30th March 2004
Present: Adrian Birchall, Matthew Clark, Phil Clarke, Simon Clarke, Stuart
Drysdale, Andy Goddard, Andy James, Tony O'Connor, Steve Parr,
John Simpson, Dave Terry, Richard Williams
1) The beers were got in.
2) The following new members were approved: Chris Malde,
Ed Bartram, Andy Pacey, James Donovan and Kevin Bartholomew.
3) The minutes of the 2003 AGM were
approved unanimously.
4) Chairman's report
Phil Clarke (hereinafter PC) welcomed everybody to the 23rd
AGM of the RTCC. In a brief
address he said that he wouldn't be playing much this year because he would
be out hunting (for a house). He said that one of the club' s strengths was
its social side and he enjoyed the company. He said he was always at the end
of a phone to help members with their personal problems and that he could also
advise on club matters.
Stuart Drysdale presented the club's accounts in landscape format.
He reported an unexplained £112 credit. The accounts showed that Stuart had
priced £250 in sponsorship out of the Royal Bank of Scotland. Cecil asked if
we were obliged to wear the bank's logo. SD continued that nets had run at a
loss and that next year's loss was expected to be even greater. "Was that
a net loss?" asked Steve Parr. SD proposed that match fees remain the same.
He thanked his various assistants in 2003. Barely concealing his tears, ex-treasurer
Tony O'Connor paid tribute to ex-treasure Adrian Birchall's
budgets of old. Adrian Birchall, his lower lip quivering
noticeably, said that he missed shading in his pie charts. Subscriptions were
frozen and the accounts were passed.
6) Secretary's report
Steve Parr said that his job was particularly difficult when
there were two games over a weekend. He noted that certain key members were
playing less frequently and that the hard core had shrunk. He thought nets was
a good place to recruit. Andy James underlined that new blood was needed. SP
didn't see himself being secretary for much longer and he wasn't bothered by
his phone bill. Andy Goddard said that quite a few players had to travel far.
Changing the subjects (chairmen are entitled to do this), PC asked if there
could be toilet breaks factored into next year's AGM
agenda. DT suggested that such breaks could be itemised
as 'get the beers out'. AG asked how players were selected when a game was oversubscribed.
SD indicated a first-come first-serve basis.
7) The beers were got
in.
DT said the club had performed reasonably well despite the lack of players. Several new players had joined the club which was encouraging. Winning the George Orwell tournament was a highlight of the year and he hoped that we could repeat the feat. Applause.
9) Fixture list 2004
Richard Williams presented a list in which no weekend contained more
than one game (excluding Friday night fixtures and the tour). This was to make
the secretary's job more manageable. SD suggested various alterations concerning
Wytham, Kimpton and Byfield.
10) Club officers
No changes.
11) The beers were got
in
12) The Railway Tavern
The was a discussion on the club and its relationship with the public
house after which it is named. Cecil said that the relationship had been strained
before and that difficulties had been overcome. PC thought that if we asked
the landlord in plenty of time, the landlord might provide sandwiches after
a home game. Ideas were kicked around but no firm conclusions were reached.
The issue was filed as ongoing.
13) AOB
There was a discussion on the poor turnout at nets - sometimes as low
as six. There had been a few problems collecting money. Matthew Clark suggested
sharing with George Orwell and possibly other clubs. Most present thought this
a good idea. AB questioned whether nets were held at a convenient time. He felt
that they should be either earlier or later. SP liked the idea of bringing in
a coach. DT said that nets provided an opportunity to get a bat in your hand.
RW said that there was nothing wrong with having something
hot in your hands. PC motioned that we hire nets next year (2005) and that we
invite others. Motion passed.
There was a discussion
on special games. Several dates were mentioned on which to play a commemorative
game for Cie Malde. The
possibility of an Old Boys day was also mooted.
There was a discussion
on the tour. AG volunteered to organise accommodation
and suggested the hire of a minibus. DT was not so keen on the transport idea.
The club president asked people to submit details so that he
could prepare membership cards.
DT asked if the club had received any revenue from Amazon through the RTCC
website. It appears a minimum of £500 must be spent before a revenue stream
is triggered. The club captain further enquired as to whether anybody (apart
from SD) had managed to winkle sponsorship money out of their employers. SP
said that extracting funds of this sort from most large corporations was difficult.
Tony O'Connor broke with AGM tradition by not raising
the question of insurance. The question was raised anyhow by another and it
was noted that at the 2003 AGM, Mus had volunteered to look
into it. In his absence there was a discussion in which AJ
said that some people had insurance anyway, AG opined that some pitches were
dangerous while TO and SD warned against liability.
SP said that he would be wearing a helmet (this raised a few eyebrows but surely
what Steve does in the privacy of his own home is his business) while TO brought
the discussion to a close by undertaking to look into the matter.
There was a discussion
on first aid. DT said that after Cie died, the club
was criticised for the inadequacies of its first aid
preparedness. David Winskill had done some research
and found that first aid courses were expensive. AG thought that it might work
out cheaper if the club asked for group instruction. PC suggested we link up
with other clubs while SP warned that anybody contemplating a course of first
aid would have to give up a lot of time. SD pointed out that some corporations
offered first aid training to their employees free of charge. He said that the
club should look into costs before making a commitment.
The club president rose
to his feet and produced something resembling a handerkerchief
with which he dabbed at some rather mysterious stains on his crumpled jacket.
He passed on a message of goodwill from Bob Godfrey and tottered off to the
bar. His body language indicated that the meeting was closed.
Richard Williams