Notes from the joint meeting of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club Board, ASC and LSC held on Tuesday 10th November 2015 at Kirkcaldy Ice Rink. Present: Billy Howat, Clive Thomson, Bruce Crawford, Rob Niven, Marion Fraser, Judith Carr, Margaret White, Nina Clancy, Brenda Sillars, Shirley Jeans, Elaine Telfer, Ann Gibb, Ann Mitchell, Alison Taylor, Helen Hally, Margaret Nicol, Cath McIntosh, Rhona Johnston, Hugh Templeton, Andrew Kerr, John Smith, Robert Corbett, Neil Calvert, Calder Benzies, Joe Barry, Boyd Houston, Graham Lindsay, Christine Cheape, Albert Midler, Brian McArtney, Ali Asher, Ormond Smith. 1. Welcome Action Billy welcomed everyone to Kirkcaldy and thanked them for making the journey. 2. Apologies Action Alastair MacNish, David Hardie, Greig Henderson, Kay Gibb, Trevor Dodds, Jan Howard, Annette Blair, Fiona Macfarlane, Kate Caithness, Jane Drysdale, Margaret Pottie, Ruth Adinall, Helen Hally, Jim Cullen, Gordon Gilchrist, Jim Jamieson, Bob Smith. 3. Report from Billy Howat, President Following the AGM I have attended the various meetings and events. 13 June - Board meeting at Murrayfield 18/19 June - The Royal Highland Show 22 June - Joint meeting between RCCC and British Curling Boards at SportScotland, South Gyle 23 June - Area review meeting Murrayfield 1 July - Hollyrood Garden Party 14 July - Junior Summer Camp at The Peak Stirling 4 August - Indoor Gran Match meeting at Cairnie House 5 August - International Relations Committee meeting at Cairnie House 6 August - Competition committee meeting at Hamilton 6 August - Board meeting at Hamilton 11 August - Attended Iain Baxter's Funeral 11 August - Clive attended on behalf of RCCC. Civic Reception for Stirling Wheelchair Curling Club Volunteers on their acclamation of receiving. Queens Award For Voluntary Service Following the ASC meeting on 13th August I have attended the following meetings and events: 13 Aug - Area review meeting at Murrayfield 19 Aug - European Curling Championship 2016 steering group meeting at Braehead 30 Aug/6 Sept - WCF congress at Belgrade 12 Sept - Umpires meeting at Hamilton 16 Sept - Member and Club Development meeting at Stirling 17 Sept - Coaching meeting at Edinburgh 1 20 Sept - Asham under 21 slam at Greenacres 24 Sept - European Curling Championship 2016 meeting at Braehead 24 Sept - Board meeting at Stirling 25 Sept - Alan Steel Asset Management Office Staff introduction to curling at Kinross Following the ASC meeting on 29th September I have attended various meetings and events: 29 Sept - Area review meeting at Hamilton 7 Oct - Indoor Grand Match meeting at Kinross 11 Oct - Scottish Mixed Senior Championship at Stranraer 13 Oct - Performance meeting at Stirling 15-18 Oct - European Playdowns at Perth 24 Oct - Indoor Grand Match at Murrayfield 26 Oct - RCCC Board + British Curling Board meeting at Edinburgh 27 Oct - European Curling Championship 2016 meeting at Braehead 27 Oct - Area review meeting at Braehead 1 Nov - Asham Under 17 Slam at Hamilton 4 Nov - Club and Member Development meeting at Hamilton 4 Nov - Scottish Sports Hall of Fame Awards and Gala Dinner at The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum Glasgow 6 Nov - Ladies Tour of Canada Departure from Edinburgh Airport 6 Nov - Edinburgh Curling International 7 Nov - Fochabers Dinner and Court at Fochabers 8 Nov - Edinburgh Curling International 4. Report from Marion Fraser, Ladies’ Branch President We are a reduced LSC this morning - as you all probably know our Ladies 2015 Tour to Canada left last Friday. Billy and I, and Past Canadian Tour Captain and Past Ladies Branch President Anne Malcolm and others saw them off at Edinburgh Airport. They were all in great form and will be wonderful ambassadors for the RCCC and Scottish Curling. Follow their progress on their blog accessed through the RCCC website. Included in the Team are five of our LSC members. However we have brought in reinforcements for the Curling this afternoon. Welcome to the guests who have made it to this meeting as well. Since our May AGM we have had three LSC meetings at the Murrayfield Hotel in June, September and October. We have had an excellent attendance at those meetings and we were pleased to have our Hon President Kate Caithness at the June and October meetings. As President of the WCF Kate always brings news of the Curling World outside Scotland. We appreciate her continued support of the Ladies Branch as part of her busy life. Full minutes of those meetings on the RCCC website. After the October meeting we held our Annual Ladies Branch Bonspiel which was won by Skip Helen Gordon immediate past rep from Kirkcaldy with Rhona Johnston, Fiona McFarlane and Betsy Drummond. I too attended the Juniors Summer Camp at Stirling. It was well run and very enjoyable for the participants. Unlike President Billy I did not attempt the mountain biking! The Highland Show hospitality at Cairnie House was a great success and it is regrettable that we will no longer have this event which gave the RCCC at least some informal contact with members. 