Humber Squash Organisation

Annual General Meeting (AGM)

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD AT 7.30PM ON MONDAY 21 MAY 2007 AT THE HULL AND EAST RIDING CLUB

PRESENT

• Robert Saffery,
• Steve Harris and Eddie Docherty (Directors of HDSA Ltd.) Representatives of the following Clubs and Centres:
• Eddie Docherty, Peter Hindmarsh - Appleby Frodingham
• Kenny Martin, George Marshall, Bryan Youltan - Anlaby
• Eugene Deegan - Barrow
• Andrew Barron, Kevin Driscoll, Mike Straw, Jonathan Rollison - Beverley & Blackburns
• Adam Toes - David Lloyd Ron Freitag, Mike Clemson, Garry Wallis - Ferriby Hall
• Valda Thornton, Derek Norris - Goole
• Paul Myers - Haltemprice
• Paul Webb, Kevin Laughton, Mark Birtles - Hull and East Riding.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

• were received from Withernsea.

REPORT ON THE 2006-7 SEASON

Robert Saffery reviewed the changed arrangements for the administration of the Association, in particular the development and use of the website instead of the payment of an Administrator. The League season had gone well, with few complaints and a number of reports of enjoyable matches played in a good spirit. Robert congratulated the winning teams of each division and the winners of the divisional trophies. He also referred to the other activities of the Association, in particular junior and coaches development, and thanked all those who had contributed, especially Mike Clemson and Steve Ball during the handover period from the old directors. Steve Harris, Kenny Martin and Adam Toes over the last season. Robert also recorded thanks to Mark Shipley (Area Development Manager, England Squash) for his active support.

 

There were comments from the floor on the website, both of appreciation and of concern that, towards the end of the season some results had not been included and league tables were incomplete. This would be discussed with the webmaster Mike Archibald. Next year the website would have a specific contact address for the league/ Competition results page.

 

Concern was expressed from the floor about the failure to retrieve the trophies for the divisional knockout winners, all of which had been donated by people involved with the Hull and District League in the past, and which therefore enshrined the historical antecedents of the League, one of the oldest in the country. Members were assured that the replacement trophies would bear the names of the people who had originally donated them. It was proposed to purchase trophies for teams winning each division (possibly instead of individual medals) and to look into having a trophy cabinet, which could be kept at one of the member clubs.

 

Financial Report

Introduction:

• Report based solely on operating cost of running H&D league. Awards For All Grant income and expenditure excluded for ease of making a direct comparison between tax year ending April 2006 & April 2007. Awards For All money has been spent, I'll give quick financial summary then report to come from Kenny Martin.
• Summary of year ending April 2006: ?2189 in general funds (carried forward from 2005). Collected ?2170 in membership fees plus ?70 bank interest Total monies available for the year ?4429. Total expenditure for that year was ?4569. As discussed at last years AGM, the association would make a loss (?140) if the financial situation remained the same. Vote passed to raise the Club membership fee to ?50 and team registration fee to ?45.
• Tax year ending April 2007: Collected ?2808 in membership fees and received ?500 in sponsorship ?19 bank interest. Minus deficit from previous year, monies available ?3187. Total expenditure for the year ?3043 resulting in ?144 surplus funds.
• Main reason for this is that we saved ?1001 in administration fees by having the new website developed to do all of the league computations, (along with loads of other stuff too!) therefore significantly cutting down on administrative duties. The money saved in hear was used to have the new Humber Squash Image designed, stationary printed and the rental of a PO BOX address, all designed to give the association a more professional image.
• A full report will be available to view on-line once the previous accountant has inform the inland revenue that they are no longer acting for us and the accounts have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the companies act 1985 by the new accountant.

 

Proposal for coming year

• Club registration fee to remain the same ?50.
• Team registration fee to be calculated on a 'per man' basis. ?7.50 or ?9 (min squad size 5 or 6, max 8 to be (discussed later) this would mean the association would receive roughly the same in revenue based on the number of clubs and teams currently registered. Max squad size designed to encourage clubs to enter more teams instead of have 30 registered in one team, as happened this year. Our future is dependant on more teams taking part in the competition, and is obviously more exciting. Also the 'per man' system may also discourage players just being registered to play the odd game at the end of the season for tactical reasons! Player fee to be received and cleared funds in H&D account before eligible to play. Closing date for registering new players 31st December 2007 (to be discussed).
• It is our intention that everyone registered will be able to compete in all competitions. However depending on demand, a national fee may have to be charged (racket ball & doubles ladder etc. To de discussed)

