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AGM of Red Bat Cricket Collective

Date:  7 December 1984

Venue: Royal Oak

Present

Debbie Ehrenberg, Bill Gill, Steve Hewlett (acting secretary), Phil Jones, Keith Miller, Val Moon, John Nolan, Paul O'Connor (chair), Phil Solomon, Mike Welbrock, Matt Gummer (part), Richard Butterworth (smaller part)

Absent with apologies

John Anzani, Geoff Gummer, Tony Rose

1.  Minutes of last meeting

D Ehrenberg informed the meeting that her name had been misspelt in the AGM minutes.

No-one could remember actually voting on the motion to affiliate to MCC (3a) but since all present thought it a good idea the minutes were not altered.

The minutes were AGREED.  Nem con.

2.  Matters arising

It was AGREED that in future the 2 teams woud be referred to as Saturday and Sunday rather than as A and B.

3.  Constitution

It was AGREED that the debate about the new constitution would be conducted by going through the Committee proposal point by point.  Needless to say, in the great tradition of British voluntary organisations, most of the evening was spent discussing the constitution.  In the interestd of maintaining a clear record of the decisions taken, what follows is a much condensed version of the proceedings.  Also a full copy of the Constitution is [available here].   The reference numbers in the margin refer to those in the proposed constitution.

1. Name: AGREED nem con.
2. Aims: AGREED nem con.
3. Membership.
a. AGREED
b. AGREED
c. This clause as proposed read "Membership shall be valid upon payment of the fee for the year in question".  This provoked much discussion around whether it allowed enough flexibility in the event of members experiencing hardship and/or other difficulties with payment at the beginning of the season. It was also suggested that it would be more logical, given all the different circumstances that may arise, to treat membership and the payment of fees as separate items.  This would mean that non-payment of fees that had not been agreed by the Collective would become a disciplinary matter.

It was AGREED that clause (c) should read: "All members shall be required to pay subscriptions for the year in question."
d. AGREED
e. AGREED
f. This clause (associate membership) also raised hearty debate which centered around what distinction, if any, should exist between 'associate' and 'playing' members.  A proposal that associat members should not be allowed to vote on 'playing' matters was eventually withdrawn since no-one could adequately define the meaning of the term.   The clause was ultimately left unamended on the understanding that a later clause on th Quorum for general meetings would be amended in such a way as to prevent the club becoming dominated by non-playing members.
Following these amendments, claue (3) was AGREED unanimously.
4. Decision-making bodies.
a. AGREED
b. AGREED
c. AGREED
d. This clause refers to the calling of Extraordinary General Meetings, and to the quorum for any such meetings.  The only part of the clause to generate any debate was that referring to the quorum (see above 3(f)).  The Committee's proposal read:
"The quorum for an EGM shall be 3/4 (three quarters) of the membership at the time of the meeting."

Members were concerned that 3/4 might prove problematical, and that in the light of the discussion about associate members the clause as proposed was inadequate.

It was AGREED that clause 4(d) be amended to read:
"... The quorum for all General Meetings shall be 1/2 plus 1 (one half plus one) of the total PLAYING membership."
e. AGREED
f. The Committee's proposal read "All motions will be deemed carried if they receive a simple majority of those indicating a preference."

There followed some discussion about whether a simple majority should be sufficient to change the constitution.

It was AGREED that clause 4(f) read:
"All motions, EXCEPT changes to the Constitution, will be deemed passed if they receive a simple majority of those indicating a preference."
g. As a result of the decision on clause 4(f), it was AGREED to insert a new clause (g) which would read:
"Changes to the Constitution shall require a 2/3 (two thirds) majority of those expressing a preference at a quorate General Meeting."
Nb.  All other points in this section are therefore re-designated.  Old (g) becomes new (h) and so on.
h. AGREED
i. It was AGREED to substitute the term 'AGM' for 'meeting' in new clause (i) with reference to nominations for office.  New clause (i) now reads:
"Nominations for office will be taken at the AGM.  Those unable to attend may still be nominated by the chair."

Following these amendments, clause (4) was AGREED unanimously.
5. Joint Committee
a. AGREED
b. AGREED
c. AGREED
d. This clause refers to the way in which the joint committee may be held accountable.   There was considerable discussion of the majority needed to remove a committee members from office.  A proposal to amend the proposed Constitution to require a 2/3rd majority for such an action was defeated and the clause was eventually AGREED unamended.

Clause (5) was then AGREED unanimously.`
6. Subscriptions.
a. AGREED
b. AGREED
c. AGREED
d. AGREED
e. AGREED
f. Clause (f) refers to members receiving recompense for expenditure on behalf of the club.
It was AGREED to remove the word 'legit' from the Committee proposal (largely on the grounds that it was not legit).  Clause (f) now reads:
"Any members incurring expenditure on behalf of RBCC shall be entitles to a refund of their costs upon production of evidence of expenditure."

Following these amendments, clause (6) was AGREED unanimously.
7. Changing Rules.

It was unanimously AGREED to delete the whole of clause (7) as proposed and add a new clause (7, a).  This now reads:
"Notice of intention to change the Constitution at a particular meeting must be circulated with the notice of the meeting, i.e. 7 (seven) days in advance."

The new clause (7) was AGREED unanimously.
8a.

 

 

 

 

 Discipline.
1. Delete clause (a) (re: a pair etc.)
2. It was AGREED to amend clause (e), expulsion, to necessitate 2/3rd (two-thirds) rather than a simple majority for a motion of expulsion to be carried.
3. It was also AGREED to add a new clause to this section of the Constitution concerning due warning being given to members of diciplinary measures being taken against them.   It is to read something like...:
"A written warning shall be sent, stating the grounds on which disciplinary action is to be taken.  There must be a minimum of 14 days from receipt of the letter prior to any further action being taken."

At this point, R Butterworth wished it to be known that he was incapable of self discipline.
8b. Self-discipline.

With the word 'equally' deleted, the clause was passed as proposed.
9. Laws of Cricket.

Passed Nem con.

4.  New members

In terms of playing membership there were 5 places to be filled and 9 applicants.   There was a lot of discussion about how to select the 5 from the 9.  Two alternative suggestions emerged.

  1. The Committee view was that there should be some discussion of the criteria to be used, followed by a discussion of the applicants.  The Committee would then adjourn and produce a list of 5 which the meeting would be asked to ratify.
  2. A view from the floor that a discussion take place followed by a secret ballot of members present.

A vote was held after some debate, and the Committee's proposal was adopted.

The 5 new players are: Dave Lloyd, Lloyd Peters, Mike Redfern, Mark Moore and Dave Muir.

5.  Any other business

A collection was held for the miners, and £20 was collected.

The Committee were to set the level of subs at somewhere between £15 and £20.

Nets would be held every Wednesday evening from 7.30pm at the Civil Service Club, Monck St, off Horseferry Road, near Victoria.

The meeting ended ... tired and emotional even !