Welcome.
President Colin Stirling was in the chair and welcomed the 27 attending members as per the attendance book.
The president informed the meeting of the passing of Bill Wright from Teviotdale Club, and a silence was observed “In Memoriam”.
Apologies were received from Tommy Hinnigan, Peter Bowyer, Douglas Elliot, Jim Wood, Allan Watt, Alan Campbell & John Stevenson.
Minute of the Annual General Meeting of the 8th May 2008. This had been distributed and taken as read and was proposed as a true record of the meeting by Jim Buchanan, Greenlaw and seconded by Jim Cullen, Earlston and duly signed by the president.
Matters Arising. There were no matters arising.
Finance Report. Again a copy of the balance sheet had been distributed and the treasurer only highlighted a few articles of special note including details of the Canadian fund, special note was made to the fact that the grant from “Awards for All” paid all the Ice costs and contributed to the printed items.
Move to adopt the balance sheet was proposed by Bert Duncan, Greenlaw, seconded by Graeme Cowe, Earlston.
2009 – 2010 Subscription. The Treasurer felt with the healthy balance of the Province funds there was no reason to change the current subscription of £0.80.
Bert Duncan proposed staying at 80p this was seconded by Colin Stirling.
President’s Report. President Colin gave a full report of his and the Province activates during the past year, which is listed separate to this minute. The main points being the results of our province competitions including Coldstream getting their name for the first time on the Border League Trophy, the newly introduced Runners-Up “Stirling Salver” went to Earlston. Murray Potts was thanked for standing in as quizmaster with a late call-off from David Ferguson. There was special mention of the visit of the Canadian tour in January, which included the two games of curling, a Civic Reception, a Burns Supper and highlighted the fine meals served over the weekend by the Waggon Inn. The president also mentioned the Border representatives of Johnny Shedden, Balfour Stewart, Douglas Scott, Colin Martin, Oliver Stark, Jim Cullen, Ron Wardhaugh and Alistair Lindsay who all toured Switzerland during early January and thanked Oliver Stark for being the only one almost fit enough to get to the Canadian Burns Supper night. Congratulations were extended to Keith Prentice and Tommy Fleming in winning Bronze also Rhona Fleming who was in the ladies team coming fourth in the World Seniors in New Zealand.
The report ended with thanks to the committee and secretary for their support during the year.
Standing Committee Members Report. Bert Duncan gave a short report advising the members that there will be a vote for a Vice President at the RCCC AGM in June and details are available from him. Tickets are also available for the Gala Dinner. Bert reminded all members who were representing their club at the AGM of the RCCC that they can only vote if their Club Secretary processes the correct paperwork.
Wearing his hat as Chair of the BCDG he listed a few coming events and appealed for votes for both Lorna Shaw as young curler of the year and BCDG for the Ice Diamond Award.
Directors Report. Graeme Cowe, Finance Director of BIR Ltd reported that the year had gone very well for the company, with a lot of unseen work being done to the wiring of the building. We have bought a new Ice King and Nipper to assist with the ice preparation. There will be work done to the car park during the summer and in the near future the refrigerant in the old compressor will have to be upgraded to legal standards and this will cost in the region of £22,000.00. Graeme closed by thanking the province and the club for their support and look forward to another good year during 2009 – 2010.
Mrs Joan Forrest added that she felt sure that there are grants available via RCCC for upgrade of this type of equipment.
Mr Cowe thanked Mrs Forrest for her input and the board will look into this.
BIR Club Report. Club President Oliver Stark said the past season had been very successful with many competition entries improved; however there were some low points and the mixed competitions were poorly entered. Sunday ice had not been the success it was expected to be and this coming year it is hoped to have fewer Sundays at the start but have a couple later in the season.
Coaching Report. There was nobody available to present this report
Development Officers Report, this was presented by Jim Buchanan. A full report is separate to this minute but the main points being:
Monday Club was well attended and “Curlings Cool” was going very well.
