Gloucestershire Rugby Football Union
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Wednesday 12 July 2017 – 7.30pm at Avonmouth RFC Present: Management Board/GRFU Committees: J Tyler (President), K Gee (Vice President), P Williams (Chairman), S Thornton (Treasurer), T Perris (County Administrator) S Aldridge, R Ankerson, R Beswick, E Blackman, S Collyer-Bristow, A Dale, A Danks, J Darlaston, G Davies, M Foale, S Gilbraith, L Gomer, J Green (Wadworth), W Greenway (U20s), Mr Greenway Snr, M Heath, A Henley-Davies, R Hillier, B Jordan, N A Mitchell, J Orsborn, D Parry-Jones, R Planchant, C Ravenhill, M Scoble, M Shore, P Shortell, A Siddorn, H Snow, T Sparrow Representatives from: 7 Bamboos RFC, Aretians RFC, Ashley Down OBs RFC, Avonmouth RFC, Bristol Combination, Bristol Ladies Rugby, Bristol Schools RFU, Broad Plain RFC, Cheltenham Civil Service RFC, Cheltenham Combination, Cheltenham North RFC, Cheltenham Saracens RFC, Chipping Sodbury RFC, Cinderford RFC, Cirencester RFC, Cleve RFC, Cotham Park RFC, Dursley RFC, Forest of Dean Combination, Frampton Cotterell RFC, Gloucester All Blues RFC, Gloucester Old Boys RFC, Gloucester Referees Society, Hardwicke & Quedgeley Harlequins RFC, Hucclecote RFC, Lydney RFC, Minchinhampton RFC, North Bristol RFC, Old Bristolians RFC, Old Colstonians RFC, Old Cryptians RFC, Old Richians RFC, Painswick RFC, St Mary’s Old Boys RFC, Stroud RFC, Stroud Combination, Tetbury RFC, Tewkesbury RFC, Thornbury RFC, United Bristol Hospitals RFC, Whitehall RFC, Widden OBs RFC and Wotton RFC 102 people attended the meeting including representatives from 40 clubs, 5 Combinations, Glos & District Referees’ Society and Gloucestershire Schools Union. President’s Welcome The President, Jeff Tyler, took the Chair and welcomed everyone to the 118th AGM. Before formally starting the meeting, he asked Tricia to read a list of the rugby stalwarts who had passed away during the 2016-17 season. He then invited everyone present to rise to observe a moment of silence in their memory. Those remembered were: David Reed, Stroud RFC; Josie Collier, Old Richians RFC; John Daveridge, Broad Plain RFC; Roger Harper, Cinderford; Richard Hadgkiss, Fairford RFC; Don Rutherford, RFU Tech Director; Roger Abraham, Cirencester RFC; Malcolm (Knocker) Haines, Old Cryptians RFC; Derek Howell, Old Cryptians RFC; Jeff Tate, Drybrook RFC; Brian Didlick, Cheltenham & District Combination; Andrew Frith, North Bristol RFC; Roger Swaffield, Old Cothamians & Bristol Rugby; Adrian Davis, Old Cothamians RFC; Michael Jones, Clifton RFC; Norman Golding, Clifton RFC and Peter Lewis, Gloucester & District Referees Society 1. STATUTORY BUSINESS ITEMS: a) Approval of Notice of the Meeting - It was proposed by Cyril Ravenhill that the Notice of the meeting, read out by Tricia, was accepted. Adrian Danks seconded and the proposal was carried unanimously. 1 b) Apologies – J Edwards, A Fielding, D Fox, Nigel Gillingham, M Langbridge, N Loader, G McWalter, S McWalter, B Parsons, R Phillips, M Simpson, L Smith, A Stephens, T Swash, J Thomas (Wadworth) Clubs: Barton Hill RFC, Berry Hill RFC, Bristol Aeroplane Company RFC, Bristol Dockers RFC, Bristol Saracens RFC, Cheltenham RFC, Drybrook RFC, Fairford RFC, Hartpury College RFC, Matson RFC, Newent RFC, Royal Agricultural University RFC, Smiths Rugby, Stow on the Wold RFC, c) Minutes of the AGM held on 13 July 2016 - Following a proposal by Simon Collyer-Bristow, seconded by Mark Scoble, the minutes of the AGM held on 13 July 2016 were accepted unanimously as a true record of the meeting. d) Matters arising from the Minutes – No matters arising. e) Financial Statement 2016-2017 – see report by The Treasurer attached. It was noted that the drop in spend under Representative Rugby was due to pitches being used without charge. Tracy Sparrow proposed and Rob Beswick seconded that the latest Financial Statement be approved and any minor adjustments to the Accounts could be approved by the Management Board. The final accounts will be ratified at an Extraordinary General Meeting to be held in January 2018. This was carried unanimously by those present. The President thanked the Treasurer for his continued valuable efforts on behalf of the Union. f) Approval of the Auditors – Simon Thornton proposed and Adrian Siddorn seconded that the Auditors, Bishop Fleming, were reappointed. g) Consideration of Noting of Current Operating Procedures – The Operating Procedures are updated in December and June giving all members the opportunity to raise questions. The significant changes are within the Women & Girls Sector. h) Consideration of Resolutions submitted under Rule 8.5 – There were no resolutions. 