WATERLOO POOL LEAGUE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2017
Preliminary Minutes
Tuesday 10th October 2017, Spots & Stripes
In attendance:
Committee: Alan Day (Registrar); Chris Hobbis (Tournament Director); Darren O’Byrne (Chair); Nigel Smith (Secretary); Clair Watts (Treasurer)
Membership:
Alex Lawrence, Allison Wills, Chris Panayiotou, Connor Hewson, Danny Moffatt, David Dean, David Kingsnorth, James Jones, Joe Prince, Jon Tindall, Mark Knevett, Matt Holroyd, Michael Clayton, Oliver Lawrence, Pete Thomas, Richard Eve, Rob Murray, Tony Bailey, Tyler Button
In attendance:
Committee: Alan Day (Registrar); Chris Hobbis (Tournament Director); Darren O’Byrne (Chair); Nigel Smith (Secretary); Clair Watts (Treasurer)
Membership:
Alex Lawrence, Allison Wills, Chris Panayiotou, Connor Hewson, Danny Moffatt, David Dean, David Kingsnorth, James Jones, Joe Prince, Jon Tindall, Mark Knevett, Matt Holroyd, Michael Clayton, Oliver Lawrence, Pete Thomas, Richard Eve, Rob Murray, Tony Bailey, Tyler Button
1. Introductory business
The Chair gave notice of a late nomination for the post of Treasurer from incumbent Clair Watts and requested approval for this to be added under item 8. In the interests of fairness he then temporarily waived the requirement for all nominations to be received by the agreed deadline and asked if anyone else wished to be considered for election for any post and particularly the vacant post of Chair. No nominations were forthcoming. The business of the AGM was then finalised.
Two counting officers were appointed: Alex Lawrence and Danny Moffatt, who was subsequently replaced by Joe Prince.
The Chair gave notice of a late nomination for the post of Treasurer from incumbent Clair Watts and requested approval for this to be added under item 8. In the interests of fairness he then temporarily waived the requirement for all nominations to be received by the agreed deadline and asked if anyone else wished to be considered for election for any post and particularly the vacant post of Chair. No nominations were forthcoming. The business of the AGM was then finalised.
Two counting officers were appointed: Alex Lawrence and Danny Moffatt, who was subsequently replaced by Joe Prince.
2. Apologies
Enis Dogangun.
Enis Dogangun.
3. Minutes of the last meeting and matters arising
As the 2016 AGM was inquorate, there were no minutes to approve.
As the 2016 AGM was inquorate, there were no minutes to approve.
4. League report
The Secretary presented an oral report covering the 2016-2017 season. NIGEL TO ADD DETAILS.
The Secretary presented an oral report covering the 2016-2017 season. NIGEL TO ADD DETAILS.
5. Presentation of accounts
The Treasurer presented the accounts of the Association for approval. CLAIR TO ADD DETAILS.
The Treasurer presented the accounts of the Association for approval. CLAIR TO ADD DETAILS.
6. General discussion on proposed changes to the rules of play
The Chair invited the Tournament Director and Registrar to present a summary of proposed changes to the playing rules for the 2017-2018 Winter season.
The primary change being proposed is to change the match format from three sets of five, totalling fifteen frames, to four sets of four, totalling sixteen. The Committee advised that reducing the minimum number of players required for a match would encourage more teams to enter and reduce the likelihood of postponements.
The success of the 2017 Summer league had been an inspiration for this proposed change.
One cause for concern among the membership pertained to the perceived disjuncture between the reduced number of players required for a match, and the maximum number of players permitted to be registered for any one team, which currently stands at 10 plus an optional additional 2 women or juniors. Some members felt that this, too, should be reduced.
The Committee accepted that this might become a cause for concern for some teams, and that a balance needed to be struck between a viable number of players required for any given match, and a viable number of players eligible for any team for participation in the Champion of Champions. Furthermore, as the current maximum player limit had been set at a previous AGM and approved by the membership, it could not be amended by the Committee alone, but rather by approval of a motion at AGM.
