burley, Richard Hubback, Barbara Truswell, Liz Perry. Apologies from Pat King.
Bill opened the meeting, stating that we were there to discuss and vote on the proposal that the Falmouth Bridge Club would remain affiliated to the EBU after the p2p scheme came into operation. Laurie had distributed copies of the schedule to all committee members for their perusal and placed copies on the board for members to read. She read that the County Chairman, Geoff Warren's views were that in the past the EBU had not managed to promote the "feel good" factor and it has been perceived, as elitist and indifferent to the needs of ordinary members and that these proposals are meant to signify a charge in attitude and an attempt to expand the appeal of Duplicate Bridge. We should be prepared to give the EBU the benefit of the doubt as it should mark the beginning of an inter-active and more user friendly organisation, better attuned to the needs of its members. He would encourage us to give the proposal a fair chance and continue our affiliation.
Barbara first asked if it was absolutely necessary to raise our table money next April to £1.50p to cover the p2p cost of 32p per person but it was felt that, as the EBU members will not, in the future have to pay the annual fee, plus we would have the Clubs fee - it would be wise to see how things turn out after it had been going for a few months. Bill then suggested that if we did find we were raising extra money would could occaisionally have "free" nights. Richard told the committee that the £1 table fee was last set in 1999 so it was not unreasonable to raise it. Barbara then noticed on the schedule that if we paid our fee, monthly by direct debit, we would attract a discount of £2 - so it was felt that we would follow that course.
Liz was worried about any potential security problem with the EBU's software with so many people using it. A virus could easily get into our computers unless the EBU had adequate protection. Liz also wondered if the scoring site would have the facility to re-load and adjust the score and the MP's, if a mistake had been make. Laurie said she would email them to inquire about these potential problems. The committee, especially the scorers also felt that as the software was not being issued to Clubs until early 2010 that it did not give us long to learn and input the details, if it arrived late. Liz further said that she felt we need and should support our governing body and Laurie agreed. Then Bill added that if we, as a Club felt that it was not running properly we could always leave later on. Richard asked what the Club affiliation fee would be - £30 per annum.
Bill then asked us to vote on the proposal that we remain affiliated to the EBU. With a show of hands the decision was unanimous that we support the EBU and remain affiliated.
Barbara then made a proposal that the Club make a Local Ruling that we do not have to "announce" the 12 - 14 hcps weak notump hand. Bill seconded the brilliant idea, but stated that any other opening of 1NT would have to be announced. Decision was unanimous that we make the ruling. There being no other business the meeting closed.