 

Awards For All

• Awarded ?4914
• ?3692 spent on coaching and squash festivals
• ?784 Spent on mini squash equipment
• ?325 Training new coaches
• ?60 venue hire for level I course ? ?53 referee exams

 

DEVELOPMENT

Kenny Martin, who had chaired the Development Group, reported that, with the help of the Awards for All grant and the input of a number of individuals, coaching courses had resulted in 20 more level 1 coaches, 10 level 2 and 5 level 3. There had been a mini-squash update for coaches. Two referees courses had been held, with 12 people taking the exam and 6 passing, one going on to achieve county grade. Three clubs had achieved various levels of the ES Charter. Woodford, Hull and East Riding and YPI have established mini-squash schools. In total 1500 children had participated in mini-squash programmes, local academies and school festivals. A formal partnership was also being developed between Humbersquash and the Humber Sports Partnership.

 

Plans for the coming year included a further schools festival funded by St Mary's Partnership, a mini-squash course funded by the Pickering Partnership, a Coaches Forum, further referee training and the submission of another Awards for All bid.

 

Kenny reported that he had resigned as Chair of the Development Group for personal reasons, but would remain involved in the Junior Academies.

 

PLANS FOR 2007-2008 SEASON

It was proposed to run the Hull and District League and the associated individual tournaments as in past years, incorporating any changes agreed at this meeting. A Ladies division would be revived if there was sufficient support a three person team should help clubs provide a team, and clubs would be sounded out about a Racketball competition and a Doubles ladder. A junior league was felt not to be viable, but friendly matches could be arranged, and interested clubs would be asked for contact details of their junior club managers George Marshall Anlaby SC offered to help organise the junior matches.

 

It was agreed that a proposed league structure of ten teams in each division (to try to increase the size of division 5) should be drawn up and circulated to clubs for their comments, with a deadline for submission of team entries. It was also agreed that entries for the individual tournaments would be restricted to those players who indicated their desire to participate. It was further agreed to adopt American scoring to 11 for all matches organised by the Association. Finally, it was agreed that postponed matches must be played, and results forwarded to the webmaster, by the start date for the second half of the season for matches postponed in the first half, and by two weeks after the last week of the season for matches postponed in the second half. Postponed matches have to be notified to the league administrator by the team requesting the postponement at least 1 week before the fixture date, with an explanation of why the fixture is being rearranged.

 

CHANGES TO THE RULES

1. Substitutes may only play for a team in a higher division than the one for which they are registered. There will be a points deduction if this rule is infringed.
2. Rule 3(b) relating to the right of clubs to refuse entry to any person even if participating in an event coming under the jurisdiction of the Association, shall be removed as not being relevant to the Rules of the Association.

 

FIXTURE MEETING

It was proposed that clubs should notify the Association of their teams and proposed night for home matches, and a fixture list would then be drawn up and circulated, which should obviate the need for a fixture making meeting. If required a follow up meeting will be arranged. An online application form and payment system will be available on the website, Clubs should endeavour to provide team details and payment to the association as soon as possible

 

REFEREEING AND MARKING

It was intended to hold a Refereeing and marking lecture prior to the start of the season. In order to encourage better standards of marking, it was agreed that any home team including someone who had attended a lecture and passed the provisional exam, should receive a bonus point for that match.

 

MEMBERSHIP AND TEAM ENTRY FEES

It was agreed that the fee for Club/Centre membership of the Association should remain at ?50 and the team entry fee for the Hull and District League should remain at ?45, but with an additional ?5 for each squad member above 6. Additional players would not be registered until the fee was paid, excepting juniors

 

APPOINTMENT AND RE-ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Robert Saffery, being the longest serving Director, offered himself for re-election and was accepted. It was agreed that Mark Birtles be co-opted to the Board of Directors.

 

OTHER BUSINESS

It was agreed that all clubs should ensure that players who participate in the Hull and District League are aware of the conventions regarding participating in the after-match socialising and provision of refreshments, as being an intrinsic part of the League's aim of providing competitive squash for the enjoyment of players. There being no further business, the meeting closed at 10.40 pm

 

 

(Download AGM documents in Word format:)

• AGM-Minutes-2007
• AGM-Minutes-p2-2006
• AGM-Minutes2005
• AGM-Minutes2004
• AGM-Minutes2003
• AGM-Minutes2000