AGM

Broomfield Bowls Club - Annual General Meeting - Thursday 10th January 2008

Held at Smethwick Cricket & Athletic Club

PRESENT (30) - Chris Price, Frank Newman, Andy Killion, Jonathan Blakeman, Mark Hadley Snr, Denise Killion, Keith Underhill, Malcolm Spencer, Danielle Newman, Melissa Gurdas, Tonia Hadley, Mark Healey, Karemjit Gurdas, Darren Griffiths, Cameron Gurdas, John Jones, John Hardman, Terry Jones, Andy Calvert, Daniel Chilton, Dave Chilton, John Wilson, Marc Wilson, Leigh-Ann Nemedi, Diane Kazmierowski, Sam Fagan, Jim Watkin, Tracy Wilkins, Matthew Wilkins, Sheila Newman.

APOLOGIES (6) - Keith Lawlor (work), Chris Chilton (work), Marc Hadley Jnr (work), Nigel Francis (ill), Phil High (ill), Mark Nemedi (snooker match).

ABSENT (9) - Paul Newman, Ollie Newman, Karen Newman, Mick Barnwell, Matt Barnwell, Steve Barnwell, John Capewell, Jason Beale, Emily Lawlor.

Chairman Chris Price opened the meeting at 8:03pm and a minutes silence was held in memory of Sid Overfield, who passed away in May 2007.

CHAIRMANS REPORT (Chris Price) - Chris thanked various people for the effort put in during the season. Thanks were to: Frank Newman - for his roles as club captain, secretary and greenkeeper, Andy Killion in his first year as treasurer, Jonathan Blakeman for publicity and the website, Sheila Newman for the bonus ball, Keith Lawlor for the presentation, Lynne Lawlor for the food. Chris also thanked all captains and committee members for making his job an easy one.

SECRETARYS REPORT (Frank Newman) - Frank echoed Chris's comments. Didn't think that we come across any trouble this season. First team struggled at the start but recovered.

TREASURERS REPORT (Andy Killion) - Andy Killion criticised the previous Treasurers methods including the format of the balance sheet, the year-end and also the way the bonus ball was put through the books. In his role as an accountant he saw fit to make changes. Andy read through the balance sheet noting the loss made on the presentation and the money spent on skips at the end of the season.

GREEN REPORT (Frank Newman) - Frank said we had a good green this season with no problems. The green is currently suffering from disease but he is hoping that will clear. Looking to open the green in the middle of March, weather depending.

CAPTAINS REPORTS

W&W PREMIER (Frank Newman) - Picked the team his way as he stated in the previous A.G.M. One blip being the home defeat to West Bromwich Labour by 4 shots. Wanted to make clear that he had nothing against women bowlers of a Saturday and that he would have selected them had they been good enough to make the top twelve. Everything worked out in the finish and he wasn't going to be influenced by other peoples moaning.

W&W ALLIANCE, WEST BROMWICH & SMETHWICK 'B' (Denise Killion) - WAITING ON WRITTEN REPORT

OLDBURY 'A' (Jonathan Blakeman) - Written report submitted: Finished 4 th in Division 1 and lost to the George in the cup final. Disappointed at not being able to pick the strongest side. Feel we missed out on a great chance to win the league with the league winners (George) losing two games at home and the Gate finishing runners up who I feel we are much better than.

SMETHWICK 'A' (Keith Lawlor) - absent.

DUDLEY (Terry Jones) - no report submitted.

OLDBURY 'B' (Sam Fagan) - no report submitted.

SELECTION OF OFFICERS, CAPTAINS & COMMITTEE

The above nominations were all passed with no objections.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

1) - SUMMIT GARAGE PREMIER LEAGUE (Chris Price) - Chris wanted to speak to the members about the possibility of applying for nomination into the Premier League in 2009. A sheet containing league setup, rules and current teams / divisions was distributed by Jonathan Blakeman. Chris explained that the league was becoming increasingly popular and may even form a breakaway Saturday league in a few years time. After a long discussion that also included general midweek selection it was agreed to apply, but decide nearer the time whether to follow this idea through. It would also need to be decided whether we would need to drop a midweek team or field five teams.

