HECKINGTON & DISTRICT BOWLS CLUB

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on Wednesday the 22nd September 2022 in the Bowls Club Clubhouse. 
 12 members were present. The meeting started at 7.00p.m.

1.  Minutes silence
   This past year thankfully no members have passed away
2. Apologies for Absence
    These were received from Wendy and Michael Repp, Malcolm McIntyre, Malcolm and Nadine Foster, John and Chris Collard, Patricia Mellet Brown,
and Les Richardson.

3. Minutes of the 2018 AGM and Matters Arising.
    No matters were arising from the minutes. These were then proposed by John and seconded by Anne, as an accurate account of the previous AGM. This was accepted by the meeting. 
4. Chairman’s report. 
   The Chairman thanked people for coming. It has been a difficult year due to Covid. Club competitions and weekly leagues had been successfully run and completed, and he thanked Paul for his efforts. It was good to see a finals day when all three singles competitions were run together. The club was runners up in the Ron White Shield held at Mareham Le Fen. Friendlies were played against Eslaforde Park and North Hykeham. There were several open days held throughout the season, advertised through Facebook and the website. Next year we would like to introduce a new Club Shirt (Examples were on show), and also reintroduce the Mason’s and the Dave Wollerton using sponsorship. 
   Dave and Sid are running a Christmas event to be held on Friday 17th December 6.30 to 10. Pie and Chips will be available, as well as a glass of wine and tea and coffee, £10 all in. Bring a raffle prize. We were fortunately qualified to receive £18000 in government grants, and also a £748 from the COOP. This allowed us to purchase many things including a new mower. He thanked Paul for running the competitions and all the work he has done now he is standing down from the committee. Likewise John who is standing down as Secretary. Also he thanked Paul Rooke and his wife for cutting the hedges, and putting in a new base for the shed, Chris Clayton for designing the shed. Dave also thanked the committee for their support. He thanked Sid for never letting the club down, making life easier, and being a valued friend. The Club has a great future in its Centenary year. 
5. Secretary’s report.     
  Well really it is a report covering 2020 also, although nothing much happened on the playing front that year. The lockdown brought the playing of bowls to a full stop, March time I think it was.  All the fixtures and social functions had been arranged for 2020. Some 50 events all told.  When the ban on playing was introduced everything else however continued. Dave continued with a will looking after the green and continued to improve it as he is doing today.      No one knew how long things were going to continue in our state of lockdown. Would funds eventually run out we did not know.  Fortunately our status as a small business was our saviour. The NKDC contacted me in April 2020 and said that we could apply for a Small Business Government grant.  It was the easiest application I have ever made and within a week we received a grant of £10000. Marvellous!!  This relieved things considerably and we were able to plan for the future and how the money could be spent.  Again on the financial side we decided to cash in the investment bond of over £7000 in the Buckinghamshire building society when it matured in November. The money was transferred to the current account so all the clubs funds were easily accessible. Some bowling was allowed in a very restrictive way in 2020.Much work was carried out by members as the restrictions were eased somewhat. This April, 2021, we were able to apply for and receive a second grant of £8000.We also applied to be a Community Champion with the COOP and received a further £750.  All this allowed a spending/investment campaign that the club previously, in times past, could not manage. So over the last 2 to 2 and a half years we have invested some £14000. Purchases include, a new pump for the green’s watering system, a new generator, a new equipment shed, a top dressing spreader, a “Billy goat” scarifier, a new lawn mower, and the electrics in the club house have been totally replaced and brought up to spec, and the new generator has been connected to provide the power. Bowling was gingerly opening up for the 2021 season. However the club decided not to enter any of the leagues, or run any club open competitions. This was the case “across the piece”. Individual clubs made their own decision whether to join their respective leagues or not. We decided to continue with internal club competitions to fill the gap. Paul did an excellent job organising and running these. Apart from “normal” club competitions Paul organised internal leagues on Mondays and Wednesdays, along with open sessions on Fridays and Saturday mornings. On the recruitment front an open day was run each month and some five people joined to play regular bowls. Towards the end of this season, 2021, individuals were participating in weekend competitions at other clubs.  Three friendlies with other clubs were arranged and played. Two against Eslaforde Park and one against North Hykeham. The club also competed in the Ron White Shield at Mareham Le Fen and did very well coming second.    Although there are always challenges ahead, the club has invested money wisely and the members rallied round when work on the green, hedge cutting, concreting etc. needed carrying out. I would like to thank Dave for all the hard work he has put in over this time, and Paul, Anne, Paul and his wife, and not forgetting Sid for their significant contributions.  
6. Treasurer’s report.
   Anne presented the club accounts. These were very comprehensive, and clear. . The balance is now a healthy £12597.05. We have cashed in the Buckinghamshire Building Society Bond, which stood at £7472.53 for the year. Of the major revenue expenses, £1317.30 was spent on rent and insurance. The Chairman added that going forward we need to balance the books, based on income expenditure projections for the year. Support was needed was needed from everyone next year.

