AGM Minutes 2001

Welsh Hockey

Hockey Wales

Minutes Of Annual General Meeting

Saturday 16th June 2001

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Venue: Ladywell House, Newtown

Date: Saturday 16 June 2001

Time: 1415 - 1630

President: Anne Ellis MBE

Chairperson: Alan Rookes

Present

M Bainbridge ( Plas Coch LHC ), J Barton ( Howardian LHC ), L Bayne ( WHUA ), S Bonsall ( Newtown High School ), C Brookes ( Buckley LHC ), AO Carter ( Life Member ), AM Cook ( WHUA ), T Cook ( Whitchurch HC ), C Crayford ( WHUA, Penarth HC ), M Edwards ( Vice Chairperson ), MA Ellis MBE ( President ), S Evans ( UC Aberystwyth HC ), R Gwalchmai ( Newtown LHC ), J Hamer MBE ( Life Member ), RJ Harris ( Life Member ), J Hunt ( Cardiff Athletic LHC ), D Jones ( Colwyn Bay LHC ), K Jones ( WHUA ), M Judd ( University of Aberystwyth HC ), P Knowles ( Llandudno HC), JE Law ( WHU Council ), J Livesey ( Cardiff Athletic LHC ), C Llewellyn ( Caerphilly LHC), N Maylan ( WHUA ), AV Mullin ( Life Member ), C O’Donnell MBE ( Life Member ), NM Owen ( Denbigh HC ), M Peary ( WHUA ), J Price ( Pontypridd LHC ), A Richards ( Newtown LHC ), JR Roberts ( WHUA ), M Roberts ( WHUA ), AJ Rookes ( Chairperson ), P Rosser ( Rhyl H C), J Sargent ( Cwmbran HC ), P Sharples ( Plas Coch HC ), ME Smith ( Colwyn Bay LHC ), J Spence ( Buckley LHC ), G Story ( Cardiff HC), L Thomas ( Life Member ), A Williams ( Colwyn Bay HC )

In attendance

I Blackburn ( SCW ), CJ Brewer ( Director of Hockey ), HE Borrow ( Administrator ), TM Jones ( Finance Officer ), HM Thomas ( RDO SE )

President’s Welcome

The President welcomed everyone present, with particular reference to Life Members and Ian Blackburn. She gave a special welcome to Hilary Borrow and Theresa Jones, this would be the last AGM for both ladies.

She congratulated the Women’s U-21 Squad on their result in Argentina and Newtown LHC on their Silver Medal in the European Cup Winners competition. She also congratulated Plas Coch HC on both their successes in the European Cup Winners Cup and their excellent hosting arrangements.

The President would speak on the FIH Year of the Youth later in the meeting.

Apologies for Absence

AJ Bevan, J Brown, RD Caddick, F Davison MBE, R Fletcher, Rev G Flegg, A Lints, CJ Marriott, N Pallot, SL Powell, DEH Salter, BD Scott, B Williams, JG Williams, M Williamson.

Clubs – Clwb Hoci Ardudwy LHC, Gowerton LHC, UC Bangor HC, UC Bangor LHC.

		Action
2.	Minutes of the 2000 Annual General Meeting Approved, subject to the following amendment:- P 1 Present: A Williams ( Colwyn Bay HC ), not Cardiff HC.
3.	Matters Arising P 2 (3) High Performance Coach The President reported the appointment of Alan Lints to this post. The post is now referred to as the National Performance Director. P2 (3) Women’s competitions It was confirmed that a meeting had been held between the Competitions Committee and National League representatives. P2 (4) WHU 1999 Accounts These were not completed and therefore not distributed in September 2000. The new Finance Officer, Theresa Jones, had been asked to complete them. She had done this effectively and efficiently. P2 (5.6) Welsh Festival of Youth Hockey The clash of dates with the Aberystwyth Camp was resolved. However, due to the Foot & Mouth problem the Welsh Festival of Youth Hockey would not be held this year. P2 (5.6) RAF Careers It was confirmed that the RAF Careers were now supporting the Welsh Schools Championships. P3 (8) Player Registration The meeting noted that the points of clarification requested at the last AGM had not been provided. P4 (11) Anne Mullin reported that, when consulted, the schools had expressed the view that they did not want any change to the present system ( continued inclusion of 6^th Form Colleges in the Schools’ U-18 Championships ). A suggestion was made that this should be a matter for further consideration under "Development". P4 (13) Appointment of Auditors The meeting was advised that the financial remuneration required by the appointed auditors was considered to be too much. The Director of Hockey and Finance Officer had consequently sought an alternative auditor and Stephen Brown & Co of Newport had been appointed. P4 ( 14) Standing Committee Chairpersons It was noted that the references to the appointment of Lynne Thomas and Alison Cook should not have been included in the Minutes, as they were appointed after the AGM.	Director of Hockey Development Committee
4.	To Receive the 1999 Accounts of the Welsh Hockey Union The Accounts had been audited by Robert Hugh and were accepted by the meeting after the Finance Officer had answered several queries.
5.	To Receive the 2000 Accounts of the Welsh Hockey Union The Finance Officer spoke to the previously distributed Accounts. After answering several minor queries the Accounts were accepted. The Finance Officer was thanked for her presentation of the 1999 and 2000 Accounts.
6.	Reports President – nothing to add. Chairperson – The Chairperson spoke to his report. He thanked Hilary Borrow and Theresa Jones for their services as Administrator and Finance Officer respectively. Both posts are being re-advertised, although Hilary will stay on in a part time capacity until a new Administrator is appointed.

