Present: Bob Appels (BA), Bruno Eeman (BE), Tony Falcon-Uff (TFU), Koen Heidbuchel (KH), Jonathan Lamb (JCL), Dick Leonard (DL), Allan Morris (AM), Hilary Morris (HM), John Swabey (JS), Gabor Weiner (GW).
Apologies received from: Stuart Anderson, Francis Cole, Celia de Borchgrave, Robert Greenwood, Julia Lamb, Pam Lawson, Guy Monseu, Michele Perbal, Sylva van Hille, Charles- Eric Vilain XIIII.

1. AGENDA
The meeting began at 15h30. The agenda circulated previously by e-mail was agreed. GW requested a discussion of committee posts which was included under election of officials.

2. LAST MEETING RECORD
The record of the 2001 AGM was agreed.

3. REVIEW OF 2001
The Secretary (TFU) briefly described the result of an action agreed at the last AGM to approach John Martin (the owner of the Chateau and lawns) with a plan for improvements and to ask his future intentions. In resume, TFU concluded that nothing would change. TFU referred to other actions agreed at the previous AGM to approach various bodies regarding possible funding and alternative playing places. Apart from confirmation of the existence of an old but unusable lawn at the Chateau de la Hulpe, nothing was forthcoming. The President (JS) gave his views on last season, describing it as good but regretted that more club members did not play in the Opens, etc. He said the year had begun strongly, with a lot of fixtures in the first half of the season, but had lost momentum in the second half of the season. TFU noted that it had started well with the season-long golf kick-off and the alternate-stroke doubles which JS hoped could be repeated in 2002. JS mentioned hoops and ball barriers (see Equipment Review). Coaching was discussed (see Membership Review). JS suggested that, based on last year's events, the club should organize more doubles to encourage high-handicappers. JS proposed a vote of thanks to GW for organizing and very capably running the season-long tournaments. GW said that the High-handicap had been a failure due to lack of games and had been abandoned. HM put this down to the reluctance of 'learning' players to propose games to more expert players. JS reminded the meeting that the club visit to Ramsgate CC had been good fun. Despite previous complaints, JS reported that, in general, relations with the bowlers during 2001 had been OK. JS opined that the Automatic Handicapping System (based on the book in the clubhouse) was working fine. Opinion as to whether the individual handicaps of club members were comparable with those from other countries, notably the UK, was mixed and the exchange inconclusive. A discussion ensued on whether the handicapping should be changed since it was suggested that some members, particularly losers, were forgetting to fill in the forms. Four suggestions were proposed: status quo, cards (as CA in UK), simplified book that could be taken lawnside, automatic system based on website and/or emails. The meeting concluded that all four should be adopted: the clubhouse book could have old pages removed, that winners could fill in losers results, that cards could be made available for those who wanted them and that AM and TFU should investigate methods of automating the system, to be decided in committee. [ACTION AM/TFU]. GW proposed that a standing committee of three should adjust/review handicaps of fast-improving members but the meeting resolved to retain the arrangements set out at the last AGM. JCL thought that the club website had been a major achievement and JS mentioned that it had been available for most of the season. (Off-line from end of September for technical reasons). JCL proposed a vote of thanks to BA for his notable efforts as Membership Manager.

4. PROGRAMME FOR 2002
The meeting reviewed the BCCG events planned for 2002, which JS noted had started well with the Indoor Open. TFU explained that for the Ramsgate CC visit of 9-12 May, RCC had indicated a team of 12 for Sat/Sun (11/12 May) which was impossible over two days. Several present would support play on the Thursday and Friday (9 & 10 May). BA, as organizer, promised to verify numbers and dates [ACTION BA] . JS announced that B. Witas had invited a team to Bayeux in France on the 26/27/28 July (which will be added to the calendar) [ACTION TFU/GW]. AM and HM started a discussion about the events calendar and asked whether it could be published earlier. This principally concerned non-club events or those of other federations (Jersey and UK) and TFU said such information was available on the CA website (link on the BCCG and CFB websites). JL said that all events at Genval were reliant on people volunteering to organize, etc and that as Secretary he had been reluctant to fix and advertise dates (for CFB events) without being sure that the event could take place. GW accepted organization of the BCCG season-long tournaments and said he had some changes and would publish details in due course [ACTION GW] . GW concluded that coercing players to enter was not a good policy because they subsequently did not play.

