Norfolk V Chiltern

On Saturday eight adult teams and one junior team made the journey over to The Cottage for the day – although the journey was somewhat longer for a couple of people who got a little lost but managed to find us in the end!!

The day started well with a close first round which we won 5 – 4. Unfortunately things went a little wrong in the next round and we lost 7-2. This score does not reflect the scores as we had 4 games that were narrowly lost. Rounds three and four were closer but sadly we lost them both 5-4. Hoping to finish off the day on a high everyone went in to the last round raring to go and win their own games. Unfortunately this round did not go our way and we lost 7-2 but again had some very close games that could have gone our way which included one lost to 12 two lost to 10 and another two lost to 9.

Well done to “Her Butts” (Richie, Elaine and Harvey) for being the top Chiltern team of the day – Let’s hope you can carry this on next week and bring back top team from division two in the Combined squad.

So sadly on the day the result did not go our way, but as the day went on, our much loved ‘Chiltern team spirit’ kicked in and all the spectators were watching all games and when teams had finished their own games all spent time cheering on each other. I think that as a whole, the squad had a good day and hopefully it will be useful for bringing our team spirit alive quicker at Brean!!

I would like to say thank you to ALL the teams and supporters that made the effort and came for the day out. Also a big thank you to all those from around the region who lent me shirts for the day - they are all washed and ironed as promised and sat on my table waiting to be given back. If I don’t see people before I will bring them to Brean.

Thanks again and good luck all for the weekend

Sharon

OPEN MEETING HELD AT LUTON SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB,

ON WEDNESDAY 01 JULY 2009

1. PRESENT:

Jonathan Sewell (JS) Chairman

Alan Brockett (AB) Secretary

John Luke (JL) Competition Secretary

Toni Gates (TG) PRO

Jeremy Huntley (JH) YDO

Gareth Sullivan (GS) Regional Umpire

Peter Wright (PW) Elected Member

Paolo Infantino (PI) Elected Member

10 non-committee members as the attached list

2. APOLOGIES:

John Deaville (JD) Treasurer

Derek Northend (DN) Membership Secretary

Alan Roden (AR) Team Manager

Sharon Fane (SF) Elected Member

Chrissie Brockett

3. INTRODUCTION:

JS opened the meeting by explaining that the main purpose of the meeting was to see if the members wished to change any aspects of how the committee was running the Region and to discuss the motions the Region and other Regions had submitted to the EPA for presentation at the EPA Congress meeting scheduled to be held at Solihull on 18^th July 2009 and to nominate the necessary delegates to that congress.

4. FINANCIAL REPORT:

In JD’s absence his report was read out by AB.

There is £5,741.08 banked

In those accounts there are receipts of £5,394.00 in membership fees of which £4,587.00 has been paid to the EPA leaving £807.00 Regional Precept.

Through the fund set up for specific use on work to existing or new pistes, £140.00 has been paid out to Lidlington PC towards lighting and this leaves an outstanding balance in this fund of £690.59 including £330.59 carried over from last year.

The Travel/expenses fund stands at £500.00.

The Cash Book and Income & Expenditure sheets have been audited and approved by Neil Harding of Bradshaw Johnson & Co.

5. MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY’S REPORT:

DN’s report was given by JS - the Region currently has 317 members of which 44 are new members.

30 Clubs are registered with the EPA

6. COACHING:

TG explained that all the Region’s coaching courses etc were available to view on the web site.

JS advised the members that the Region was still trying to get EPA coaching courses held in the Region

7. PROPOSALS FOR REGIONAL CHANGES:

JS advised the members that there is a possibility that the Region will hold and run regular events at Whittlesey during the winter months; during week ends but obviously avoiding the winter leagues.

The discussion took place of what jurisdiction the Region had over non-affiliated leagues in the Region’s area, particularly over discipline, with specific input from the league chairmen and Regional Umpire present; the Region and therefore the EPA has no jurisdiction because in all cases the non-affiliated leagues’ constitutions made no reference to either the Region or the EPA; it was recommended by the members present that the non-affiliated leagues should introduce reference to both the Region and the EPA in their constitutions at their next AGMs.

Action: all leagues to liaise to introduce a clause into their disciplinary rules that permits any league to ban a player from playing in that league if they have been banned from any other league.

JS sought comments from those present and that played in the Region’s Triples competition about using a weekend for two of the “round robins”; comments were

• Most were very happy with the way that the weekend went and the atmosphere throughout the two days

• Only objections that had been made centred around player’s family and/or work commitments

• From an organising point of view disrupting parking for all other events that were scheduled at Ickleford over the weekend was difficult.