		Action
6.	Reports continued Development – nothing to add. Competitions – A Cook advised that the West Hockey Association had authorised talks on some form of South Wales & West of England League merger. Discussions have commenced, but progress is slow. A query was raised re girls playing hockey through schools and, therefore, being part of the school affiliation fee, whereas most of the boys’ competitions were played via clubs and, therefore, they were required to pay individual memberships It was noted that although individual membership had been successful, names and addresses of junior players were not always given. Youth & Schools – 73 participants for the Aberystwyth Camp, including a handful of boys for the first time. John Roberts queried why RAF Careers had paid for the South Wales Boys’ competitions and not North Wales Boys’ competitions. As far as the meeting was concerned there should be no difference and John was advised to contact Roger Caddick direct. A Cook advised that Chris Després was standing down from organising the National Boys’ competition after many years in post. The President thanked Chris for his considerable efforts. A Cook apologised for an error in her report. The winner of Welsh Schoolgirls’ U-18 Championship was Hawarden High School, not Howardian. Performance & International – J Law thanked all those involved in international hockey. John advised that Bryn Williams had agreed only to manage the team until after the World Cup Qualifier, when he would re-assess his position. A question was raised on how young players are selected for national teams. John Law made it very clear that anybody nominated by any club or any Coach would be looked at and it was normal to see boys on more than one occasion before reaching a decision. It was noted that Scotland had withdrawn from the Men’s Junior Celtic Cup and Austria had been invited to replace them. Further discussion is needed re the future of the Celtic Cup, i.e. is it going to be preparation for other tournaments or an independent tournament? The change of dates created difficulties. The Men’s U-21 Squad would compete in the GB Academy Challenge. The President thanked all Coaches and managers for their hard work. The WHU was very grateful to all its volunteers. Marketing & Publicity Co-ordinator – The President advised that Roger Caddick was standing down from this post and was thanked for his work. The possible "splitting" of this post was discussed and members were asked to try to identify possible replacements. It was confirmed that various posts will be advertised on the website and in the forthcoming Club & School mailing. Umpiring & Technical – Colin Crayford drew attention to the last paragraph of his report and pointed out that more umpires were needed. In addition umpire development needs to be included in the Development Section review currently under preparation. Development Section ( Employees) – nothing to add. GBOHB – nothing to add. Prize Draw 2001 – Anne Mullin and Gillies Williams were thanked for their efforts in organising this. Friends of Welsh Hockey – The value of holding a substantial amount of funds in this account without positive benefit to the Union at this time was queried. It was agreed that the Management and Finance Committee should further consider use of these funds. The distribution of the income from the MBNA credit card scheme was also queried. The Director explained the current arrangements which made specific distribution totally impractical. It was suggested that we should consider transferring this business to another Bank. The President thanked Roger Caddick for continuing to operate the Friends account.	J R Roberts Director of Hockey Management & Finance Committee
7.	Constitutional Changes All amendments, additions and deletions were agreed as in Appendix 1, with the exception of an amendment to Section 3(d) where the word "membership" was changed to "registration". Proposal re UC Aberystwyth HC becoming part of South Wales Men’s Region was agreed. Proposal by Swansea LHC to amalgamate West Wales Women’s Region and the South Wales Women’s region was agreed.	Director of Hockey

		Action
8.	Player Registration Fees 2001 / 2002 Council’s recommended proposals were accepted; fees for 2001 / 2002 are as follows: Club fee £ 40.00 Senior member £ 12.00 Youth member ( aged 14-17 incl. on 1 January 2002 ) £ 5.00 Mini member ( aged 13 and under on 1 January 2002 ) £ 1.00 Secondary School £ 15.00 Primary School £ 10.00 It was agreed that Competitions Committee should review competition rules to ensure that they are consistent with registration rules.	Competitions Committee
9.	Election of Officers Re-elected en bloc - President Anne Ellis MBE Chairperson Alan Rookes Vice Chairperson Margaret Edwards
10.	Appointment of Auditors Stephen Brown & Co were appointed as Auditors.
11.	Standing Committee Chairpersons It was confirmed that the Standing Chairpersons for the forthcoming year are:- Development Lynne Thomas Performance & International John Law Competitions Alison Cook Umpiring & Technical Colin Crayford
12.	Date and Venue of next Annual General Meeting Sunday 16 June 2002 at Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells, Powys.
13.	Any Other Business Year of the Youth – members were informed of the details of this project, culminating with the World Hockey Festival taking place during the Junior Men’s World Cup in Hobart in October 2001. Advertisements are going out shortly for International Women’s Teams’ managers and Coaches. Hilary Borrow, the retiring Administrator, was thanked for all her work in the past and for agreeing to stay on part time until her successor is appointed. The President presented her with a gift on behalf of the WHU and the Director presented her with a gift from the staff. The Director of Hockey reported that the affiliation and registration database is up to date. The Director appealed to Clubs to correct the membership printouts rather than fill in new forms for existing members to save wasted staff time. Year of the Youth Conferences to be held in July / August on three sites – WIS, Swansea, Rydal Penrhos ( Colwyn Bay ). One youth member per club, plus one reserve, were invited. John Roberts asked whether Welsh Hockey was aware that the Sports Council had allocated £300,000 for supporting players who had to travel for competitions i.e. North to South Wales. The President and Ian Blackburn explained that the letter to which he was referring was not correct; £200,000 was available and, of this, Welsh Hockey had received £20,000 to reduce the contribution of international players, especially senior international players.
	There being no further business, the meeting closed at 4.30pm.

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