Minutes of the 28th Annual General Meeting

The 28th Annual General Meeting of the National Stoolball Association (NSA) was held at Cowfold Sports Pavilion, Cowfold on Sunday 25 November 2007 at 11am.

Present

NSA Vice-Presidents:

• Ann Peck
• Delia Saunders

NSA Officers:

• John Price (Chairman)
• Shirley Reed (Vice-Chairman)
• Kay Price (Hon. Secretary)
• Peter Cheesman (Hon. Treasurer)
• Richard Emsley (Insurance)
• Rick Mason (Website Administrator)
• Michael Ledwich (Rules Co-ordinator)
• Barbara Fitzpatrick (Marketing and Publicity)
• John Fitzpatrick (co-opted officer – Umpires)
• Kevin Hilliard (co-opted officer – Club Accreditation)

Leagues, associations and clubs represented:

• Chanctonbury Stoolball League: Vic Laker
• Coastal Stoolball League: Kaye Turner
• Eastbourne Red Triangle League: Cindy Cavie
• Mid Sussex Mid Stoolball League/Lewes Mixed Stoolball League: Rick Mason
• Surrey Ladies Stoolball Association (SLSA): Gwyn Griffith and Michael Ledwich
• Sussex County Stoolball Association and Mid Division (SCSA): Daphne Hunt
• West Division (SCSA): Kevin Hilliard
• North Division (SCSA): Keith and Doris Younger, Barbara Fitzpatrick
• Sussex County Umpires Association: John Fitzpatrick and Fred Newland
• Wessex Friendly Group: Shirley Reed
• West Kent Ladies Stoolball League (WKLSL): Edward Keates

Apologies for absence:

• Melissa Mantle (NSA-Coaching Development and Chief Coaching Examiner)
• Toni Wheatley (NSA-East Sussex Friendly Teams Co-ordinator)
• Margaret Childs (Vice President and SLSA)
• Mike Hearn (East Division, SCSA)
• Pam Wood-Hill (Mid Sussex Mixed Stoolball League)
• Sally Morris (Hailsham Mixed Stoolball League)
• Pauline Hurley
• Joy Mans (Mid Division, SCSA)
• Sybil Voller (North Division, SCSA)
• Jenny Keates (WKLSL)

Chairman’s welcome

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the Annual General Meeting of the National Stoolball Association which was being held on a Sunday morning for the first time. He particularly welcomed Cindy Cavie from the Eastbourne Red Triangle Mixed League who was attending her first NSA Annual General Meeting.

Minutes of the 27th Annual General Meeting

Following a proposal by Shirley Reed (Vice-Chairman), which was seconded by Daphne Hunt (Mid Division, SCSA), the minutes of the 27th Annual General Meeting were unanimously approved and signed as a true record.

Matters arising

The only matter raised from the minutes of the last AGM was whether the book on sporting memorabilia which was being worked on by Michael Hobbs in 2007 had been published or not. We shall await further information.

Chairman’s report

The Chairman’s report had previously been circulated with the meeting agenda to all the affiliated leagues and associations in membership and further copies were made available at the meeting. Apologies were made for one or two unfortunate spelling errors.

John Price spoke about the amount of work which had been done by the officers of the association and he thanked them all for their whole-hearted support during the year. In particular, he mentioned:

