Minutes of the YCBA Council Meeting
held at Bradford Bridge Club on Friday 19 June 2009 immediately following the Annual General Meeting

Present: P G Mason (Chairman/Malton), G W Jepson (Vice-Chairman/Sheffield), J A Staniforth (Secretary/Doncaster),
L Millet (Treasurer/Leeds), S Davies (Bradford), P Morris (Bridlington and Scarborough), J Latham, and I Rodger (Harrogate),
T Bond and A Bond (Garforth), D Calvert (Huddersfied),  R Millet (Leeds), P Godfrey (York), P Stocken (Doncaster),
A Dean and D Dean (Keighley), J Firth (Ilkley) and D Adams (Brighouse)

1) Apologies for Absence
D Waxman (Management Committee/Sheffield), D Wilson and H Mulich (Hull), A Kimberley and G Shaw (Wetherby),
M Croll and M Stanton (Garforth)

2) Minutes of the Council Meeting Held on 28 November 2008
The minutes were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

3) Matters Arising
There were no separate matters arising.

4) YCBA Programme for 2009/10 and Yorkshire League Fixtures
Copies of the 2009/10 competition calendar and Yorkshire league fixtures were distributed to club representatives in attendance
with those remaining to be posted. The complexity of compiling the league fixtures was outlined and had resulted in some clubs
playing a number of home matches and away matches consecutively in order to accommodate the requirements of individual clubs.
Details of competition venues still needed to be finalised and the Chairman agreed to undertake this. It was suggested that clubs
could in the future be invited to tender for events. It was proposed to continue to hold the Castle Swiss Pairs at Huddersfield
in honour of the YCBA President and discussion took place with Huddersfield representatives on the amount provided from Yorkshire
to cover cost of food and room hire which was normally 50% of the entry fee. The amount provided had also been raised by other
clubs including Leeds in view of the cost of catering. A comparison was made with the Folk Hall at New Earswick and the Chairman
agreed to seek the latest costs from the Folk Hall in order to ensure that the rate paid to clubs was consistent with that of external venues.
The competition entry fee would remain at £16 as would the £15 for each Yorkshire league team. A review of all entry fees would be
undertaken for 2010 season in view of Pay to Play (P2P).

5) Report on Northern Counties League
Yorkshire had won the Division ‘B’ section and were representing the North in the national final at Solihull.
Venues have been determined for the current season. The issue of Butler scoring needed to be resolved and volunteers were needed to
undertake this. The meeting was informed that there was facility to undertake this when using Bridgemates and these could be loaned
to Keighley BC. Alan Dean agreed to arrange this.

6) EBU Matters
Peter Stocken (EBU Director) reported on the following matters;
*   The Great Northern Swiss Pairs was no longer being held
*   Pay To Play was receiving favourable reviews and it was made clear that the Board of Directors would not allow the EBU
     organisation to be put at risk. It was felt that additional members would accrue and the benefits could then be cascaded.
*   A national grading scheme was being developed similar to the one in Australia and would run in parallel with the
     master points ranking scheme.
*   The list of services to clubs and members was expanding.
*   An inter-party parliamentary committee was currently examining the benefits of bridge and were impressed with the role of
     young people and also the mental health benefits to older people. It was hoped government funding may be available.
*   The concept of charitable status was being explored.
*   The creation of the Club Committee had been instrumental in raising the profile of the EBU and future law changes
     would require the approval of this committee.
*   The EBU Shareholders were confirmed as P Mason, L Millet, I Rodger and J Latham. Yorkshire was also represented
     by P Stocken and G Jepson as Board members.
Thanks were recorded for the report.

7) Matters Arising from Management Committee Meetings
There were no separate issues to report other than to note that the Yorkshire Congress would be held on the 2010 Spring
Bank Holiday weekend and it was agreed that in view of this the dates should be the Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
It would revert to the usual weekend in 2011.

8) Date and Time of Next Meeting
It was agreed that the next Council meeting would be on Friday 27 November 2009 at Bradford Bridge Club.

9 Any Other Business
a) Record of Reports from Shareholders
An enquiry was made as to why there was no record of any reports from the shareholders. The Chairman explained that any
information is reported at Council meetings and included within the minutes which can be accessed from the website.

b) Organisation of Events
It was acknowledged that there had been some lack of communication regarding one event and as a consequence arrangements
were being made to designate who would be responsible for notifying club secretaries of events that were due to take
place at individual clubs.

J A Staniforth
(YCBA Secretary)

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