7. Competitions report.      
          These went very well. Paul did something different whereby he produced a form for each member to fill in which competitions/leagues they were interested in and the money was paid up front. The competitions went well and to time. On Finals day all three singles finals were played. The Monday and Wednesday leagues went well. Roll ups were held on Fridays and Saturdays. Paul has listed previous year’s winners on the board. They will be run the same again next year.   
8. Next year’s League Entries (2022)
       It was decided to enter a team in the Woodhall Spa League. The club would like to enter the Sleaford league and drop the Coningsby League.  This is dependent on the Sleaford League going down to 9 players per team. This is a possibility and dependent on the outcome of the AGM of the Sleaford League which is usually held in February.
    
9. Election of Officers for 2020 season   
  The following people were duly proposed and seconded and accepted by the meeting for the following positions in the club:

Chairman                                                        Dave Marriott 
Vice Chairman:                                               Linne Wollerton
Treasurer:                                                        Anne Clayton
Secretary:                                                        Michael Repp  
Social Organizer/Secretary:                         To be decided. 
Captain Coningsby League:                         To be decided
Captain of the Sleaford  League                  To be decided         
Captain Woodhall Spa League:                   Anne Clayton
Green manager:                                            Dave Marriott 
Clubhouse Manager:                                    Paul Rooke 
Development Officer:                                  To be decided
             
10. Money Raising Schemes/Bonus Ball
 	There was much discussion about this as the club needs to raise funds from a scheme such as the bonus ball or something that can raise money for the club next season. No firm conclusion was reached.
11. Membership Fees. 
    Fees for forthcoming season 2022.It was proposed and seconded and agreed to raise the membership fees to £45, keeping social membership to £10. It was also agreed that the Match/Tea fee for each player be increased to £2 home and away. Club Competition fees remain at £3 per person per competition. For away matches the car fees are £1 for less than 10 miles total journey, and £2 for games over 10 miles. “Roll up” fees will remain at £1; individuals going for practice etc. should be free. The fees for friendly matches will have be about £3 to cover for refreshments provided etc.

12. Constitutional Changes
   Dave suggested that revision of the constitution is necessary. This will be carried out by the committee. These revisions will be presented to the membership at the preseason meeting for further revision if necessary and ratification.

13. Life Memberships.
            The meeting wanted to know the criteria that are used to propose a club member to become a Life Member. These were clarified in the 2010 A.G.M. and read as follows:
•	A member must have been a member of the club for at least 15 years and have held office or carried out other important functions for at least five years.
•	Proposals for Life Membership must be made and seconded by current members.
•	Election to Life Membership can only be made at a General Meeting open to all members and must be approved by a two thirds majority of those present.
This information will be used to determine the eligibility of any current member.

14. Presentation Evening. 
  This is to be arranged at the end of January 2022. Venue, menu and price are to be determined.

15. Preseason Meeting
      This will be held towards the end of January.
16. Preparations for the centenary year 2022. The way forward
There were several ideas. Pens can be inscribed as giveaway presents. Exmemebers can be invited to a garden party utilizing the Chapel room, kitchen, school room, and lawn. A match could be held between old members and current members. New club shirts celebrating the centenary could be purchased. There was a suggestion that we purchase commemorative tankards. Sponsorship for the event and the shirts should be encouraged.  A budget for the year needs to be decided by the committee.
17. A.O.B.
An A.O.B. item was raised. It was suggested that the Indoor Short Mat Bowls Club and the Bowls club could combine in some way. The general thought was that personnel of both clubs could be encouraged to participate in each other’s sport.

 The Meeting closed at 8.44 p.m.