• The great strides being made on the NSA website which is proving to be a tremendous vehicle of communication for stoolball. All thanks are due to Rick Mason who has introduced a number of excellent innovations this year, particularly concerning fixtures and results. Several leagues took part in this process last season and we hope that in 2008 all leagues and associations will become involved.
• Another milestone for stoolball this year was the introduction of a new coaching pack of two DVDs on “skills and drills”. These are two excellent DVDs which were again produced for the NSA by Coaching Solutions from Bognor Regis and masterminded by Melissa Mantle with the help of her students at Chichester. At a price of £23.50 (postage and packaging is £1.45), they are a must for any club or school wanting to advance its sporting skills and overall knowledge of the game.
• In response to requests from schools to loan equipment, the NSA has asked clubs to donate any unwanted bats to the NSA in return for a brand new stoolball. If necessary, the bats will be refurbished and made available to any person, group or school wishing to promote stoolball. The NSA is also holding a stock of 12 sets of wickets for the same purpose.
• Retirement of Richard Emsley from the NSA Executive Committee: Richard was first present back in 1979 when the governing body of stoolball was reformed as the NSA and following the resignation of Ron Edwards became Secretary in 1985. In 1990, he also took on the role of Publicity Officer before taking a break from Committee work in 1991. After a break of six years, he returned to the NSA Committee in 1997 and in 1998 he took over the role of Insurance Officer from Brian Johnson. Five years ago Richard set up the NSA website and added this role to his list of activities until Rick Mason took over 3 years ago. Richard’s contribution to the NSA has been most impressive and we are all very grateful for the amount of time he has given to stoolball.
• Variations of stoolball: The NSA recently learned that Tri-ball was played in a junior school in the Horsham area of West Sussex in the playground. This game is a mixture of rounders, baseball and stoolball. Rick Mason also told the meeting about another playground game from the Lewes area which involved stoolball and British bulldog. It was unanimously agreed that all known variations of the game of stoolball (eg short game management rules [August league] and indoor rules) should be put on the website because they can be adapted for school use.

In conclusion, John Price recognised that the year ahead was likely to be equally challenging and exciting as the last 12 months.

Acceptance of the Chairman’s report was proposed by Gwyn Griffith (SLSA), seconded by Edward Keates (WKLSL) and unanimously approved.

Treasurer’s report

The Treasurer, Peter Cheesman, told the meeting that the NSA accounts were in a very healthy state and because the insurance payments were finally up-to-date, overstated amounts in previous balance sheets had now been corrected. The turnover for sales of equipment totalled over £8,000 for the first time this year and this was due to the work of our excellent local agents, Shirley Reed, Barbara Fitzpatrick, Toni Wheatley and Sally Morris.

The coaching courses conducted by Melissa Mantle at Chichester provided a valuable income at the beginning of the financial year and there was only a small rise in administration expenses compared to last year. The surplus for the year amounted to just over £3,100, but this was aided in part by a bonus payment of £421.00 received from Portman Building Society and Nationwide as a result of their recent merger.

With an overall balance of nearly £23,500, the NSA is now in a position to undertake more sizeable capital projects.

The Treasurer was given a vote of thanks by the meeting, and acceptance of the accounts was proposed by Shirley Reed (Vice-Chairman), seconded by Michael Ledwich (SLSA) and unanimously approved.

Election of officers

• President: Shirley Reed, proposed by the NSA Committee, seconded John Fitzpatrick
• Chairman: John Price, proposed by the NSA Committee, seconded Ann Peck
• Vice-Chairman: Kevin Hilliard, proposed by the NSA Committee, seconded Fred Newland
• Hon. Secretary: Kay Price, proposed by the NSA Committee, seconded John Price
• Hon. Treasurer: Peter Cheesman, proposed by the NSA Committee, seconded Gwyn Griffith
• Officers (elected on bloc, proposed by the NSA Committee, seconded by Ann Peck): Melissa Mantle, Toni Wheatley, Michael Ledwich, Rick Mason, Barbara Fitzpatrick

A previously co-opted officer, John Fitzpatrick (Sussex County Umpires Association), was proposed by the NSA Committee, seconded by Ann Peck, and all the officers were unanimously approved.

At the end of this election process, it was agreed that the constitution would need to be updated to take into account the increase in NSA officer numbers.

Election of new Vice-President

In recognition of all the work that Richard Emsley has done for the NSA since it was re-formed in 1979, he was proposed as a new Vice-President by the NSA Committee, seconded by Doris Younger and unanimously approved.

In recognition of his long and devoted service to the game of stoolball, a presentation of an engraved tankard was also made to Richard by the Chairman, John Price.

Independent examiner

Stoner, Cottingham of Horsham were proposed by Peter Cheesman, and seconded by Richard Emsley to continue their annual examination of the NSA accounts. They were unanimously approved.

Any other business

Sussex County Sports Partnership

The NSA has been working more closely this year with the Sussex County Sports Partnership at Falmer and, following the Government directive on physical activity, it is hoped that stoolball will be able to make a positive contribution to the increase in activity anticipated in the South East region over the next five years.