2 Our main competitions, Henderson Bishop (the draw for this made by the exec at the beginning of July) and Morton are under way, (in fact Kirkcaldy are playing Stirling at the Peak today) and we look forward to meeting the finalists at Lockerbie and Kirkcaldy next February and March. We have a new competition to replace the Under and Overs, which is taking place in Kinross next April, right at the end of the season. It is an individual entry competition mixing new and more experienced curlers, hopefully encouragement to the new curlers. I have attended three meetings in Glasgow for organisation of the incoming American Tour next November. VP Jan convening this small sub-committee. She finalised the ice rink bookings before she left for Canada. Itinerary almost complete and proposed to inform LSC at December meeting. I attended and played in the Charity Bonspiel at Lanarkshire Ice Rink- organised by Past LB President Marion Craig for the outgoing Tour Group. I have enjoyed being on the Indoor Grand Match Organising Committee and pleased at the success of the event. Attended most of the review group meetings. Also pleased to attend two board meetings as an observer. The Ladies Branch value this contact. I have represented the RCCC at Lockerbie for under 17s, Kinross for under 21s and Forfar for under 14s. And Sunday past at the Skill Awards Challenge in Perth. I attended the European Playdowns in Perth and I look forward to supporting Team Muirhead and Team Smith at the European Championships in Esbjerg starting a week on friday. Finally our immediate Past President Mary Anne McWilliam had intended to join us today however due to a health problem she is unable to be here. I am sure you all join with me in wishing her a full recovery. 5. Report from the of the Board of Directors Bruce Crawford provided an update from the recent progress and the last board meeting. RCCC moved to the new office in Stirling today…..same phone number. 10 of 15 staff are in new posts since 16 months ago. Working with Scottish Wheelchair Curling Association to advance disability curling. Architects appointed by Stirling Council for National Performance Centre. We now have 641 clubs. PVG deadline for coach registration was 31 October, 176 coaches not completed. “Role of a Sporting Parent” workshop delivered to 60 parents on 31 October. Coaching courses have been well attended so far this season. Umpire development has been busiest ever. Plans for ECC 2016 progressing well, ticket model agreed, accommodation provider appointed. Competitions are running smoothly so far this season. 6. Marketing Presentation Stuart McLean provided an update on the marketing activities and plans for this season, details are included in a separate document, circulated with the minute of the meeting. 3 5. Indoor Grand Match 2015 - Review Bob Smith reported on the success of the Indoor Grand Match. He recorded thanks to the Local Organising Committees around the country, RCCC staff and particularly Stuart and Nicola, who all really helped pull the event together. It was noted that some people were not aware of the background to the Lees print and an info sheet has been put together and would be sent to the office so it could go onto the website. A questionnaire is being planned to get feedback from the organisers, rinks and players. Billy thanked Alan Steel for his sponsorship, his personal enthusiasm and attendance all day. A review meeting was planned by Stuart following the event. Billy also thanked the Gunners for firing the canon at the start. 6. Areas Review Clive reported on progress made by the Review Group The group’s proposal will be circulated shortly for consultation. The role and responsibilities of ASC reps is key 7. AOCB Equity: The RCCC currently holds the first two stages of the Equality Standard and is now progressing towards the third level. Committee members will receive a survey question, which is required in the process. WJCC: Questions were raised about the suitability of the WCF hosting the World junior Championships in Turkey in 2016. Bruce advised that he had already sought information from the WCF on the risks and contingencies. UK Government advice can be seen here The meeting closed and was followed by lunch and Priestfield Trophy curling competition. 8 Date of Next Meeting The next joint meeting of the Board, ASC and LSC will take place at 10.30 on Thursday 18 February 2016 at the Dewars Centre, Perth. This is during the Scottish Curling Championships. 4 .