Nuneaton Ladies Bowling League 2025

MINUTES OF NUNEATON LADIES BOWLS LEAGUE AGM JAN 14TH, 2025.

 

 

 

WELCOME. Wendy welcomed all delegates to the 2025 AGM.  She wished everyone a Happy New Year and a successful season ahead. There was a lot to get through  and we would crack on, hopefully  finishing within a reasonable time.

 

 

ABSENT FRIENDS.  Condolences  were sent to Wendy Blackwell  and family on the loss of Martin in December. Also to the Clegg family, who not only lost Jill last year, but now, her husband Rowley. On a more cheerful note, many congratulations  were sent to Annette Keane  who got married at Christmas  and was now Mrs Barker. As she was present, Annette  received cheers from the delegates.

 

 

ROLL CALL.  Nearly all the clubs were present although 2 delegates were late. Apologies received from Atherstone Grove.

 

  Teams for the 2024 season will be as follows:- 

 

Atherstone Cons-2, Atherstone Grove-1, Attleborough-3,

 

Bed Ex-2, Dunlop-1, Griff and Coton-4, Haunchwood-1,  Newdigate-2, Phoenix Foxes-1, SAA-2, Tamworth Eagles-1, Wagon-2, Windmill-1.    Dunlop A have left the league 

 

 There will be further news from Griff  as one team may be withdrawn. This would leave 22 teams. A reminder about the January 31st deadline  was given.

 

 

MINUTES FROM AGM JANUARY 16TH 2024.  These had been on the MB Website.  

 

 

MATTERS ARISING- There were none, so the minutes were accepted and signed by Wendy as a true record. 

 

 

CORRESPONDENCE.  Kath reported  that correspondence  had been received  from North Midlands County from the B.C.G.B.A.  One was about the Development  Programme,  where bowlers would contribute £1 for each team they played  in. More information  would follow  after the BCGBA AGM. The other notice was on Safeguarding  and was on our MB Website. 

 

 

MATCH SECRETARY REPORT.  Separate sheet.  Emily thanked everyone  for a lovely season last year, and for being so supportive  and understanding  while she was learning  the role. She was hopeful of issuing  the fixture list as soon as possible.  Emily wished everyone good luck for the 2025 season. 

 

 

SECRETARY REPORT. Separate sheet. Kath wished everyone  a Happy New Year. Bowlers in our league are entitled to put themselves forward for County selection in the North Midlands County. If anyone was registered with the N. Midlands League,  they were entitled to put their names forward  for the new  Mid Warwickshire County. 

 

The joint presentation was very successful, but as Kate Williams  was stepping  down from North  Midlands League, the Committee  hoped the collaboration would continue.  Kate had left an indelible  mark on the presentation, which would  be hard to live up to. 

 

There were fewer registered  bowlers last season  and reduced competition entries. It was likely  that only pairs and triples would  be held next season. Kath hoped the weather  would be kinder this summer. 

 

 

TREASURER REPORT. Separate sheet.  A balance  sheet audited by Tracey Wilcox and Wendy Blackwell  was available. Main points were that bills were increasing  and that income from league fees does not cover prize money. The League could  not continue  in the way it has. She was proposing  reducing  honoraria and prize money. The ladies  who supported  the afternoon teas were thanked for their generosity as  they raised £316 in the raffles.

 

 

 

 AUDITORS REPORT.  Tracey said that a large part of the revenue  was raised from raffles and the afternoon  teas that Kath organised.  She said that the kind donations from members enabled us to have lovely prizes at no cost. Thank you to the donors. 

 

Everything in the accounts  was in order and easy to understand. Any queries  were answered.

 

 

NOTICES OF MOTION.  Annette Barker was appointed as  teller. Although 2 votes per club were the maximum,  several  clubs had only  1 delegate. The notices of motion,  the proposer and seconder and  the voting results  are given, with any relevant  discussion points. The notices of motion had been on the MB Website since early December. 

 

 

 

 Change 1.  Page 2. Rules C6 and C7.

 

 To set the start time for August  to 6.30 pm with associated changes to the practice times. 

 

Proposer was Atherstone Grove and seconded by Alyson Evans. 

 

After discussion  regarding lights and working hours of bowlers, who struggle  to make 6.30pm, and the fact that captains  can agree to change start times as in Rule C6, the proposal  was not passed. (7 votes for, 11 against.) 

 

Rules remain the same.

 

 

 Change 2.   Page 3. Rule. C13. 

 

Additional  to postponements. 

 

 Proposer - Committee.

 

If there is an exceptional and urgent need for a postponement to a game for any reason other than the weather, the captain should inform the opposing captain and Match Secretary 24 hours beforehand. The game must be played within 28 days.  Rule 14 applies, no more than 2 postponements in a season.  Seconded  by Joan Baber.  Emily explained the reasons for the proposed  addition  to existing rules. 