Richard Eve asked whether a friendly amendment could be introduced from the floor to amend the player limit, suggesting the number 10 be replaced by 8, in the light of the proposed changes to the league format. The Chair agreed to this but on behalf of the Committee urged the membership against making any such changes now, and to revisit the matter if necessary at the 2018 AGM.
Michael Clayton advised from the floor that if it agreed to do this, the membership would be empowered to call for an EGM to address the matter should it become a problem during the new season. The Chair acknowledged this.
The Chair then invited a Proposer for the aforementioned friendly amendment. None was forthcoming so the matter was dropped.
A second cause for concern was whether, in the event of an 8-8 draw in the proposed new format, the draw should stand (with each team receiving a single point) or a play-off should be added. It was agreed that, if the latter, the preferred option would be for a points allocation of 3 (for an outright win), 2 (for a winning draw, after a one-frame play-off), 1 (for a losing draw, after a one-frame play-off), and 0 (for an outright win). The Chair pointed out that the Committee was keen to gauge opinion on all aspects of the proposed changes and would welcome a non-binding free vote on the matter to inform its decision-making. In the event, following two recounts, the membership voted 11-10 in favour of adding a play-off.
The Committee will now take this into consideration when finalising the playing format.
As this was a non-binding free vote, members of the Committee were permitted to participate in their capacity as individual members. Michael Clayton asked why it was that the Committee members all voted for a draw rather than a play-off, and the Chair reassured him this was merely a matter of coincidence.
CHRIS TO ADD DETAILS.
The Chair invited the Tournament Director and Registrar to present a summary of proposed changes to the playing rules for the 2017-2018 Winter season.
The primary change being proposed is to change the match format from three sets of five, totalling fifteen frames, to four sets of four, totalling sixteen. The Committee advised that reducing the minimum number of players required for a match would encourage more teams to enter and reduce the likelihood of postponements.
The success of the 2017 Summer league had been an inspiration for this proposed change.
One cause for concern among the membership pertained to the perceived disjuncture between the reduced number of players required for a match, and the maximum number of players permitted to be registered for any one team, which currently stands at 10 plus an optional additional 2 women or juniors. Some members felt that this, too, should be reduced.
The Committee accepted that this might become a cause for concern for some teams, and that a balance needed to be struck between a viable number of players required for any given match, and a viable number of players eligible for any team for participation in the Champion of Champions. Furthermore, as the current maximum player limit had been set at a previous AGM and approved by the membership, it could not be amended by the Committee alone, but rather by approval of a motion at AGM.
Richard Eve asked whether a friendly amendment could be introduced from the floor to amend the player limit, suggesting the number 10 be replaced by 8, in the light of the proposed changes to the league format. The Chair agreed to this but on behalf of the Committee urged the membership against making any such changes now, and to revisit the matter if necessary at the 2018 AGM.
Michael Clayton advised from the floor that if it agreed to do this, the membership would be empowered to call for an EGM to address the matter should it become a problem during the new season. The Chair acknowledged this.
The Chair then invited a Proposer for the aforementioned friendly amendment. None was forthcoming so the matter was dropped.
A second cause for concern was whether, in the event of an 8-8 draw in the proposed new format, the draw should stand (with each team receiving a single point) or a play-off should be added. It was agreed that, if the latter, the preferred option would be for a points allocation of 3 (for an outright win), 2 (for a winning draw, after a one-frame play-off), 1 (for a losing draw, after a one-frame play-off), and 0 (for an outright win). The Chair pointed out that the Committee was keen to gauge opinion on all aspects of the proposed changes and would welcome a non-binding free vote on the matter to inform its decision-making. In the event, following two recounts, the membership voted 11-10 in favour of adding a play-off.
The Committee will now take this into consideration when finalising the playing format.
As this was a non-binding free vote, members of the Committee were permitted to participate in their capacity as individual members. Michael Clayton asked why it was that the Committee members all voted for a draw rather than a play-off, and the Chair reassured him this was merely a matter of coincidence.
CHRIS TO ADD DETAILS.
7. Discussion of motions
Motion 1
Proposed by The Committee:
i) Once a player has been de-registered, he or she may not re-register for that team or any other at any point during the present season.
ii) Any player who de-registers from the league forfeits their right to further participate in any tournament sanctioned by the league that is restricted to league members. Existing results from their participation in such tournaments while registered will stand.
