Present: Bob Appels (BA), Sylva van Hille (SVH), Koen Heidbüchel (KH), Tony Falcon-Uff (TFU), Charles-Eric Vilain XIIII (CE), Jonathan Lamb (JL), Gabor Weiner (GW), John Swabey (JS), Bruno Eeman (BE).
Apologies were received from: Guy Monseu, Dick Leonard, Michele Perbal.

1. AGENDA
The agenda circulated previously by e-mail was agreed, with additions (see ‘Any Other Business’).

2. LAST MEETING RECORD
The record of the 2000 AGM was agreed nem con.

3. REVIEW OF 2000
The Secretary (JL) went over some of the key achievements in the review circulated on 3 March by e-mail: eg more new members, more equipment, a better lawn and more fixtures, notably the season-long tournaments. He described it as the Club’s best year yet. The Treasurer (BA) distributed a breakdown of income and expenditure by month, showing that the accounts were in surplus, and promised to circulate a further breakdown showing where money had come from and on what it had been spent. Action: BA. Discussion of bar bills led to agreement that in future, all drinks would cost 30 BEF; the bowlers’ fridge and drinks would not be used; and individual members would restock the BCCG fridge as and when needed. TFU undertook to sort out past battels sheets and bill members. Action: TFU. He also took receipt of 50.000 BEF from BA for paying to John Martin. Action: TFU.

4. PROGRAMME FOR 2001
JCL ran through the fixtures list for 2001, saying that there would be two one-day Golf tournaments (20 May and 22 July) rather than one weekend, and that the best player on each side of the popular Oxford v Cambridge match (13 May, a.m.) would receive subsidised Club membership. He reminded those present of Ramsgate fixtures and of Alex Jardine’s Budleigh tournament from 29 July to 4 August. It was decided to propose an away inter-club fixture with Ramsgate on 24-27 May. Action: BA. GW undertook to organise the season-long tournaments in 2001, and to give consideration to adding a full-bisque handicap league for those with handicaps over 16. Action: GW.

5. ELECTIONS
The following were elected or re-elected nem con:
President: John Swabey
Secretary/Treasurer: Tony Falcon-Uff
Membership Manager: Bob Appels
Tournament Manager: Gabor Weiner
TFU explained that he was principally prepared to act as Treasurer but that it would be logical for him also to be Secretary as he had prepared a website for the Club: (see www.centrepeg.com). This would serve as a news and chat forum, reduce the need for a wide circulation of e-mails and allow members to check details such as the contacts list and the results of tournaments, provided these were sent in promptly by managers. Only the chat forum and treasury-type information would be password-protected. TFU undertook to send round an explanatory e-mail to help members discover and use the website. Action: TFU. The meeting was grateful for this new and useful initiative.

6. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

John Harris
GW proposed that the Club negotiate group membership with the John Harris fitness centre. Some ten members were potentially interested. Action: GW.

Membership fees
After much discussion, the following scale of fees was agreed:
First Year and Overseas Members: 3500 BEF
Full Members: 7000 BEF (no concessions for lapsed members rejoining)
Children under 14: Free
Family Membership: 10500 BEF
Day fees: 400 BEF
Fees would be payable by 30 April. After 1 September, new members would be charged 7000 BEF to include the following year. It was decided to stick to the existing system of paying John Martin rather than to suggest paying a lump sum.

Equipment and play
The meeting agreed the purchase of two sets of championship hoops for general and tournament use. Action: JL. It also approved the continuation of lawn and kit hire to commercial enterprises provided one court was retained for members, who should be forewarned of the booking as soon as it was made. TFU asked that the positions of hoops and boundaries for a full-size court should be permanently marked on the wooden side-boards. Action: JL. It was decided that Monday evenings should remain as Club Nights, with Thursday evenings being described as ‘Club and Coaching Night’.

Handicaps
The meeting agreed that the Automatic Handicapping System should be retained but used more systematically, replacing the sheets if necessary with cards as in the UK Croquet Association. Handicaps would be revised if necessary (eg to deal with fast improvers) on 1 July and 1 November, by a Handicapping Committee consisting of all members with a single-figure handicap and chaired by the player with the lowest handicap.

Lawn
There was lengthy discussion of how to improve playing facilities, with the majority arguing for an ambitious redevelopment plan to be put to John Martin, falling back if necessary on the minority’s suggestion of relaying the present lawn. BE agreed to send cadastre plans by mail to TFU. Action: BE.

7. CONCLUSION
There being no other business, the President declared the meeting closed at around 6.30 pm.

J C Lamb
Departing Secretary