• The weekend didn’t and couldn’t replicate the Brean Sands weekend

• Using a weekend freed up a Sunday for other events

• Using two consecutive days did, as was intended, increase the pressure on players to perform

• Why not utilise two weekends for all Region’s Round Robin Triples

Action: prepare a motion for the Region’s AGM that two of the Region’s Round Robin Triples competition be played over one weekend

Eric Brown requested that he be given as much notice as possible of what will be required of Bancroft PC with regards to the Region’s Junior competition to be held there on Sunday 6^th September 2009.

8. EPA CONGRESS:

All motions that have been sent to the EPA by all Regions and that were accepted by the EPA to be added to the agenda for their Congress of Regions’ meeting were individually discussed and ultimately voted on; the results were:-

• Motion 1 – Schools Cup and affiliation proposed by EPA Management Committee – voted to back the motion

• Motion 2 – Competition Organisers proposed by EPA Management Committee – voted to back the motion

• Motion 3 – Playing proposed by East Midlands Region & Motion 4 Playing Matters proposed by Chiltern Region were considered together as they were very similar; the members voted that the Chiltern Region motion should take precedence over the East Midlands one; JS to contact EMEPA to discuss integrating the two motions together; with the proviso that the second paragraph reads “if the FIPJP structure is now to segregate male and female players” the members voted to back the motion

• Motion 5 – Working Groups proposed by the Chiltern Region – voted to back the motion

• Motion 6 – Creating a Piste Register proposed by the Chiltern Region – voted to back the motion

• Motion 7 – Grass Routes Development proposed by the Chiltern Region – voted to back the motion

• Motion 8 – Tiered Licensing proposed by the Chiltern Region – voted to back the motion

• Motion 11 – Discipline Procedures proposed by the Kent Region – voted to back the motion

9. APPOINTMENT OF REGIONAL DELEGATES TO EPA CONGRESS:

In answer to a question raised on the matter JS explained that delegates would be bound to vote as the Region had instructed on precise matters but that they would be expected to use their collective discretion when faced with matters that hadn’t been discussed in the Region beforehand.

JS again explained that the Region was entitled to be represented at the EPA Congress on 18^th July @ Solihull by one delegate for every 60 members or part thereof that were registered with the EPA on 30^th April.

As the Region has over 300 members registered, 6 delegates were required.

Those who offered to be delegates and were accepted were

Toni Gates

Jonathan Sewell

Jeremy Huntley

Keith Beattie

John Luke

Lynn Howard

10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS:

There was not anything raised.

The meeting closed at 10.10pm.

Motions from Chiltern Region

Motions on Playing Matters

World Championship and/or European Championships

Streamline the national series - by either minimising the number of juniors/ladies/espoirs/ over 55s tournaments or playing some at the same time. 

As the FIPJP structure is now segregating Male and female players. Single sex qualifiers can be held on same day at the same venue freeing up calendar.

Move to a system where we play 2 - 3 qualifying Grand Prix. The Top 8 from those tournaments then play 2 – 3 tournaments (at different) to select top 8. The precise number of tournaments to be decided at the Congress / AGM. Once a team has qualified for worlds/European's a coach/team manager is allocated to them to monitor their performance and arrange for them to play in top competitions. The remaining teams from the Top 8 are offered coaching opportunities to play abroad.

The top 2 from the top 8 would go straight into the following year's top 8, should they wish to.

Nationwide Opens

The EPA to work with the regions to establish a national series of Opens (with cash prizes). Aim to establish an umbrella sponsors for the series and a sponsor for each Open.

This series to form the basis of the “EPA Masters” with a suitable reward for winning.

Home Nations

1 day qualifier at central location. This qualification is separate to world or European qualifiers. Each team that qualifies can claim up to £80 per team in expenses against accommodation or travel.

Champion of Champion

Only regional winners and runners up are eligible to play in this event. No regions to schedule regional tournaments that clash with the C of C. Reward to be offered to the winners (eg entry to EPA Open).

Motions on Structure - Working Groups

For the EPA to form, as part of its structure, a series of Working Groups (virtual if necessary), drawing on the expertise available in the regions.

These groups are to tackle ALL areas of the sport for example

• Finances / fund raising

• coaching and team managers

• juniors

• espoirs

• senior representation

• venues

The aim of these groups is to concentrate on improving the sport in their given section. They will work closely with all regions sharing ideas and structures. These groups will work with the national coach, YDO etc but will take on a lot of the pressure and work load.

Motion on Creating a Piste Register

For the EPA to create a register of pistes for national competitions (to be administered by the umpiring community) - in terms of size and difficulty (with the EPA laying down some guidelines). 

Long term aim would see us start to work together (regions/EPA) to develop pistes of the right standard, but we have to document what we have first.

Motion on Grass Roots Development

For the EPA to work with the regions to generate and implement a strategy for the development of grass roots boules in the country.  Such a strategy to encompass youth development, shared learning, promotional activities and “grass roots” competitions.

