MINUTES OF THE BENAVISTA LAWN BOWLS
CLUB A.G.M. ON THE 29^TH MARCH 2011 AT 10.30 am. HELD AT EL PARAISO
COUNTRY CLUB

1. Present – 46
   Members attended (see attached list).
2. Proxy Votes – 9
   Proxy votes were received.
3. Apologies – 9
   Apologies were received.
4. The Vice-President
   welcomed all members old and new and asked that all questions and remarks
   should be put through the chair.
5. Having been
   displayed for the last 4 weeks, the minutes of the last meeting were accepted
   as read. Proposed by Richard Welton and seconded by Bill Ogden.
6. There were no
   matters arising from the minutes of the last A.G.M.
7. 3 members were
   asked to be adjudicators for the counting of votes they were, Roger Fabron,
   Frances Farmer and Neil Marshall.
8. President’s
   report – Vice-President Tony Farmer then
   read out the Presidents report. He once again welcomed all the members, who
   have supported the club for many years, our President Hughie Holgate and
   especially the new members who had joined the club during the last year. He
   thanked Hughie for supporting the Club and being open to suggestions for
   improvements to both the facilities and the amenities. We have a bowling club
   which is the envy of many others on the coast. We are able to bowl 7 days a
   week if we wish. The club house is open from 9.30am until 8.00pm including
   Happy Hour, 7 days a week, for which we thank the Ladies behind the bar and the
   Chef Phil. He encouraged all the members to support the Club and the Club House
   facilities. Financially we have had another successful year but the Bank Balance
   decreased by €977, as you will remember from last year, we agreed to sponsor a
   new bowling shirt for all members; we have given away some 65 bottles of wine
   or spirits as prizes! Our annual expenditure is about €2500 and the fees from
   members are €1700, we make up the with the Autumn Classic Raffle and Social
   Events, for which he thanked, the social committee of Maggie, Frances, Judy,
   Doreen, Diana and Jill. We are financially sound and with the commitment of our
   Sponsors, I can see no reason this should change. We have competitions
   sponsored by Ibex, Black
   Tower and San Miguel, and
   these sponsors have confirmed their continued support to the end of the
   2011/2012 season. The Costa del Sol league
   starts on 14^th October and we will enter 3 teams, and this year a
   new club La Posada in Antequera will enter a team in the Tigers League; Bel
   Playa will not be entering a team. Two years ago it was decided that each club
   could run only 1 open competition. We have informed the Owners Committee that
   we intend to run in-house competitions, during some open competitions run by
   other clubs, so as to give our members who do not wish to travel up and down
   the coast but wish to play competitive bowls. He then went on to thank the
   Competition Secretary Allan Bates, for running the 2 classics and 8 other club
   competitions. He also thanked Ros Wright for writing out 1000 score cards for
   the competitions. He thanked the Treasurer Russell Roper for keeping the books
   in good order, and stopping the committee overspending, Doreen Fabron the
   Secretary, for minuting the meetings and reminding committee about decisions
   when memories failed, Reg Goode Vice-Captain for being so flexible and covering
   all jobs when necessary, but especially for the organisation of the Open Day,
   Aussie our Captain who always has the total interest of Benavista Bowls club at
   Heart, Ken McBride representing the Club at Federation meetings, and lastly
   Barry Pemberton for his input into the Selection Committee. The Benavista
   Panthers were runners up in the Tigers League and the Benavista Leopards won
   the Lions League, our members also enjoyed many successes in Andalucian and
   Interclub competitions. He wished Aussie and Wendy our club champion’s success
   in the Champion of Champions competition. He wished the new committee success
   and thanked the members for the opportunity of being Vice-President, and said
   what a pleasure it was. (Full copy or report attached)
9. Captains Report – Dennis King gave the
   Captains report. Yet another season draws to a close. We as a club have had a
   fairly successful season, but it was marred with sadness through the passing on
   of some of our members. However, congratulations to the Leopards team and all
   those involved in winning the Lions League, and the Panthers who were runners
   up in the Tigers League. On the down side, I noticed throughout the season,
   amongst others that on many occasions, the bowling etiquette, dress code, and
   the non use of bowling club stickers was being ignored. May I suggest to the
   new committee that these points be addressed. As usual, there were the gripes,
   moans and snide remarks, made by some members. Unfortunately it is not possible
   to please everyone all the time! If members feel that strongly, they should
   stand for office on the committee and discuss the relevant issues! I would like
   to thank the committee for all their hard work and dedication throughout the
   season, not forgetting the selection and social committee. Thanks to Reg Goode
   for his efforts in the organisation of our open day, encouraging members of the
   public to come along and try their hand in learning to bowl. This apparently
   was a huge success, thus achieving several new members. Thanks also go to Barry
   Pemberton and John Carr for giving up their time, instructing and coaching new
   and current members. To the committee members involved in organising
   competitions, club days and social functions. Once again thank you, to the
   entire bar staff who kept us fed and watered throughout the year thank you.