 

Passed - 14 votes for. 

 

 

 

 

Change 3.  No current rule. Claiming a game.

 

Proposer-  Committee 

 

Original  proposal - “If a game is claimed, both team captains  need to confirm  this in writing.  A photograph of the agreement should be sent to the Match Secretary immediately.  Points awarded are the same as for walkovers.” 

 

There was much discussion  about this following  a situation  which had arisen at the end of the season.  Several attempts  were made to amend and reword the proposal, with several delegates contributing. This is the final proposal. 

 

      “If a game is amicably claimed, both team captains need to confirm that the game will be conceded  in writing. A photograph or email of the agreement should be sent  to the Match Secretary  immediately.  If no agreement is amicably reached,  the matter  should be referred  to the Match Secretary and the Committee.“

 

Added as C15 Page 3

 

Proposal  Committee, seconded by Leanne Riley, Newdigate B.

 

              Passed - 17 votes for.

 

 

Change 4.  Current Rule, Page 3, C11 

 

 Proposed by the committee. 

 

 To remove this sentence from Rule C11. 

 

A photograph of the score sheet is to be sent to the Match Secretary within 4 days. There was discussion  about this as many teams had not sent photographs  of score sheets last year. Some hadn't realised how to validate scores.  The home captain  enters the results on the MB Website  and the away captain  just logs in and checks that all is fine, then presses “save”.  Captains  should keep score sheets until the end of the season  in case of queries. 

 

Passed- 18 votes for.

 

 

 

 

 

        Change 5. No current rule. Add to C10.

 

Proposed by Bedworth Ex Services. 

 

“If a team refuses to play an allocated fixture  and gifts all the available points to the opposing team, the offending team should be deducted the total points they gifted to the opposing team.”

 

Joan Baber explained the reasons  behind the proposal. Bedworth Ex had been in danger of being relegated to B Section  through no fault of their own, due to a situation  which had arisen at the end of last season.

 

There was  considerable  discussion and explanations for the situation  and the proposal. The Committee  had put forward  a notice of motion  to deal with this, should the situation arise again.  A rule had been amended and passed earlier. Change 3.

 

Safety was discussed, as was personal choice. A conclusion was reached that if a greenkeeper said that a green was payable, then it was playable, and it was an individual's choice whether to play or not.

 

Several attempts  were made to amend the proposal, with various  individuals  offering alternative  wording. The final attempt was this.

 

   “If a team refuses to play an allocated fixture, after the greenkeeper has said that the green is playable, and gifts all the available points to the opposing team,  the team that refuses to play should have the equivalent number of points deducted.”

 

 As a similar rule had been passed,  there was no seconder. Further discussion could be raised in a delegates  meeting  in future. The Committee said that many hours had been spent on this and Emily had consulted an  experienced league match Secretary. The MB Website  only permits  certain actions.

 

 

11. ELECTION OF OFFICERS.   The existing  officials of President,  Match Secretary,  League Secretary and Treasurer agreed  to carry on.  The Management Committee also agreed to remain. Joan Baber had been asked to join the Management Committee  and, having been assured that her duties would not be onerous, agreed to join. Her  support for bowling, her wisdom and experience  will be welcome.

 

 

HONORARIA. Kath and Emily left the room. Tracey  Wilcox took the chair. Returning  to the room , they were informed  that the delegates had accepted  their offered  reduction  in honoraria  by £100 each. Emily will receive  £350 and  Kath will receive £550. 

 

LEAGUE FEES 2024. Kath outlined  her reasons  for  this to remain at  £7 per player  who has bowled in league  matches. However, Charlotte Perry  proposed a  £1 increase. Wendy Blackwell seconded it. The vote was 10 for and 6 against.  The League fee will rise to £8 per bowler who has bowled. 

 

COMPETITION FEES.  These  remain at £5 per player  and £3 for juniors. 

 

PRIZE MONEY.   The Committee  proposed to reduce the league  prize money.  However,  This will remain the same as the previous  season  at  £150 & £100 for league winners and runners up,  £50 & £30 for league average winners and runners up and competition winners and runners up  at treasurer's discretion.    

 

   There was  much  discussion  that the honoraria  being reduced  and the league  fee being increased  would pay for the prize money to remain the same. There is a strong  possibility  that there will be a fall from 3 sections to 2 with a reduction  of the related prize money, £330, to pay out. 

 

 

AOB.

 

             Food after league matches.  Newdigate B  will not be  

 

          providing food.  

 

The next delegates  meeting  is Tuesday March 18th at SAA at 7.30 pm. Please bring team lists or email  them to Emily. The League Meetings  for this year are Tuesdays at 7.30pm at SAA. 

 

March 18th,  May 13th,  September 9th 

 

 The AGM  closed at 8.40 pm.