Barring and vetting

This new safeguarding process comes into effect in September 2008 and will eventually take over from the current Criminal Records Bureau process which needs to be renewed every three years.

The new process will involve a one-off application and the applicant will become ISA (Independent Safeguarding Authority) registered. There is no renewal process required and any information on file will be updated as circumstances change.

After September 2008, individuals who currently have a CRB certificate will be asked to submit a new application for an ISA when their CRB runs out.

BingoLotto

This soon-to-be-launched TV programme is designed to help grass-roots sport and fill the gap left by the National Lottery shortfall. With the majority of the money from the National Lottery being used to fund the 2012 Olympics in London, this is potentially a good funding opportunity for less well-off and minor sports like stoolball.

In order to be a participant in BingoLotto, it is necessary for the NSA to make it clear in its constitution that it is a “non-profit-making organisation”. Members at the meeting were unanimously in favour of being involved in BingoLotto. It is now important to tell everyone about BingoLotto so that stoolball can play a supporting part in raising money when it starts on 29 February 2008.

By the end of January, we should be in receipt of a video/DVD about BingoLotto and this can be put the NSA website.

Stoolball Convention

The 3rd Stoolball Convention will take place on Sunday 9 March at Wivelsfield Village Hall, near Haywards Heath, commencing at 11am. All clubs, leagues and associations are asked to make every effort to attend – it should be a most interesting day.

Stoolball bats

During the summer, a large number of W W Grantham bats were found which are of great importance in the history of stoolball. They were all made on board ship during Grantham’s voyages round the world and it is hoped that a home for them may have been found at Chailey Windmill Museum.

Thailand

Stoolball has been introduced to a school in Thailand just north of Chiang Mai, not far from the Laos, Myanmar (Burma) and Vietnam borders. Just prior to the AGM, photos were received of the children’s first efforts at the game where they were using bats and balls donated by the NSA, while the wickets were made locally.

Graham Bailey, who is Englishman married to a Thai member of staff at the school, met up with John and Kay Price recently to take the equipment back to Thailand and promised to keep in touch and let the NSA know how the game is progressing.

Insurance

Before the renewals are sent out at the beginning of 2008, the NSA needs to extend the upper age limit of the Personal Accident Insurance to 80 to take into account older team members who manage a junior team, umpire or score. We also need to know to what extent volunteers are covered under our insurance and it is necessary to have a discussion about health and hygiene with our insurers. We will discuss any feedback at the stoolball Convention.

Patron

Discussion took place about a potential stoolball patron. Several suggestions were made at the meeting and the NSA Committee will consider these and other suitable candidates during 2008.

Disabled Olympics

Delia Saunders (Vice-President) raised the question of whether stoolball could be offered as a suitable sport at the Disabled Olympics.

About 5 years ago, the NSA supported an event for disabled athletes at Christ’s Hospital School near Horsham and played an adapted version of the game on one of their tennis courts. It was agreed that stoolball is a good game for disabled people to play and we will need to look into this further.

Thanks from Clymping

Ann Peck (Vice-President) related that she had recently attended the Sussex County Stoolball Association’s Top of the League Knock-out Tournament which is held annually at Seaford and during the day was asked to umpire for Clymping Stoolball Club. After the event, she received a note of thanks from Clymping and she wanted everyone to know how much their appreciation meant to her.

West Kent Ladies Stoolball League

Edward Keates told the meeting that he would be standing down as Chairman of West Kent Ladies Stoolball League at their AGM in 2008. Doris Younger (SCSA) said how much we would all miss Edward and his intelligent approach to the game.

NSA newsletter

Shirley Reed (newly-elected President) announced that the latest edition of the NSA newsletter was ready to be circulated and that where possible it would be sent electronically.

Tri-fold leaflet

Doris Younger (SCSA) asked about the progress of the tri-fold leaflet which is the brainchild of Kevin Hilliard. She was told that it was a “work in progress” and that it was hoped that it would be ready to be circulated before the new season.

Club Accreditation Scheme

Kevin Hilliard has sent out copies of the new scheme to all leagues and associations for comment and would appreciate any feedback. Kevin will be talking about this project in more detail at the stoolball Convention in March.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 1.10pm.

Kay and John Price
3 January 2008

Tags: meetings