2004 AGM Minutes



Railway Tavern
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

Apologies: Cash Babic, Pete Board, Martin Denniss, Gordon Harcourt, Paul Stocker, Alex Woodcraft, Ed Bartram, Joe

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.

5) Treasurer's report

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.

8) Captain's report

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