Cornwall Contract Bridge Association

The Annual General Meeting of the CCBA was held at 2.00pm on Sunday 13 September 2009 at Ladock, followed by the Norman Woodhouse Individual Trophy.

Minutes of the 27th Annual General Meeting of the CCBA held at Ladock on Sunday 13 September 2009 at 2.00pm

Present 23:
Mesdames :- J Cant, P Deal, V Pitman, M Warner, R Harbisher, J Fitness, D Boxall, W Brown, L Ashworth, J Vaughan
Messrs :- G Warren, K Keast, C Bickerdike, M Booth, B Benfield, D Stone, C Mason, R Bell,  B Thomson, N Harris, B Relton, W Heaton, D Boxall
Apologies 11:
Mesdames :- F Barker, J Keast, L Burley, J Heath, S Bickerdike, J Newton, P Meade
Messrs :- J Barker, J King, C Pote, R Mabley

The Chairman, Geoff Warren, opened the meeting by welcoming those present.  The names of people who had sent their apologies were read out.

Minutes of the last meeting:
The minutes of the last meeting were distributed, and the motion that they be accepted as a true record was proposed by M Booth and seconded by M Warner.  Carried unanimously.  There were no matters arising from the minutes.

Presentation of Trophies:
The cups and cash prizes were presented to the winners, second and third placed for the John Perks pairs, the West and East leagues, and the County Knockout.

Chairman’s Report:
In his first year as Chairman, Geoff Warren indicated that he had had a lot of contact with the EBU over a variety of matters.  He reported that of the 16 affiliated clubs in the county, 12 are continuing affiliation when the new P2P system comes live in April 2010; 2 clubs are disaffiliating; 1 has yet to decide; and Truro is currently in dialogue with the EBU over the status of its No Fear section.   The chairman visited half the clubs in the county in the course of the year, and hopes to visit the remaining clubs in the coming year.

Geoff thanked several members of his committee for their help through the year, and in particular to Jim and Frances Barker who, after many years, are standing down from the county committee, although both will continue to play an important part in county directing and in the Cornwall Congress.  The chairman also thanked two retiring persons : John King who has been the Congress Secretary for 10 years, and John Finch who has been a tireless organiser transporting tables and other bridge equipment to and from various events in the calendar.

Treasurer’s Report:
The Treasurer  handed out a Profit and Loss account for the year ended 30 June 2009. There was a shortfall of £350 on the year, but the association still has a very healthy balance. He pointed out increases in expenditure on duplimating equipment, and in travel to South West league matches (4 away matches, only 2 away matches in the coming year).  It was agreed at the last committee meeting that table money would be increased from £4.00 to £5.00 for the new season. The Treasurer concluded by thanking N Grenfell, P Deal and B Harbisher for their help.
The Chairman thanked the Treasurer and called for a proposal that the accounts be adopted. M Booth proposed and D Boxall seconded. Carried unanimously.

Tournament Secretary’s Report:
Numbers attending county events was very similar to last year.  There are so many competing bridge events nationally and in adjoining counties that constructing the calendar of county events becomes more difficult each year.  Unfortunately Mothers’ Day coincides with the John Perks Final this year.  The Tournament Secretary thanked those people who help with setting up tables and chairs at Ladock.  There is a hope that because of P2P higher membership may increase the number of players attending county events.

Membership Secretary’s Report:
The Membership Secretary reported that the membership in the 16 affiliated clubs on 31 March 2009 was 250 full members and 3 junior members, and that this figure has declined to 230 members currently.  This compared to 321 full members in 2005. As stated above, membership under the new P2P will increase considerably.

League Reports:
Mr W Thomson for the East League reported that in a close finish, China Clay Aces beat Liskeard Lot – the first time in 8 years Liskeard Lot had not won the league.

In her absence, an email from Mrs F Barker for the West League reported that the Shufflers had regained the title they last won in 2007.  The number of teams entering this year is down one to 8, and as over half the teams are reluctant to play each other twice in a season, only 7 matches will be played.  Frances also indicated that she would like to retire from running the West division after this season.

In an effort to try to reverse the downward trend in number of teams entering the two leagues, Mrs D Boxall wondered whether a central venue (eg St. Austell for the East and Helston for the West) with all teams attending would get round some of the reasons for reluctance in entering a team, viz can’t host a match at home; worried about the quality of meal to put on;  too late a finish time; avoid getting beaten badly repeatedly.  D Stone suggested that this would cause matches to lose their social element.  There was general discussion and the matter will be looked at by the Committee at its next meeting.

Mr M Booth for the Western Counties League reported that the teams had not had a very good year. The C team still had an outside chance of winning their league, but lost their last match.  The B team finished mid-table, while the A team finished last.  It is a very high standard in the top league.

Election of Officers:
It was proposed by K Keast and seconded by Mrs W Brown that the nominations be voted en-bloc. Carried unanimously. Mrs F Barker indicated in writing that she wishes to retire from being League Secretary (West) at the end of the season.

Chairman                    Mr G Warren
Vice Chairman                    Mr W Thomson
Hon Treasurer                    Mr D L Stone
Hon Secretary                    Mr C Bickerdike
Hon Press Secretary                Mr B Benfield
Hon League Secretaries; West            Mrs F Barker
            East            Mr W Thomson
Hon Tournament Secretary            Mrs P Deal
Hon Membership Secretary            Mrs R Harbisher
Chief Tournament Director            Mr R Bell
Congress Secretary                Mrs J Cant
Hon Points Secretary                Mrs J Keast
EBU Teachers Association Representative        Mr R Mabley

Election of Committee:
Two members of general committee tended their resignation – J Barker and R Mabley
The remaining members were proposed and seconded for re-election en-bloc. Carried unanimously.  Mrs L Ashworth, Mrs M Warner, Mrs W Brown, J King, C Mason, Mrs l Burley, M Booth were duly elected.



Election of Honorary Auditor:
It was proposed and seconded that Mr N Grenfell be re-elected as Honorary Auditor. Carried unanimously.

Press Secretary’s Report:
The need for members to let B Benfield, the Press Secretary, have any newsworthy stories in order to make the County News section of the English Bridge magazine as interesting as possible is even more urgent as a little more space is now available in the magazine.  C Bickerdike re-iterated the same request for the website, which now includes a “Cornish Bridge Disasters” page!

Cornwall Congress Report:
J King was not able to attend the meeting, as he was called to Derriford Hospital where his wife had recently had an operation. All present wished her and John well in her recovery. 

Iit was another enjoyable and successful Congress for all who attended. Accounts sent to the Secretary the day after the meeting showed a healthy profit of £708 from entry fees which were £49 less than in 2008. And John passes a closing balance of £1,322 to the new organising team.

Any Other Business:
The only topic discussed was about the letter the Chairman had circulated throughout the county before the AGM concerning the use of the second of our two Green Point days. In the light of dwindling numbers over recent years at the one-day event at Wadebridge, should we move this day to the Cornwall Congress and have both our GP days in the one weekend?  At the time of the AGM, with 2 weeks to go, there were only 15 teams (21 last year) entered into the Wadebridge day, of which only 7 were Cornish teams.

General discussion followed :  Would the Congress lose its friendly nature and would local players be frightened off?  Costs would go up considerably?  Would a two tier Congress work – some playing in the GP event some electing not to?   Was Wadebridge an unpopular venue?  Should we move closer to the South Devon border?

It was agreed that we should wait and see what the final number of teams turns out to be, and then make decisions at the next committee meeting.


There being no further business the meeting was closed by the Chairman at 3.15pm.