PGB Summary Version 1.0 20 August 2022
Stamford & Rutland Chess Club
Minutes of Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the Cosy Club, Stamford, on Wednesday 10 August 2022
- The AGM started at 7:25pm.
- Present:- David Anderson, Richard Stokes, Scott Merriman, Jon Redding, Stafford Wallace, Peter Beveridge
Apologies:- Eric Gibbon, David Lees, Nicholas Lees, John Spence, and Stanley Daniels.
- Peter B opened the proceedings.
David Lees’ minutes for the EGM held on 12 August 2021 were noted as having been accepted by all members.
Venue and attendance was reviewed:
Following last years EGM finding a suitable and affordable venue in Stamford proved to be a major problem.
In October 2021 Jon R came up with a suggestion of playing at Empingham Cricket Club. David A and Peter B meet with Rick Simmons at the Empingham Cricket Club to discuss matters with him. Following this the Chess Club members agreed to move to Empingham. For a modest annual membership fee to join the Empingham club, we can play chess at Empingham when the bar is staffed by volunteers, currently on a Wednesday evening. We can “shut ourselves away” to a degree in the changing room, which has tables and chairs.
Advantages :- Good guest beer at the bar, friendly staff, a place for our chess kit at Empingham, a room to ourselves. It’s a much shorter distance for Stafford to travel! The room has tables and chairs.
Disadvantages:- The changing room is adequate and keeps us away from the main bar area, which can get quite noisy. Driving out to Empingham is off-putting for some. Wednesdays may not suit everyone, including Eric, but we are limited to when the club and bar is open.
The disadvantages of the new venue may have had a detrimental effect upon attendance. In turn this has made us hesitant to try to attract new members, which is necessary for the continuation of the chess club.
The inescapable conclusion, accepted by all present, is that it remains extremely unlikely that any venue can be found in Stamford which the chess club and its members can afford. Therefore, we wish to continue playing at Empingham Cricket Club.
Financial Report – The financial report issued prior to the meeting by David A was reviewed by him. David A collected subs for the chess club and membership fees for individuals to join the Empingham Cricket Club, as reflected in the report.
- Consideration of options and actions agreed, arising from general discussion.
Suggestions for discussion were gratefully received by Peter B from Eric prior to the meeting and these were incorporated in the discussions.
- It was unanimously agreed by all present, and by a proxy vote from Eric, that the chess club should continue.
- Given that we would like to continue to meet at Empingham Cricket Club as our Venue, a broad discussion took place regarding options for improving the chess club and retaining and increasing its membership.
- The actions arising are set out in the following table:-
|
|
Action points arising from the discussion |
Responsible |
|
1
|
Contact Rick Simmons at Empingham Cricket Club to advise of restart on 17 August 2022, and arrange a meeting to discuss plans going forward, and any possible venue improvements. |
Peter B |
|
2
|
Members who will not be attending to advise others on a weekly basis. Aims – 1) so that others can be confident that there will be someone to play against 2) to facilitate lift sharing by members. |
All |
|
3
|
To aid communication, a What’s App group will be started. Members will need to join What’s App if they don’t already have the app on their phone. |
Jon R
All |
|
4
|
Rebrand the Chess Club as the Stamford and Rutland Chess Club. There are no Rutland, Oakham or Uppingham Chess Club, as advised by Jon R. We have an opportunity to try to extend membership from this wide area. ……………………………………………………… 1) Create an updated web site with links to a new online club so prospective members can find and contact us 2) Create and operate an online club, for new and existing members. Encourage new online members to play at Empingham. A mandate was given to proceed immediately with the above items – to those with sufficient IT knowledge to do this! …………………………………………………………. 3) Consider and act on ideas for publicity and advertising – local papers, parish news letters, village diary events …………………………………………………………… 4) Empingham Cricket Club need to be made aware and brought onboard, and may be able to make helpful suggestions. Link to item 1 above. |
All
…..…………………….
Jon R Scott M
…………..
Jon R …………………
Peter B
|
|
5
|
Set up competitions, time limited games, and blitz games which are attractive to possible younger members, and others, who want to obtain and better their chess gradings.
Explore and set up games with other local clubs, Lincs Chess.
It was acknowledged that the success or otherwise of the above is dependent upon having a critical mass of people available to play, and on good communication |
Jon R. Scott M
Richard S |
|
6
|
Check with Stamford School, where Jon R assists with tuition, to see if competitions with other clubs could be held there – the environment at Empingham being deemed unsuitable for competitions. |
Jon R |
|
7
|
Post meeting thoughts by Peter B
The above action points involve a lot of “new ground”.
If anyone has any further thoughts or comments, please shout out.
Also, if anyone with actions need help, or wants to talk things through, again please shout out.
|
All. |
|
8
|
It’s on David A’s radar, but to confirm – thought should be given to subs payable, and when these are due |
David A |
- Eric Gibbon had requested that he stand down from the chess club committee as secretary. Thank you, Eric, for your many years in the roles of treasurer and secretary.
The posts for 2022/2023 are as follows:
- a) Chair Peter Beveridge
- b) For IT, Web Site and Publicity Jon Redding
- c) Treasurer David Anderson
- d) Events Secretary / H&S Richard Stokes
- c) Online Club Scott Merriman
- There being no other business the meeting was concluded prior to 9pm.