Motion 1
Proposed by The Committee:
i) Once a player has been de-registered, he or she may not re-register for that team or any other at any point during the present season.
ii) Any player who de-registers from the league forfeits their right to further participate in any tournament sanctioned by the league that is restricted to league members. Existing results from their participation in such tournaments while registered will stand.
The Chair introduced Motion 1 and explained that it was necessary to rectify an anomaly that had become apparent in the preceding season, where a team was able to de-register and re-register players on a recurring basis. As there was nothing in the rules to prevent this from happening, no rule had been broken but the Committee was in agreement that this loophole needed to be closed.
There was a discussion as to whether the motion should be amended to enable a player to re-register for a different team.
The Chair advised the membership that this option had indeed been considered by the Committee when drafting the motion but that the Committee decided against it, as it believed this would constitute the first step towards allowance of player transfers within a season, which has never been permitted within the League.
The Committee, as Proposer, thus exercised its right to refuse the addition of an amendment to that effect as it would be contrary to the purpose of the motion.
The Chair then invited a vote on the motion as presented.
FOR 12 AGAINST 1 ABSTAIN 0
The motion was duly carried.
There was a discussion as to whether the motion should be amended to enable a player to re-register for a different team.
The Chair advised the membership that this option had indeed been considered by the Committee when drafting the motion but that the Committee decided against it, as it believed this would constitute the first step towards allowance of player transfers within a season, which has never been permitted within the League.
The Committee, as Proposer, thus exercised its right to refuse the addition of an amendment to that effect as it would be contrary to the purpose of the motion.
The Chair then invited a vote on the motion as presented.
FOR 12 AGAINST 1 ABSTAIN 0
The motion was duly carried.
8. Election of officers
CHAIR: No nominations had been received for the vacant post of Chair.
The elected Committee officers will be able to exercise their right to co-opt someone into this position.
The position must be reopened for nominations and formal approval at the earliest available opportunity, either at an EGM or at the 2018 AGM.
TREASURER: Clair Watts was unanimously re-elected to the post of Treasurer, 15 votes for, none against and no abstentions. The post will be due for re-election at the 2019 AGM.
SECRETARY: Nigel Smith was unanimously re-elected to the post of Secretary, 18 votes for, none against and no abstentions. The post will be due for re-election at the 2018 AGM, as the incumbent has already served a year in office as a co-opted member.
REGISTRAR: Alan Day was unanimously re-elected to the post of Registrar, 17 votes for, none against and no abstentions. The post will be due for re-election at the 2018 AGM, as the incumbent has already served a year in office as a co-opted member.
TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR: Chris Hobbis was unanimously re-elected to the post of Tournament Director, 17 votes for, none against and no abstentions. The post will be due for re-election at the 2018 AGM, as the incumbent has already served a year in office as a co-opted member.
CHAIR: No nominations had been received for the vacant post of Chair.
The elected Committee officers will be able to exercise their right to co-opt someone into this position.
The position must be reopened for nominations and formal approval at the earliest available opportunity, either at an EGM or at the 2018 AGM.
TREASURER: Clair Watts was unanimously re-elected to the post of Treasurer, 15 votes for, none against and no abstentions. The post will be due for re-election at the 2019 AGM.
SECRETARY: Nigel Smith was unanimously re-elected to the post of Secretary, 18 votes for, none against and no abstentions. The post will be due for re-election at the 2018 AGM, as the incumbent has already served a year in office as a co-opted member.
REGISTRAR: Alan Day was unanimously re-elected to the post of Registrar, 17 votes for, none against and no abstentions. The post will be due for re-election at the 2018 AGM, as the incumbent has already served a year in office as a co-opted member.
TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR: Chris Hobbis was unanimously re-elected to the post of Tournament Director, 17 votes for, none against and no abstentions. The post will be due for re-election at the 2018 AGM, as the incumbent has already served a year in office as a co-opted member.
9. Any other business
No other business had been received by the Chair.
No other business had been received by the Chair.