2) - SELECTION (Chris Price) - With the problems we had in 2007 concerning midweek selection, Chris encouraged members to speak openly about the way in which they think the teams should be selected. He personally believed in the first / second / third eight system but said this wasn't necessarily set in stone.

Karemjit Gurdas - thought that this was not the time for captains to speak as they had selected the teams during the season, now was the time for the critics to have their say.

Mark Healey - believed that the midweek teams should each be squaded.

Jonathan Blakeman - had captained the supposed 'first eight' but was unable to select the side he wanted because players were picking where they played. Had warned early season that this would result in average performance and consequently the top three midweek teams finished 4 th , 6 th and 5 th and no league honour was achieved. Believed that a seeded system results in the club being competitive and successful. A seeded system would naturally provide promotion and relegation amongst players and raise people's game, as some would be playing for their place in the team.

John Wilson - fully agreed with the comments made by Jonathan Blakeman. Did not like the idea of some players only being bothered about one side, we all bowl for Broomfield and we should want the club to do well and win things.

Mark Hadley Snr - also backed the first / second / third eight system but said that you had to appreciate players wishes if they did not want to bowl in a particular side.

Malcolm Spencer - captains should have complete freedom on selection and people knocking on the door (i.e., up and coming youth players) should be able to progress to the teams playing a higher standard.

Chris Price - whatever happens it should be stressed that the captain will always have the final say on the team selected. We nominate captains at our A.G.M. to do a job and they should not be prevented from doing this.

Sam Fagan - If people are more concerned about playing for the Dudley side then why not swap that team with the West Bromwich team.

Keith Underhill - we should all play where we are picked. If the problem is the declining interest in the West Bromwich team then why don't we make the Dudley team the second eight and the West Bromwich team the third eight. Backed the comments made by both Jonathan Blakeman and Mark Hadley Snr.

Denise Killion - Asked current West Bromwich players (John Hardman and Keith Underhill) if they would mind playing in a different team on a different night as they would most likely be in the second eight.

Frank Newman - warned that the West Bromwich league is now struggling, just four small divisions and the Baggeridge have dropped out and joined the Oldbury league.

Darren Griffiths - supported the idea put forward by Sam Fagan / Keith Underhill about swapping the second and third eight. The only way this could be decided is to put it forward to the captains already nominated for the Dudley and West Bromwich team.

Tonia Hadley - was not keen on the idea of changing. Was nominated as Dudley captain and was happy to stay in that position, did not want to captain the West Bromwich team because of league matches taking place on both Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Terry Jones - did not want to swap and captain in the Dudley league again.

Mark Hadley Snr - with the obvious problems we face about swapping the order of teams, we should keep the same format in 2008 and the re-asses in 2009 because of the possibility of the Premier League. This was agreed by members and passed.

Conclusion - in 2008 the midweek teams will be picked strictly as, first eight: Oldbury 'A' Division 1, second eight: West Bromwich Division 1, third eight: Dudley Division 2 and fourth eight: Oldbury 'B' Division 4.

3) - FREE MEMBERSHIP DRAW (Frank Newman) - Number 24 was drawn with Melissa Gurdas receiving free membership in 2008.

4) - RECONSTRUCTION OF PATH (Chris Price) - Chris finished the meeting by asking for the approval by members for the section to spend £800 - £900 on the completion of the path down the start side of the bowls green. This was passed with no objections. The path is likely to be concreted, members removed the topsoil in November.

Chairman Chris Price closed the meeting at 9:10pm

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Presentation Opinion Survey - Results

1) When asked where you would like the next presentation to be held:

Local club with buffet and disco - 6%

Local hotel, no facilities, meal and disco - 11%

Local hotel with facilities, option to stay, meal and disco - 22%

Hotel to travel to, overnight stay, facilities, meal and disco - 61%

2) When asked which option you would least like to see chosen:

Local club with buffet and disco - 64%

Local hotel, no facilities, meal and disco - 9%

Local hotel with facilities, option to stay, meal and disco - 9%

Hotel to travel to, overnight stay, facilities, meal and disco - 18%

3) When asked when you would like the presentation to be held:

November 2008 - 81%

February 2009 - 19%

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