Minutes of Committee Meeting to be Held Remotely on 28th January 2025 at 4.45 pm.

Present: Clare Batten, Jane Hall, Keith Spencer, Chris Frost, Ewa Hardwick,

Mark Goddard, Shirley Ashtari, Roger Stock at the start of the meeting, David Treharne, Julia Staniforth

1. Apologies for absence: Roger Stock, Jenny Leggott, Sue Wright

2. Approval of the minutes of meeting held on 29th October 2024 

Approved

3. Matters Arising from the Minutes not Contained Within Other Agenda Items None

4. Treasurer’s report  

Roger sent the following report to the committee:

We have had three main souses of income this year.

EBU county UMS which is currently just short of £950 and expected to rise to approximately £1200. Which is the bottom end of last years prediction of £1200-£1400.

The Green Points event, which after some re-negotiating with East Midlands Bridge Academy for the hire of Spondon raised approximately £438

Monies invested in the Cambridge and Counties Bank which we have also received interest of £438.

This gives an income of approximately £1820 to date and an expected income of around £2050.

Expenditure is Currently just over £2500 and last year we also spent an additional £600 in February and March mainly with the EBU for competition winners entry prizes

The money invested in the Cambridge and Counties Bank which is an annual bond with a minimum £10000 investment which we have.

Our current bank account has approximately £3750 in it which may mean we have to close the Cambridge and Counties account depending on what we are planning next year.

We have a 35 day notice account with NatWest but the interest will be lower currently 3.25%. (the Cambridge and counties will possibly between 4 and 4.25%) To move to NatWest will reduce our interest income by approximately £100 but will ensure we don't have cashflow issues.

The committee decided that the Cambridge account to be closed and funds moved to Nat West account with 35 days access.   

5. Organisation of forthcoming events 

It was felt that we need to start advertising earlier, Shirley to send to emails to all members , Jane to produce poster for 9 high and Journal Cup. Ewa to ask club secretaries to put it up on the board.  All the committee should promote within their clubs. 9 high competition is taking place in Nottingham Club on 2nd March and the Journal cup on 16th March. Keith to set up the entry form on the County website ( see note below about checking content). Keyworth county games on  9^th March. Clare to liaise with Roger over ordering  sandwiches  from Sainbury s ( a bit more than last year) Shirley and Ewa to help. Clare to contact Jenny to ask for help from club.

6. Date of 2025 AGM 

8^thJune 2025 held in Nottingham Bridge Club. Keith to bring Woodborough kit. The final arrangements to be discussed at next committee meeting when we will finalise the changes to the constitution.

7. County Green Points events and County Teams currently the dates are 6^th July and 21^st September 2025.

To be held in Spondon at the moment but cost is being increased and fee going up to £25 possibly.

8. Report on Midlands Working Group

Not many meetings being held. Discussions around the divisions within the county teams. No fear bridge as a tool for bridge teacher. Ewa to put the circulation list of the teachers. 

9. Teams of 8 league.

Difficulties with fixing matches and late starts, but overall good cooperation and no serious issues. Only two dates outstanding now. Notts v Woodborough to be chased. 

10. Coaching of county team

Steve Raine happy to provide teaching in Nottingham. 

There will not be any published criteria for county team selection

11. County Website – content and maintenance

New information should be proof-read before is published.  If changes are being made 2 people to be involved one to make changes a second person to proof read.

12. Date and Time of Next Meeting  Wednesday 2^nd April 2025. 4.45pm

13. AOB

Ewa to send information to the clubs about the implications of EMBA running the blue point events on behalf of the clubs.

Clare suggested that we may not need a County President, but it has been agreed that is nice to have the option.

Ewa to contact the Pachabo entrants, complete and submit the form.