Stourbridge Institute Bridge Association

Minutes of Committee Meeting 8th January 2025

Present: Linda Wright, Georgina Lineker, James Taylor,

Gavin Tringham, Margaret Hanson, Fiona Hahn, Glo Jackson, Peter Adams           

Minutes of Committee Meeting of 6^th November 2024 were approved online

Chairman’s Report

• The Arcscore system is working very well.  The tablets are very easy to read and give clear directions about movements of players and boards to other tables and also show which players should be at any given table.   Linda wanted directors to remind North and East to be vigilant in reading the tablets in order to avoid mistakes and to announce that tablets should be kept on the bridge table away from drinks.

 Linda also said that directors would like to have further training in changing wrongly entered results.  Peter Adams said that this could be difficult to arrange but he would do so if it was needed

• The new system cost £1500.  The Thursday afternoon beginners group donated £300 with another £150 to come. The committee are very grateful for this generous donation and to the Institute for their donation of £500 towards the cost

• Increase in EBU Universal Membership fees (P2P)

From April 1^st 2025 our fees to the EBU will increase from 45p to 46p. Club subs will increase to £30 but WCBA will continue to pay that.   

• Bridge Teaching – Dave Philpott will be teaching a group of 12 students from Thursday January 16^th 
• Monday afternoon bridge sessions are now well established with 5/6 tables.   More support from evening players would still be helpful at these sessions
• Bridge will either be in the assembly room or in the lounge.  If in the lounge the room will have been set up for bridge.                                  Bridge will be in the lounge on January 24^th
• Christmas Party

This was a very enjoyable event and the raffle raised £215 for Mary Stevens Hospice

Mike Heard and Peter Adams won the Mary Stevens Christmas competition.  

• Since many of our members live alone it was decided that we should create a list of phone numbers of members’ next-of-kin in order to have a contact should this be necessary.                                                                                                                                                    There was some discussion as to how this information should be stored.  It was decided that James Taylor would look at the Data Protection regulations and that we would proceed from there.
• Car Park                                                                                                                 On Saturday the car park will again be open 8:00am to 11:30pm               On Sunday it will be open 8:00am to 4:00pm

Secretary’s Report

• EBU
  • Club qualifiers for the National Pairs Regional Finals
  • January updates from Aylesbury
  • February updates from Aylesbury 
    •  we should let the EBU know when a member is deceased
    • new members need to opt in to receive the EBU diary
• WCBA
  • 9 High County Team

Media Co-ordinator’s Report     

• Our website is up to date

Treasurer’s Report

• Last year’s accounts are being prepared for Sally Johnson to audit them.
• Fiona Hahn said that she would update the evaluation of different options for replacing our duplimator including refurbishing/reconditioning.  This could then be used to decide what to do when the need arises to do something about our current duplimator.                                                     JT said that we need to build up funds for resiliency for any contingency.  

Rota Co-ordinator’s Report

• Rotas are in place until the end of January for directors and scorers and to the end of February for duplimators.
• Gavin Tringham has put together an emergency box of duplimated boards in case there are no duplimated boards for a session.
• Richard Smith is to become a scorer

Competitions Secretary’s Report

• No progress with the updating of the honours board
• SBC Performance Reports
  • Evening Order of Merit 2024

Winners       Mike Heard and James Taylor                                       Runners-up   David Philpott and Mike Heard

Afternoon Order of Merit 2024

Winners       John Haywood and Linda Wright

Runners-up   David Philpott and John Salisbury                                                                  

• Forthcoming Events
  • Afternoon Order of Merit
  • Evening Order of Merit

Resources Co-ordinator’s Report

• Cards in bidding boxes need sorting and, in some cases, replacing
• Some playing cards are very flimsy. Need to check if they are old or new stock to avoid ordering them again.
• A4 paper to be checked and a spare cartridge for the printer to be bought

Any Other Business

• Fiona to check with Richard Smith at the Whatsapp Group for those wanting to find a partner.   Groups need to be merged.

Date of next meeting

• Wednesday March 12^th     Committee meal