   Finally, I personally wish the new committee every success throughout the
   forthcoming new bowling season! (Copy of Report attached)
10. Sandy Guthrie
    wanted to know why we were going to run club competitions during other clubs
    open competitions. Tony said at the moment we only have 10 – 15, members who wish
    to travel to other clubs. The committee felt that most of our members would
    like to play at home. Now that La Posada had joined the Costa
    del Sol circuit there will be 9 clubs running open competitions.
    There are 152 days in the Season 109 of which are taken up by open
    competitions. We do not think it is right not to provide internal competitive
    bowling for our members. Sandy
    said that Bel Playa may not be in existence, next season. We are going to
    increase member only competitions, most of which will be drawn. For the Classic
    last November with the exception of Superbowl, we only had 11 entries from
    other clubs. Yet we had 74 entries from our club entering other open
    competitions. Members want to stay at home, the Super 8 Competition was a good
    competition, and we had been criticized for not running club day during
    competitions. To this end we are trying to organise a Competition Sub Committee
    3 extra members working in co-operation with the Competition, the members
    approached were Mike Old, Jill Goode and Davy Hunter, with Russell (if elected)
    as Competition Secretary. Tony Wright would be asked to continue organising
    Sundays, with the help of Ros.
11. Treasurers
    Report – Russell Roper said we had an
    opening balance of €7409 and a closing balance of €6432, which meant our expenditure,
    was €977 above our income. We had subsidised the team’s shirts and Black Tower
    and Hughie Holgate had given €400 towards the cost of shirts. Our membership
    had remained the same as last year and Russell said the committee had decided
    to keep the membership fee the same as last year i.e. €17 He said the committee
    would continue donating prizes etc. and continue the policy of giving some of
    the accumulated funds back to the members. Finally he thanked Roger Fabron for
    assisting in the collection of annual subscriptions and Doreen Fabron for
    managing the finances in his absence. (Copy of full report attached) Acceptance
    of the financial report proposed by Richard Welton seconded by Frank Vernon.
12. Hughie Holgate
    then spoke, asking the membership
    where you can get such good value for Playing Bowls on the coast. He said we
    have a great unpaid committee who put up with all the hassle and complaints by
    members. Mel and her team provide excellent service providing food and drinks
    throughout the year. He congratulated Reg Goode on his initiative for arranging
    the open day which recruited at least 6 brand new bowlers. He also
    congratulated Oliver Batchelor our junior member for reaching the finals of the
    4’s competition of the March Classic. He said we had more ideas and over the
    next season we hope to try some. The club house was supported by a core of the
    membership, and the public who enjoyed watching the bowling while they ate and
    drank. 1 or 2 clubs along the coast are struggling and without the support of
    the membership we could be in the same boat! He announced he had changed the
    playing fees for the next season, starting 1^st September. The 3
    month playing fee would be €175, 6 month €275 and yearly €400. The 3 months and
    6 months playing fees could start on the 1^st of any month. The pay
    as you play fee would now be €8. Hughie said that the monthly fee had caused
    too much hassle. Cyril Barter said he thought Hughie should re-instate the
    monthly playing fee, Gordon Adams thought that some players would not get
    enough games in to make a 3 monthly fee viable. He also suggested that he
    thought that it would be a good idea for members to be able to buy a book of
    tickets, and hand over a ticket every time they wanted to play. Hughie did not
    think this would work. Sandy
    asked about League fees, Tony Farmer said he thought the League playing fee
    would be €7. Sandy
    wanted to have his disappointment minuted and said that it was unfair that all
    visiting league teams would pay €7 whilst our pay as you play members would
    have to pay €8. The selection committee only have 1 choice and that is to pick
    members of the club. At the moment we have only 7 pay as you play members in
    the league team. At this point Reg Goode said that this subject was to be
    brought up as agenda item number 17. Neil Marshall said he was quite willing to
    pay €8 or €10 every time he played, he pointed out that Hughie has to survive
    12 months a year, and thinks we are lucky to have a Bowls Club, and he reminded
    members that Hughie could change the use of the Bowls Club if he wanted. Tony
    Farmer said the truth was most were paying playing fees in advance, but some
    look at the calendar and pay their fees when they see competitions they are
    interested in, they are using the system. Frances Bluett said she cannot afford
    to pay playing fees in advance because of the cost of driving up the coast. Ros
    Wright said she has health problems but pays her fees up front and makes sure
    she gets full value from them. Tony said it would be impossible to put together
    a package that would satisfy every one, but it had been noted that members were
    happy the 3 monthly fee had been re-instated.
13. Federation Report
    As Ken McBride could not attend the
    meeting Doreen Fabron read out the report. The Andalucian Championships had been
    cancelled again this year. The National Championships have changed the format
    back to anyone who wishes to enter they will take place at Torrevija 14^th
    – 28^th May. We have 13 Federated members 11 of whom played in the
    Malaga Squad against the Spanish and Portuguese teams, the men won both
    contests and the ladies lost to Spain.
