Dear Members,
Our annual General Meeting was held last Monday.
Around 30 members attended, and it is a good sign that those present represented a well balanced cross section from all parts of the club.
Keith Duffy began by addressing the meeting with his chairman's report, sighting some of last year's achievements, such as the success of our cricket team in winning promotion back to the premiership and the ongoing investment the club is making in facilities and youth coaching in both cricket and squash.
He paid particular tribute to two menders who have died recently, both of whom held office as club chairman, namely, Peter Hardman and Paul Cooper, who both passed away in the last twelve months.
John Buckley, club secretary, provided a management update, and delivered a presentation to the attendees of the club's plans for improvement during the next five years.
He also made a case for all the work that has been undertaken during the last twelve months and the signifiant improvements therein.
In the last year the club has undertaken the following major works;
1. Extensive renovation work to the cricket nets.
2. Installation of a new roof over the squash area and main building.
3. Completed works to a £50,000 project to renovate the squash courts and changing rooms.
4. Redecorated the club, including lounge bar and cricket changing rooms.
5. Installed a new computer system.
6. Resurfaced our main driveway including provision for future road-side lighting..

Plans for the next twelve months include refurbished toilets, including a new disabled facility, the installation of an outside bar, a new CCTV system and new till software.

John also took questions from the meeting, chiefly regarding these plans and also answered questions, where possible, regarding the club's annual accounts, currently being prepared by accountancy firm Booth Ainsworth, who have informed John of an unforeseen delay.
It is now anticipated the accounts will be ready in a month's time.
As such it was agreed that another meeting should be convened to present them once they are completed.
John did provide some information based on the draft accounts he had received the previous Friday, but was at pains to stress that the club would have to wait a little longer for a more detailed analysis.

In other business the meeting took a vote on a constitutional change to reduce the size of the General Committee, to be specifically made up of three officers (Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer) plus six other committee members.
A reduction overall of 25 % on previous committees.
This proposal was presented by John B.
A counter proposal, made out by Dave Hardman, was presented, essentially putting forward the belief the committee should remain in its current format.
Following a lengthy debate, the meeting took a vote.
President Ian White was responsible for the count, which returned a majority in favour of the change as proposed by John B.

If any members have any questions regarding the AGM, or any other club matters, please contact John Buckley, or any of the new committee members.

The new General Committee consists the following members;
Keith Duffy
John Buckley
Ron Williamson
Dave Hardman
Joe Dawber
Mike Karpinsky
Dave Butterworth
Eddie Griffin
Phil Douse

I'll let the members know the details of our 2017 / 18 accounts as soon as I receive them.

Kind Regards

John Buckley