Jim thanked John Burns for running the schools competitions but informed us that John would like to stand down after many years. We are looking for volunteers! There is a lot of ice unused on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings and it is hoped to get an active schools programme running on these days. A slide improvement course is planned for this coming season. Two clubs have taken advantage of the development grant of £100 each and one application for a £200 grant is in the pipeline, all interested clubs should contact Jim Buchanan. Helpers for the BCDG stand at Kelso and Duns shows are required.
In closing Jim thanked all who helped with coaching, the various committees and Ice Rink staff for their support.
Election of Office Bearers:
President: Colin Jeffries, Duns. Proposed by Colin Stirling, seconded by A Lindsay.
Colin Jeffries took the chair and started his term in office by thanking Colin Stirling for his very fine year in office and thanked him for the donation of the “Stirling Salver” donated to the Province for the runner-up in the Border League.
Vice President: James Dixon, Swinton. Proposed by Colin Jeffries, seconded by Jim Buchanan.
Committee members due to retire by rotation: Andrew Wemyss, Michael Fleming & John Stevenson.
Elected to Committee until 2012 were:
Joan Forrest, Coldstream. Proposed by J Swan, seconded by Robert Walker.
Tony Betton, Duns. Proposed by A Lindsay, seconded by Jimmy Hodge.
A Hodge, Swinton. Proposed by O Stark, seconded by Jim Cullen.
Area Standing Committee Member: Bert Duncan.
Secretary/Treasurer: Bill Cleghorn. Proposed by Colin Stirling, seconded by Bert Duncan.
President Colin Jeffries read out a list of our main sponsors and thanked them for their support.
Change to Constitution:
Rule 6 Proposed by Colin Stirling, seconded by Mrs J Forrest.
All games shall be played under the rules of the RCCC with Province games being a maximum of eight ends or time signal unless otherwise stated prior to commencement of play.
(All subsequent rule numbers will change up one number)
The secretary intimated that there had been a change made some years ago to allow clubs from outside the province to play in the Border League. (This currently includes Glendale and Yester). The printed version of the constitution had never been updated, thus it was agreed by the meeting to add a section to rule 24 to read:
Rule 24 (Additional wording in italics)
Rinks shall consist of all Regular Members of clubs in the Border Province, wherever resident, and/or Occasional Members of such clubs resident in the Border Province only. The committee will have the power to accept an entry from clubs out-with the Border Province as “Extra Provincial” with the proviso that the Border Ice Rink is their home rink.
Proposals to change format of the Border League:
Proposed Amendment 1: (4 sections)
Proposed by Michael Fleming. Seconded By Neil McLain.
League to be played in 4 sections of 5 teams playing twice, with a semi-final and final.
(80 league games + Semi & Final)
Proposed Amendment 2: (2 sections with semi-final and final)
Proposed by J Burns. Seconded by J Green
League to be played in 2 sections of 10 with winner of each section plays R/U in other Section in a Semi-Final
(90 league games + Semi & Final)
Proposed Amendment 3: (2 sections with page finals)
Proposed by J Cullen. Seconded by Joan Forrest
League to be played in 2 sections of 10. The top of each section play-off, with the winner going direct to final.
The R/U in each section play, with the winner playing the loser of the section winners’ game in a Semi-Final
(90 league games + 2 qualifiers and 1 Semi & Final)
Original Format (Status Quo):
Played in 2 sections of 10 playing once with a final between the section winners.
(90 league games + Final)
After some discussion, Michael Fleming withdrew the proposed amendment 1.
The result of the vote between Amendment 2 and Amendment 3 was in favour of Amendment 3
by 9 votes to 7.
The result of the vote to go with Amendment 3 or stay with the Status Quo was unanimous in favour of Amendment 3.
The draws took place for the Border League, Dun, Melrose Kettle and Harry Hogg, as per the fixture card.
Waldie Griffiths. The 4 skips and 1 reserve will be:
James Stark, Jim Lawson, D M Sutherland, June Swan, (Reserve) Jim Cullen.
AOCB.
None
There being no further business the President closed the meeting at 8.25 pm and invited everyone to join the ladies upstairs at their coffee evening.