5. TREASURER'S REPORT
The Treasurer (TFU) apologized for the lack of a precise printed report and promised to distribute one [ACTION TFU]. He said that the BCCG had started the year with about 90,000 BEF and had ended with a total of about 101,000 BEF. Expenses had included investment in clothing of about 30,000 BEF some of which was ordered. TFU agreed to compile a list of clothing in stock [ACTION TFU]. TFU explained that, as with other years, some receipts (members bar bill) and payments (to the CFB, to John Martin for lawn fees) were for the previous year and therefore reflected past membership numbers. The club had a total of 26 members in 2001 of which 18 qualified to be included in the CFB payment (18,000 BEF paid) and 14 in the JM payment (70,000 BEF to be paid). Most members paid in good time and all had paid for 2001.

6. FEES REVIEW
The meeting agreed the fees for 2002 as follows: Full membership 180 EUR, new members 90 EUR, Non-resident members 90 EUR, Young members FREE, Family membership 270 EUR, Green fee (previously Day Fee) 10 EUR. (See BCCG website for definitions of each category). It was agreed that non-members may only play with members present and that a Green fee must be paid. Any players that subsequently become members would have any green fees paid deducted from their first membership fee. A vote concluded that normally a limit of three visits (paying Green fees) would be allowed before players were asked to join. Half day fees (previously accepted) were unacceptable. TFU reminded the meeting that it had been stated at last year's AGM that membership for the coming season should normally be paid before the end of April [ACTION ALL MEMBERS]. Most members paid in good time and all had paid for 2001.

7. FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT REVIEW
It was agreed that the club now had sufficient mallets, that the gardener had improved the lawn, was doing a good job and was approachable for special tasks (ie. extra cutting for tournaments) by JL. JS(?) cautioned against offering extra payment just for doing his job. No strong opinions were offered after TFU suggested that the system of stocking the fridge (independently from the bowlers) and of recording drinks taken was cheaper and better than last year. AM accepted TFU's assurance that the settlement of bar bills at the end of the year did not result in enormous demands. Fizzy water had not been present when needed. [ACTION BA]. JL reminded all that a Swing Trainer had been available and largely unused in the clubhouse. The purchase of two mallets from abroad had incurred excessive import duty and was not to be repeated. JS mentioned that the two sets of new hoops purchased by the club during the year, being of consistent width and finish, were an improvement on the old ones. The club's ball barriers had been cut in two (to lighten and lengthen them) and painted but were now used only for the CFB Indoor.

8. MEMBERSHIP AND PROMOTION REVIEW
TFU stated that the club had a total of 26 members in 2001 of which at least three were not expected to play (pay) in 2002. TFU asked if the club wanted more members and, if so, what could be done to attract them. The meeting concluded that more members were desirable and could be supported (variously up to 30 or 40 in total). No commitments or extra plans were made for recruitment out than word of mouth, passers-by and Open Golf advertising. DL would bring one possible member. JCL has been in contact with a possible member of low handicap. Organized coaching was universally agreed as a good idea with both sessions by club members and invitations to visitors (such as Harold) applauded. JCL agreed to take on coaching [ACTION JCL] and it was agreed that BA should contact Harold and others for weekends to be arranged [ACTION BA]. AM declared Harold's coaching style very effective and useful.

9. ELECTIONS
GW initiated a discussion of committee posts and responsibilities. Events Organizer was adopted (with a new definition) to include the previous post of Tournament Manager. The position of Handicapping Chairman became a committee post. The following were elected to Committee posts:
President - JS
Secretary - TFU
Treasurer - TFU
Membership Manager - BA
Events Organiser - GW
Handicapping Chairman - JCL
It was agreed that GW would oversee all club events and find replacements when he was not available. TFU would continue as webmaster.

10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
There being no other business, the Secretary closed the meeting at 17h10.

Tony Falcon-Uff
Secretary
Brussels Croquet Club at Genval
Genval, 17 March 2002