Page 13 - Summer 2016

AGM 2:Layout 1 01-Sep-16 9:03 AM Page 1

Treasurer’s Report reveals over £10,000 loss 13
The Treasurer’s Report showed a loss of over £10,075 which followed on from last year’s loss
of £19,302. The Treasurer, Barbara Mills, said that without the cost of the World Championships
the loss on the year would have been only £5,622. Many questions were again raised over the re-
port and various suggestions as to how the financial situation could be improved.
The point made by more than one delegate was that much of the expenditure is on the “top
end” bowlers such as the England team and England Ladies etc and the big events which involve
a tiny percentage of our bowlers. Roger Green of North Yorks suggested that National Champi-
onship fees be raised.
Membership Cards – back to the old style
The decision was revealed to return to the old style membership cards. It was explained that the
new style cards were needed for the “Countdown” scheme which the ESMBA withdrew from a
while ago and that it is easier for the old style cards to be used. This is because blank cards can
be issued to counties each year for them to fill in the numbers themselves for their members.
The Coaching Directors Report said that there had been no coaching courses since 2013
and that records for current coaches were incomplete. It stated that all existing coaches have been
contacted, where contact details are available, with a view to update records and renewing
CRB/DBS certificates.
There was much talk about coaching during the day, which there normally is at ESMBA
AGMs, and it is remarkable that after so many years of talking on the subject so little has ever
been achieved. One delegate raised the question of the value of coaching in short mat bowls
where most bowlers tend to learn from the better bowlers at their clubs anyway.
Umpiring standards questioned
The Umpires Report by Martin Davies was mainly thanking others for their support. Questions
were asked about the standard of umpiring. Chairman Barry Hedges indicated that the ESMBA
are working on retesting umpires. He questioned the standard of some umpires who had umpired
for years. Bob Weafer said he would have no objection to retesting as he recalled that he once
made an error in a final when umpiring.
Brandon Whittaker’s Competition Secretaries Report said that the National Championships
went smoothly over the six days and that a plate competition had been introduced into the Mixed
Fours event. The election of Officers then took place. Unopposed and re-elected were President
– George Clarke, Chairman – Barry Hedges, Treasurer – Barbara Mills, Competition Organiser –
Brandon Whittaker, Umpires Director – Martin Davies and Coaching Director – David Millington-
Jones. Elected as Committee members were Roy Duke, Rachel Pedley & Rachel Cordy.
Suzanne Gunter was then proposed and elected as Committee Secretary. The positions of
Development Officer and Administration Officer were left unfilled. Honorariums were agreed which
were £500 for the Chairman, £700 for the Treasurer, £350 for the Competition Secretary, £300 for
the Umpires Secretary and £650 for the Competition Secretary. Brandon Whittaker insisted on
putting his Honorarium of £650 back “into the pot.”
Administration Officer role in doubt
The AGM was followed by an Open Forum. The Administration Officer post was discussed and it
was suggested that the ESMBA Committee considers possible Constitution changes to revert back
to appointing separate officers for various roles and abolishing the post. Safeguarding was again
discussed in detail, this subject seems to take up so much time these days. Barry Hedges was
asked just how many cases he had to deal with over the year and he answered two.
ESMBA is funding welfare officer courses which are four hours long and bowls specific. A
long discussion was had on the BDA. It was agreed that Barry Hedges continues to talk to the
BDA but past history should be kept in mind. There was a general feeling that short mat bowls
had benefited little, if any, by its costly past association with the BDA. Coach Bowls was discussed,
training is £130 per coach.