Thank you to the 28 committed members who attended the AGM on Sunday 14th May! The draft minutes with full details of the meeting are here. Please let me know ASAP if you spot any errors or omissions.
The main outcomes from the meeting are summarised below for the benefit of all members.
Louise Broome becomes Club President
- Steve Kinsella has decided to stand down as President - thank you Steve for your outstanding contribution over many years
- Louise Broome was elected as President. Congratulations Louise!
Club to provide home teas for opposition and as many home players as possible
- Home teas will be provided for opposition players by Marco, paid for by the club, funded by an increase in membership fees
- Home players will no longer need to provide teas for the opposition - saving roughly the same as the increased membership fees
- Home teas will also be provided for as many home players as possible - subject to due diligence and affordability. Details to follow in due course.
Club evaluating options to expand the pool of umpires
- To address a critical shortage of umpires, the AGM agreed 3 core actions:
- Improve player behaviour towards umpires
- Support development for our existing volunteer umpires
- Expand the pool of umpires - including considering both volunteers and paying for umpires.
- Paid umpires would be funded by the increase in membership fees - subject to due diligence and affordability. Details to follow in due course.
Membership fees will increase as a result
- Membership fees will increase from 1st September with the following anticipated member benefits:
- Club-provided teas for visiting opposition players – no need for club players to incur cost to prepare teas
- Club-provided teas for as many home players as possible (subject to due diligence above)
- Larger pool of umpires, potentially including paid umpires (subject to due diligence above)
- Strengthened club financial position in the face of increasing costs.
- Adult membership fees will increase from £175 to £200; concession adult membership fees will increase from £80 to £100
- Junior membership fees will remain unchanged for under 13s but will rise from £80 to £100 for over 13s (recognising access to senior training and matches.)
- Social membership fees will increase from £35 to £40.
- Occasional membership is withdrawn - but we will always try to help members facing financial hardship. If you are struggling to pay, please talk to Sarah Brickhill, our Membership Secretary.
Accounts and budget agreed
- The club achieved a surplus of £6,300 in 2022/23. The accounts for 2022/23 were approved.
- The budget for 2023/24 was approved, including the increased membership fees.
New Committee members elected - see here for the full list
- Paul Boon was elected as Chair
- Welcome to new committee members: David Byrne (Juniors Captain), Annie Rogan (Development Officer), Pete Potts McDonough (Social Media), Riz Zafar (Finance Support)
Key committee positions remain unfilled - we need help!
- Could you offer some of your time/energy/enthusiasm to take on or share one of these roles? Without them we will struggle badly next season!
- Vice Chair
- Men’s Club Captain
- Social Secretary
- Welfare Officer
- Discipline Officer
- Kit Officer
- DBS Officer
Sarah Brickhill joins Tim Short as a WHC Trustee
- Sarah and Tim hold the club’s WPAL astro company shares on behalf of all the hockey club members.
100 Club draw winners
- Lynne Jones £100; Gill Lockwood £75; Teri Danisevitch £50; Colin Birtles £50
- Are you a member of the 100 Club? You too could be a winner in our twice-yearly draws for just £12 per annum. Sign up here.
