President's Report AGM 2020

PRESIDENT’S REPORT - ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2020              Anne Beck

 

October 2019 saw a new Committee installed. Our main aim being one of transparency to Ballarat Bridge Club’s Members.

The 12 months for the Committee have been six months before COVID-19 and six months after. An interesting time.

The first task saw a complete overhaul of the premises, cupboards, pantry, office, and clubrooms, with a working bee by Committee, resulting in a trip to the tip with unwanted and broken items. In the office, new carpet was laid, and blinds installed for security and privacy, plus a general reorganisation of equipment.
The filing cabinet was cleaned out and the previous minutes and financial records were collated systematically into filing boxes. These were all labelled and stored in the office cupboards. The documents in the filing cabinet were evaluated and appropriately filed or discarded.

 A WIFI microphone was purchased for clearer communication with members in the clubrooms.

A First Aid Cabinet was installed in the kitchen area and stocked with the necessary supplies, thanks to Orla Conaughton. A fire blanket purchased also.

Plants and new pots were purchased for the Club Room. 

Kaye McFarlane and Noemi McKinnon updated the membership data base enabling both an ease of communication with most members as well as the updating of membership records. They also developed a comprehensive membership record form with Trish Farney.

 A new blind between the Main Club Room and servery hatch was installed.

A new split/system air conditioner was installed in the Embroiderers Room.

The tasks Committee Members have completed included:

Noemi McKinnon - has been responsible for the recording of all masterpoints with the ABF, and liaising with Jim Naughtin during the BBO/BWS Online Bridge, also for the updating and inclusion of items on the Club’s Website.

Clare Beer - has been responsible for the updating of the kitchen pantry and cupboards and the purchase of the weekly snacks and nibbles for during and after sessions, as well as special birthdays and occasions.

Rosemary Kinna - has assisted Trish with the banking, and other related financial business plus the purchase of wine for the Club.

Trish Farney - has been responsible for the management of the Club’s finances and the Annual Financial Report. Trish is retiring, and sincere thanks go to her from the Committee and membership for her contribution and comprehensive financial reports. In spite of there being little or no income received this year the Club remains in a strong financial position as is evident in the Annual Financial Report.

Kaye McFarlane - to help facilitate the running of the bridge sessions a new Router from Telstra, a new computer, and a colour printer photocopier have been purchased. This will allow Kaye and her team to manage the dealing of the cards more efficiently. This team does a sterling job. Bridge playing could not run without them.

Trudi Broeders - has worked tirelessly for both Committee and the Ballarat Bridge Club in a variety of roles. She is retiring this year. Many thanks to her from all of us. We know she will always be willing to assist.

Geoff Dwyer - has completed many maintenance jobs around the clubrooms and garden. He has installed - a new cupboard over the switch board, evacuation signs, a new coat rack in the entry hall, and new security signs around the building. He has regularly mowed the grounds and undertaken other club and garden maintenance tasks as required. A new garden bed was established at the west end of the garden and it is developing very well thanks to Pat Fisken and the team of volunteers that helped set it up.
New decals have been installed in the entrance hall, the signage on the shelter has been removed and new signage put on the two pillars at the entrance gate.

Gayle O'Loughlan - managed to produce one newsletter before COVID-19. There will be more to come.

Helen Dolan - was responsible for the distribution of vouchers for players but these were not needed in the past 6 months due to COVID-19.

Ian Gunn - a valuable contributor in meetings and for general consultation.

Tim Woodley undertook the updating of all the Bridgemates II and supported the various roles of the Directors.

The Ballarat Bridge Club donated $1000 to the Bushfire Relief fund.

A feedback box was introduced to facilitate member’s ideas and comments.

The ownership of the building occupied by the Ballarat Bridge Club has been an issue for many years and finally clarification was achieved. The building is owned by the City of Ballarat. The Ballarat Bridge Club leases the building from the City of Ballarat, paying annual rent and rates. (The next Lease Agreement is due for renewal December 2021.) The City of Ballarat is responsible for any major maintenance and future building developments and/or improvements. Because the City of Ballarat owns the building it is responsible for Building Insurance. Ballarat Bridge Club is responsible for Contents Insurance. Public Liability Insurance is the responsibility of the ABF (Australian Bridge Federation).

