N.B. This is an OCR scan of a printed original, and though edited may have errors.

EAST REGION HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
Minutes of the ninth ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING held on 9th July 2009
at the Quy Mill Hotel, Cambridge at 7.30 pm
Refreshments were available prior to the commencement of the Meeting

Present:

Bill Felton (President), Sheila George (Deputy President), Margaret McCall (Hon Treasurer), John Hendy (Development), Russell Nutter (League), John Helliwell (Discipline), Hazel Medley (Norfolk HA & Norwich Union HC), Jill Warrick (Lincs HA), Richard West (Herts HA), Jill Woods (Herts HA), Doug Denman (Chelmsford), Ken Green, John Adams, James O'Brien (Essex University) Peter Wright, Judith and Roger Krone (Chelmsford H.C.) Sally Tipper (Cambridge) Chris Hatch, Ras Marsh (Chelmsford H.C.) and Maureen Felton (21 Persons)

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Lorraine Bant (Youth Competitions), Mike Trett (ERHUA), Miche Bloch (Youth Performance), Liz Pelling (Essex HA), Charlie Farrow (Regional Manager), Fiona Wheeler (Competitions), Mike Denham (Harleston Magpies), Avril Mallet (Norfolk) Phil Ingall (Lincs), Lowestoft Town H.C., County Wanderers Ladies H.C., Watton H.C., Cambridge Nomads H.C., Stevenage H.C., Castaways Ladies H.C., Rockford Casuals H.C., Wapping H.C., Christchurch H.C.

As there were 21 members present at the Meeting this satisfied Rule 16.5 of the Constitution about a quorum. Welcome by Bill Felton, and a short silence to remember Mike Kaye a valuable member of Essex Umpires and the EAST.

2. ITEMS TO BE COVERED UNDER ANY OTHER BUSINESS

There were none. Simon Webb had raised a question regarding Level 2 umpiring but this was being sorted out by Mike Trett. Jill Warrick had raised the question of Under 13 Players playing in the Leagues as it was not in the League Rules. Again this had been sorted out prior to the meeting with the League Chairman and Secretary

3. APPOINTMENT OF TELLERS
It was not felt necessary to appoint tellers.

4. MINUTES OF THE NINTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD ON 3rd JULY 2008
They were agreed and signed as a correct record.

5. PRESENTATION AND ADOPTION OF UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2009
Margaret McCall had copies of her report (in appendices) which were unaudited accounts. They would be audited by the first meeting next year of the Management Committee.. Surplus for the year was due mainly to the excess income from the Single System activities. It had been difficult to produce an accurate budget for these because it was a new programme of activity. The South had paid a third of the total expenses for this. Still to come is expenditure relating to the administration of the umpires committees -about £1000.
BF - thanked MM for all her hard work and support over the year. MM advised that with the Umpires taking over their own payment of expenses this had reduced her work considerably . Unaudited accounts were adopted. Proposed by John Hendy seconded by Peter Wright.

6. TO APPROVE AFFILIATION FEES FOR SEASON 2009/10

Management had proposed that the ERHA club and school affiliation fees remain at £15 a team and £7 a school. England Hockey had now just agreed to waive affiliation fees for Schools. The situation was presently being sorted out as potentially this was a loss of £1500 to ERHA. Essex had already decided not to charge schools to affiliate to the County. Essex (Judith Krone) were requested not to send a letter to Schools in Essex requesting payment of EAST fees prior to MM sorting out matters. This was agreed.. Proposed by MM and seconded by John Hendy.

7. REPORTS The following reports were circulated at the meeting:

Youth Competitions Committee (Loraine Rant) Report in appendices. With the increase in matches particularly Indoor in December it may be difficult to work the programme. BF thanked the Committee for all their work and the various teams including the Essex Under 21 team who had won the County Under 21 Tournament at Dereham H.C. recently

Youth Performance Committee (Miche Bloch). Ros Marsh felt that the Performance Director should be present at the AGM, or failing that have submitted a Report for the Meeting. That was the feeling of the Meeting.

JH spoke on behalf of MB pointing out the severe pressure which she was under work wise and running the Single System .

Development Committee (John Hendy) Report in appendices

JH went through his Report pointing out the amount of time that the implementation of the Single System has taken, but things are beginning to look a lot clearer. BF thanked JH for all the considerable amount of effort he had put in.

Umpiring Committee (Mike Trett) Report in appendices
No questions. Stuart Birkett was delighted to have received his trophy at the recent ERUA AGM

Leagues Committee (Russell Nutter) Report in appendices. Russell pointed out that at the end of this coming season he and Trevor Williams were hoping to move on when their replacements were found. BF thanked RN and his Committee for their excellent work and also their sponsors.

Appeals/Discipline Committee (John Helliwell) Report in appendices. It was agreed, as last year that JH would ask various people to make themselves available to sit on the Appeals Committee and their names would be put before the Management Committee in September for approval. BF thanked JH for his work and advised that a copy of the list of Red Cards was on the table for people to look at after the meeting. This was drawn up by Mick Pullin the Disciplinary Officer.

Publicity and Sponsorship (John Helliwell) No report submitted

Trevor Williams is doing the handbook, and doing a brilliant job. It's going to the printers in late July, ready for September. A big thanks to Trevor for the handbook and the website. In the present climate it is difficult to get new sponsors, but many of the people advertising in the Handbook have done so for many years

Indoor Hockey (Ros Marsh) Report in appendices

BF - On behalf of Management showed the Trophy which Ros had received at the recent Awards Dinner and congratulated here on her well earned success. Ros pointed out that CF had left the Indoor Committee. BF thanked Ros and all the small Committee for their work and particularly mentioned the Umpires who had worked so hard to ensure that this year we had a small profit - as opposed to 2008 when we had incurred a loss.

Technical Report (Sheila George) See Report in Appendices. SG requested anybody interested to contact her and advised that Ros Marsh was conducting a course for new Technical Officials at PLUM in September.

8. ENGLAND HOCKEY REPORTS

Regional Development Manager (Charlie Farrow) had submitted a report which showed the highlights of the year. It was supposed to be a power point presentation, but CF was not at the meeting.

Regions' Consultative Committee (Bill Felton) Report in appendices. BF pointed out that since writing his Report Martin Gotheridge EH President had retired because he was now taking the job of European Hockey President. He had been nominated unopposed. RM asked what was happening regarding his replacement and BF advised that no decision had been made, but possibly it may not happen until the AGM in Match 2010

9. ELECTION OF OFFICERS

It was proposed and agreed to elect the following officers for 2009/10

· President - Sheila George - proposed by Management

· Deputy President - John Adams - proposed by Management

· Hon Treasurer - Margaret McCall - proposed by Management

· Hon Secretary - Annette Thorpe - proposed by Management

BF thanked Catherine for her work over a few years as Secretary and showed the meeting a small present the Management Committee was giving her in recognition of her services

10. VICE PRESIDENTS OF EAST REGION HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
Management Committee had no nominations to propose.

11. APPOINTMENT OF AUDITOR
Dianne Baker appointed. David Hobbs was thanked for his work in the past which was appreciated

12. DATE OF NEXT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Thursday, 8th July 2010 at venue to be decided by Management 7.30 pm. Start

13. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
There was none.

SG made a presentation of a Decanter to BF thanking him for his leadership over the past two years as President. BF responded by saying how much he appreciated having been given the job of President and highlighted a few highs and lows during his time. The meeting closed at 9.15 pm with the President thanking all those present for their continued support and commitment and wishing the ERHA Good Luck for the future.