ROYAL CALEDONIAN CURLING CLUB - AREA 6
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Held in Stirling Ice Rink on Tuesday 8th April 2008
Present - 27 members attending.
Chairman – Sandy Shearlaw [Senior Area Representative] chaired the meeting with Betty Montgomery standing in as Secretary.
Apologies – Gifford Rickard – Area 6 Secretary, Ian McGregor - Area 6 Representative, Maureen Meredith and Grant Farquharson – Balfron, Eileen McNulty – Forest Hills, Harry Johnston – Falkirk, Hugh Edmond – Fintry
Introduction by Sandy Shearlaw - Since restructuring of RCCC, Areas Standing Committee no longer have an executive role – this is held by the RCCC Board of Directors. ASC is now advisory and communicative and views/opinions can be passed up for consideration and information passed down.
There are committees which deal with EVENTS/COMMUNICATIONS, MARKETING & SPONSORSHIP / PERFORMANCE / CLUB DEVELOPMENT / COACHING. ASC members are attached to these committees and pass the recommendations to the Board of Directors.
Last year you voted Ian McGregor and me on to the ASC. I have one year to do, Ian 3.
There is a need to set in motion a search for a replacement for me next year.
Minutes of AGM 2007 – No matters arising. Approved by Helen Watson,Drymen and seconded by Alan Wilson, FIRCC.
Chairman’s Report –
Stirlingshire Province Secretary has resigned. – thanks for the work done.
Manse CC [West Lothian Province] has ceased to function. Thornhill [Forth& Endrick] is also experiencing difficulties.
RCCC have proposed an increase in Subscription of £1 to £17 and Juniors under 21- £4.
Local successes
Kelly Wood’s team won European Silver.
Logan Gray and Kelly Wood won inaugural Scottish Mixed Doubles.
Stirlingshire Province [Kilsyth CC – John Davie [Skip], Billy Johnston, Neil Murray, Billy Beattie] won the National Province Championship.
Annette MacDonald, Margaret Armstrong, Irene Hird and Raye Rickard retained the Scottish Women’s Masters.
Gifford Rickard, Billy Beattie, Walter Graham and John Gillespie won the Scottish Men’s Masters Championship.
Report on new Stirling Ice Rink – David Hird gave a resume of progress.
The building is due for completion in Dec 08. It is on schedule. Commissioning will be complete and curling start is scheduled for Sept 09. The existing rink will continue for the 08/09 season. By September the complex will need to be ready to attract potential users of all ice sports. The new rink has a stone floor and will have a 12 month/per year potential.
David, as Chairman of SIR Co, will ensure that the utilisation of ice time will be the same.
There will be two groups; a design group will ensure that all facilities specified as promised, including John Bateman, David Hird and Andrew Hemming; an operational group run by ActiveStirling. There will be a separate Ice group for ice sports.
SIR Co will then be wound up and will decide the future use of existing ice rink in consultation with the shareholders.
The catering function in the Sports Village has been franchised to Clive Ramsay.
The question of access to the rink was queried especially for 5.45 pm session. The various routes were discussed. The difficulty was appreciated.
The ability of SIR to successfully complete the 08/09 season was questioned. David replied that, should a vital component fail, rental would be undertaken.
Food charges were to be held at a reasonable level.
Asked what the organisational structure would be, David said he foresaw a format similar to the Sports Club but there was still much to be discussed including membership payment, monies paid up front and the use of swipe cards on entry.
At present the late session runs for only 3 nights per week.
Area 6 Competitions 07/08 -
Bonspiel won by Stirlingshire with Torbrex the top club.
The trophy was presented on the night to Torbrex.
Knock-won by Oatridge [West Lothian] beating Sauchie and Bannockburn.
The Robert the Bruce Trophy was not handed in by Fintry for presentation. The bottles of gin were not available for presentation due to Gifford’s illness.
Financial Statement – David Hird, as Auditor had checked and signed the Finance Statement. Acceptance proposed by Bill Strang, seconded by Willie Ralston.
Area 6 Subscription – no change recommended and agreed.
Election of Secretary – Gifford had agreed to continue in this role. This was proposed by Sandy Shearlaw and seconded by Betty Montgomery.
Election of Auditor – David agreed to continue and this was proposed by Sandy, seconded by Helen Watson.
Incoming Canadian Tour – extends from 7 Jan to 31 Jan and is the Centenary tour.
The tour is in Stirling on Tuesday 27 Jan, playing at 10 am and 2 pm. Accommodation has been booked at the Royal Hotel & Lodge, Bridge of Allan and for Tuesday evening Dinner. 120 people can be seated. A working party will be set up to sort out finance and details of dinner. Further info will come out from Province Secretaries.
Ladies’ AGM – Tuesday 13 May at Pollokshaws Burgh Hall.
RCCC AGM – Saturday 14 June at Westerwood Hotel, Cumbernauld.
There will be seminars starting at 10 am and AGM starts at 12 noon. The new President is Matt Murdoch but there is no nomination for Vice President. A Director can be co-opted.
The Gala Dinner will be held on the same date and a golf competition on the Sunday. Full details are on the RCCC site.
AOCB – The European Championships will be held at Aberdeen in 2009. An assurance has been given by Aberdeen City Council on the availability of the Beach Lynx Centre for use during the Championships.
Representational Review Working Group
This group was set up under the Chairmanship of Mike Ferguson following the RCCC AGM of 2007.
Irene Hird stressed that one of the important issues which would be put forward at this year’s AGM was the proposal to give every registered curler a vote and a say in the Royal Club. 75% of voting members at the AGM must approve.
Some models concerning the representative structure of the Royal Club will also be discussed at the AGM but no decisions will be taken before the 2009 AGM after consultations have taken place.
The proposed models are:
- Keeping the Status Quo with 2 standing committees – Areas Standing Committee and the Ladies Standing Committee.
- Moving to a single Royal Club Standing Committee comprising Ladies and Gents made up of:-
[a] representatives from Ice Rinks
[b] representatives from Provinces.
Irene commented that Province Secretaries communicated well with clubs but wondered if there were too many tiers of administration.
It was important that all clubs and Provinces considered these options.
Clubs and Provinces should be encouraged to discuss these options and to ensure their representative members attended the AGM.
Curling Cues – Willie Ralston asked about new legislation. This was to be discussed at Grand Forks during the Men’s World Championships. The RCCC is not intending to introduce any new restrictions at present.
Betty Montgomery
Acting Secretary
14.4.08