This would be a mixture of freeing up the calendar (see above) to allow the local opens to begin flourishing again, advertising campaigns, school initiatives etc.  Basically, for the EPA to offer a proposition to players no matter at what level they play.

Motion on Tiered Licensing

For the EPA to conduct a feasibility study in implementing a tiered licensing (eg 3 tiers for club, regional, national) with the bottom level being (eg) £5).  The study would look at the feasibility in terms of how this will affect membership and (importantly) income needs and report back to Congress next year.

The aim of this would be to tap into the vast unlicensed swathe of players.  Get them into the structure, offer coaching and help them develop.  We could then start to run competitions by license type (as well as Opens) which would create a progression. 

Motion on Amendment to the Constitution

Amendment to Clause 5.4.6

Add “, subject to any amendments as may be agreed at the AGM” to the end of the last sentence.

Notice of Open Meeting

To be held at Luton Regional Sports Centre @ 8.00pm on Wednesday 1^st July 2009

Agenda:

1. Introduction

2. Apologies

3. Financial Report

4. Membership Secretary’s Report

5. Coaching Report

6. Proposal for Regional Changes

7. EPA Congress

8. Appointment of Regional Delegates to EPA Congress

9. Any other Business

The region are looking to host an EPA coaching course in our region. This is to qualify players as coaches not to improve your play. The region are happy to pay for any of our members to take this course/exam but in return we will expect you to help at a minimum of two of our organised coaching days over the following 2/3 years. The layout of the course can be found on the link below. If you are interested please contact Rob Munday (contact details can be found on the committee page). We need to know of your interest by the ends of March.

AGM HELD AT NHIA, LETCHWORTH,

ON MONDAY 24 NOVEMBER 2008

1. PRESENT:

            Jonathan Sewell (JS)                Chairman                                            

            Rob Munday (RM)                     Vice Chairman

            Alan Brockett (AB)                    Secretary                                                                                 

            John Luke (JL)                          Elected Member                                                         

            Jeremy Huntley (JH)                 Elected Member

            John Deaville (JD)                     Treasurer

            Toni Gates (TG)                        PRO

            Peter Wright (PW)                     Elected Member

            Derek Northend (DN)                 Membership Secretary

            Gareth Sullivan (GS)                Umpire

16 Members as the attached list

The meeting commenced at 8.05pm and JS opened the meeting by confirming the Preliminary Notice for the AGM as 13^th October and the Agenda/Notice as 13^th November 2008

2. APOLOGIES:

   Lynne & Dave Ciano.

 Adam Sullivan

3. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS AGM:

Acceptance of the Minutes of the previous AGM was proposed by Adrian Emson, seconded by Derek Northend and approved by the members.

There were no matters arising

4. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT:

    See attached report

5. REGION’S ACCOUNTS/TREASURER’S REPORT:

    See attached report and Income & Expenditure Account.                

    The closing balance, after uncleared debits and credits as at 31 October 2008 is £4,345.81

Acceptance of the accounts as presented was proposed by Peter Wright, seconded by John Luke and passed by the members.

6. REGION’S MEMBERSHIP FEES:

It was proposed by JD that the plussage that the Region adds to the Membership Fees charged by the EPA be kept at £3, with concession for new members joining up to end of August remaining at £10. This was proposed by Rob Munday, seconded by Tony Richards and accepted by the Members

7. ELECTION OF OFFICERS ETC:

JS advised the members that there had only been one nomination for each post of Chairman, Treasurer, Membership Secretary and Team Manager and therefore under Rule 7.2.1 of the Constitution the following Officers were declared elected.

        Chairman – Jonathan Sewell

        Treasurer – John Deaville

        Membership Secretary – Derek Northend

        Team Manager – Alan Roden

JS also advised the members that Jeremy Huntley had applied to be the Regional YDO and that as there were no other nominations the committee would be appointing him as Regional YDO, but only after he has received CRB clearance by the EPA.

Nominations for Elected Members have been received from Peter Wright and Sharon Fane and therefore under Rule 7.2.1 of the Constitution they were declared elected.

JS advised the meeting that the committee was prepared and authorised under Clause 7.2.2 of the Constitution to accept nominations for two more Elected Members, should anyone wish to be elected.

8. ANY OTHER BUSINESS:

JS advised the members that it was the intention of the Region to hold an open competition sometime in July/August

Luton Snowboule was confirmed as 28^th December 2008

NHIA Cuckoos Mixed Triples was confirmed as 26^th April 2009

Queen’s Head Triples was confirmed as 26^th July 2009

White Hart Triples was confirmed as 2^nd August 2009

Bird in Hand Mixed Triples was provisionally booked as 13^th September 2009

NHIA Cuckoos Fixed Coche Triples was confirmed as 27^th September 2009

White Hart Charity Triples was confirmed as 4^th October 2009

JS thanked all members for attending the meeting and closed it at 8.35pm