2. PRESENTATIONS: a) GRFU Overview – see report of presentation given by The Chairman, who noted that details of the new Women’s Premiership would be announced the week after the AGM. No questions from the floor. b) Main Objectives for 2016-17 – see report of presentation given by Adrian Siddorn. The Delivery Plan for 2017-18 appears on the GRFU website at the following link: https://gloucestershirerfu.co.uk/annual_delivery_plan c) Discipline Report – see Discipline Secretary’s report. d) Matters relating to the Welfare of the County – The President asked if there were any comments or questions. In September 2017, the Management Board will consider the matter raised by Cheltenham Civil Service RFC relating to sending in photographic evidence of the official result cards to SW Rugby. A statement from the floor was made that the electronic systems used are very complicated and that the photographic system would work better. No other matters were raised for discussion. 3. ELECTIONS FOR 2017-2018: a) Election of Officers: The President having complete his second year of a two year appointment stood down. The following Officers were elected as follows: President – Keith Gee – proposed by John Darlaston – seconded by the Executive Board 2 Chairman – Peter Williams – proposed by Newent RFC – seconded by Dursley RFC Hon Treasurer – Simon Thornton – proposed by North Bristol RFC – seconded by Bristol Saracens The meeting voted unanimously that all Officers were elected. b) Election of Sector Heads The Sector Heads were proposed and seconded en bloc by the Management Board and accepted unanimously by the meeting. Coaching Adrian Henley-Davies Communications Tony Fielding Competitions Stuart Gilbraith Discipline To be confirmed [RFU Delegated Function] Facilities & Funding Tony Swash Governance John Darlaston Marketing & Sponsorship Jayne Orsborn Mini & Youth Mark Scoble Representative Rugby Shane Aldridge Safeguarding Tracy Sparrow [RFU Delegated Function] Volunteers Henry Snow Women’s & Girls’ Rugby To be confirmed All Sector Heads were asked to stand and introduce themselves to the assembly. c) RFU Council Appointments The meeting was advised that the GRFU Representatives on the RFU Council for 2017-2018 were Simon Collyer-Bristow and Nigel Gillingham. The President thanked them both for supporting GRFU clubs so well throughout the season. Co-options to the Management Board for 2017-2018 Adrian Siddorn was co-opted as Vice Chairman and Mike Heath was also co-opted. 4. AWARDS: a) Appointment of Life Members This is the greatest honour that can be bestowed on a volunteer and reflects the respect that a person commands amongst his peers within GRFU. On his retirement from being the Administrator for Patrons, Ivor Woodman was made a Life Member following his dedicated service to GRFU for over 30 years in several different roles, including his involvement with Bishopston RFC, marketing and refereeing. Due to ill health, Ivor was unable to attend the AGM to collect his award, so Jeff Tyler and Keith Gee will visit him at his home to present his framed certificate and gift of vouchers. Certificates were presented to the following people who were awarded Life Membership prior to certificates being issued: Eric Blackman [1992] and Mike Shore [2003]. b) Gloucestershire Awards These are presented to individuals for exceptional service to the game in Gloucestershire over a long period of time. This season the Awards Panel approved 8 awards The President reminded everyone who nominates an individual, to be fully aware of the criteria and give sufficient detail on the form in order that the Panel has enough to go on. Keith Gee gave a brief summary of their citations and 4 attendees were presented with their framed certificate and two tickets for one of the Autumn Internationals, by The President. In view of their absence, the other winners will be presented with their awards at alternative events. Very sadly, one of the winners, Peter Lewis, died on the day of the AGM but his award was given to his daughter as a memento of Peter’s dedication to the Gloucester & District Referees Society. This season’s award winners were: 3 Richard Berry – Old Bristolians RFC George Ellis – Fairford RFC Keith Holbrook – St Mary’s Old Boys RFC Peter Lewis – Gloucester & District Referees Society Graham Rees - Frampton Cotterell RFC Stephen Ratcliffe – Cheltenham RFC Tim Thompson – Cirencester RFC Doug White – Old Richians RFC c) Referee Society – 25 Years’ Service Award Adrian Danks – Gloucester & District Refs Society Barry Clark – Gloucester & District Refs Society Simon Parson – Bristol & District Refs Society d) The President’s Special Award This Award was introduced in 2016-16 to recognise a valued volunteer who gives prolonged and dedicated service to GRFU. This season we had two very worthy winners from members of the GRFU Management Board. The first was Stuart McWalter, who was not able to attend the AGM, but who stood down as Safeguarding Sector Head. Stuart’s award and gift will be presented to him at the first Management Board meeting of the new season. The second recipient is fairly new to the Management Board as Sector Head of Communications. Tony Fielding, also unable to attend the AGM as he was following the Lions Tour in New Zealand, was felt by The President to have made a significant impression on his Sector and the way the GRFU functions. He too will be awarded with his award and gift at the first Management Board of the new season.