    The Federation 4’s competition will take place in the summer, 2 teams have been
    entered. (Full report attached.)
14. Tony Farmer
    reported on the proposed changes for the 2011/2012 League season, and said that
    it had been decided to keep the format the same as last year. Richard Welton
    said that the Puma’s team had not completed its schedule, which was not its
    fault. Next year there will be 9 in the Tigers League and 7 in the Lions
    League. The season will start on the 14^th October. It had been noted
    that some clubs had been filling the 2 day gaps between competitions with club
    competitions. Doreen Musgrove thought if clubs do not play matches they should
    forfeit the points which should be award to the clubs they should have played.
    It was pointed out that a lot of the members from Los Amigos and Bel Playa had
    returned to the U.K which was the reason they could not play their final games.
    We heard that a team from Antequera called La Posada had applied to join the
    league. It had been suggested that they join the Lions League and at a later
    date if they wanted to they could apply to move up to the Tigers League. Tony
    Farmer thought it would be more sensible, David Hunter agreed new clubs/teams
    should enter the Lions League. It was announced that La Posada were coming to
    Benavista to play a friendly match on 29^th June 2011.
15. Tony asked John
    Carr to present an overview of the training programme in the club.  John said that in 2010 he and Barry Pemberton
    attended an instructor’s course and passed. John thanked Reg Goode and Tony for
    the opportunity of using their skills. Thanks to the open day held in October
    2010 we had attracted several new members, Mick & Lin, Tony & Jackie, Andrew,
    John and Stephen, and he and Barry had organised weekly training sessions,
    until they felt ready to join in club days. They had also arranged a refresher
    day for experienced bowlers.
16. The addenda were
    re-approved proposed by Richard Welton seconded by Frances Farmer.
17. There followed
    the election of the committee for the year 2011/2012. Most nominations were
    uncontested but a vote had to be held for the Ordinary member Selection Committee,
    between Richard Welton and Allan Bates. Richard Welton was elected. The new
    committee is. President Hughie Holgate, Vice-President Doreen Fabron, Captain
    Bill Ogden, Vice-Captain Reg Goode, Competition Secretary Russell Roper,
    Treasurer Tony Farmer, Secretary Judy Old, Ordinary Member Jan McManus and
    Ordinary Member Selection Committee Richard Welton.
18. The old committee
    left the table and the new committee took their place and Doreen Fabron the new
    Vice- President thanked members for selecting the new committee and the old
    committee for their dedication over the past year. She then presented Dennis
    King with a bottle of Champagne
    as a thank you for all the hard work he had put in over the last 4 years as
    Captain.
19. A proposal
    regarding the selection committee had been received from Ken McBride, but as he
    was unable to attend the meeting Doreen read it out (Copy attached). He
    suggested just 4 people on the selection committee, Club Captain/Chair and the
    captains of each team. John Carr had also submitted a proposal (Copy attached).
    He suggested they take into account the compatibility of team members, should
    partners play in the same team, Captains of the day should report back to the
    selection committee, as long as they were honest and fair. It would be good to
    have a non playing, unbiased observer. Possibly teams who lose 3 times should
    automatically be demoted; he asked should players be allowed to state their
    preferences as to who they play. Should there be an appeals procedure and
    should players who are dropped be told before they read the team selection
    list. Ian Anthony suggested only the 3 team captains should be on the selection
    committee. Barry Pemberton said that nearly all of Ken and John’s suggestions
    were the way the selection committee operated at the moment. Doreen asked for a
    show of hands, those in favour of Ken’s suggestion 0 votes, those in favour of
    John’s suggestion 3 votes, the majority of members voted to leave the selection
    committee as it is.
20. Reg Goode
    proposed a change to the selection criteria for league matches. He suggested
    that only members who pay their club membership and their playing fees up front
    should be selected to play in the league teams. He felt it was unfair that
    members who pay as they play should be picked, as this would mean they pay
    their €17 and then only €7 once every 2 weeks during the league season to the
    club. He thought it was unfair that bowlers who had not paid rink fees should
    be picked to play in the 1^st team. Sandy said he was very happy to play in the 1^st
    team even though he does not come to club days. Wendy suggested that not
    everybody had the money to pay €400 up front. It was pointed out that they
    could pay either a 6 month fee of €275 or 3 month of €175. Russell said if
    everybody thought like Sandy
    and paid and played we would not have a club. There followed a heated
    discussion. Bill Ogden asked if we are prepared to accept bowlers in the league
    who only pay and play, Gordon Adams said if a bowler was a club member, he/she
    should be eligible for selection. Sandy
    agreed. A vote was then taken and the members voted by a majority that, any
    member of the club was eligible to be selected to play in the league regardless
    whether they had paid rink fees up front or not.
21. 3 members were
    asked to sign the minutes as a true record when they were prepared. Richard
    Welton, Allan Bates and Reg Batchelor volunteered.

The
meeting closed at 1.00pm

Richard
Welton                                      Allan Bates                              Reg Batchelor