A Black Book was issued to members outlining the timetable of events for the year (unfortunately any future events have been cancelled) with an up to date contact list.

Liquor Licensing and Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) courses and certificates were undertaken. I (Anne Beck) am the current Licensee; both Clare Beer and I hold RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol) certificates, with other Committee members to follow.

Socially, the Club held a very successful - Cup Day event, an offsite Christmas Party, a New Year’s Eve get together, as well as the fortnightly Friday Pizza night held during daylight saving time. The regular after Bridge, afternoon drinks, snack and chat sessions are still very popular.

Although there has been very little actual play thanks must be given to the Directors, Tim, Carol, Dianne, Anne, Rosemary, Ray and John for their contribution at each playing session. We look forward to needing your services again.

During the first six months there were few special events. The green point competition days were ongoing, interspersed with monthly redpoint teams events and the Nationwide pairs continued fortnightly. The Western Region Congress was held in February at Geelong, but the Bendigo event due to be held on March 14th was cancelled. Ballarat Bridge Club had booked Joan Butts for a Workshop, but this too was cancelled.

Currently the Ballarat Bridge Club has 112 full members and four associate members.
The Wednesday afternoon supervised Bridge sessions were not well attended and hence were disbanded. An attempt to gain new members was trialled at the Ballarat Library for a few weeks but did not prove to be successful. The plan to target Seniors’ Week to promote Bridge became unrealistic.
Bridge lessons finished at the end of December 2019 - unfortunately no new members or ongoing interest resulted from those participants. Thank you from the Club members to Carol for the work she consistently put into those lessons, for what we know to be a demanding commitment.

On Saturday March 21st the doors to the Bridge Club closed and have remained so since.

The Committee has had regular meetings and contact before and during the COVID-19 six months; we meet now on Zoom (a new venture for all of us). Committee business includes the ongoing accounts that must be paid (inherent in the running of the club), maintenance that needs to be done, adapting to change - ensuring all will be ready for our return to Bridge playing.

I started a Weekly Newsletter to members after the COVID-19 closure of the Ballarat Bridge Club as a way of contact and keeping members informed. This has been well received, but will conclude after the AGM, that will be week 30. Communication with Club Members will continue via a Monthly Newsletter and the Minutes from the scheduled Committee Meetings.

The Embroiderers Guild has also closed its doors and is not paying rent (only its share of the utilities) until they resume. It seemed only fair to put this agreement in place.

Jim Naughtin introduced the membership to playing Bridge Online through BBO/BSW; this opportunity to continue playing bridge has been enthusiastically accepted by many Club members.  Red and Green MP’s can be earnt by playing in the daily tournaments he has set up and supports as facilitator/director.

Marj Davies, a former member, left a legacy to the Bridge Club of $10,000 a very generous gesture indeed. Marj also donated a plaque in 2010 which now resides in a prominent position over the fireplace. A reminder and a thank you from all of us. A more permanent memorial is being planned and will be outlined to members soon.

We were saddened at the passing of Janet Oates and are concerned about the health and well being of some other members.

This year has seen many challenges for the Bridge Club as well as for members personally. COVID-19 has changed the world as we knew it and the future of Bridge playing.

As a Committee we have worked hard and cohesively and achieved a great deal. When we return to playing at the Bridge Club our aim is to once again provide a variety of programs to facilitate all aspects of Bridge: playing, competition, lessons and social camaraderie.

Trudi Broeders and Trish Farney are retiring. Our sincere thanks go to both of them for their valuable ongoing contributions

We welcome two new Committee Members, Bruce Morley and Diane Bulman and know they will be valuable additions to our team.

Thank you, the Members for your support this year, and I believe that the Committee and I can continue in the same vein for the next 12 months. (COVID-19 free of course)                                    

Anne Beck

(President)