WCF 10th General Meeting 7th December 2002

Present
Management Committee
Tony Hall President
Gary Fox Secretary-General
Peter Payne Management Committee and representing the Swiss Croquet Federation and the Spanish Croquet Association
David Openshaw Management Committee and representing the Croquet Association (England)
Graeme Roberts Management Committee

Member Representatives
Australia Peter Tavender
Creina Dawson
England Phil Cordingly
Canada Louis Nel
Germany Bruno Hess
Isle of Man Kevin Garrad
New Zealand Charles Jones
Roger Lane
Scotland Keith Aiton
USA Jerry Stark
Bob Cherry
Wales Chris Williams

Apologies
Belgium
France
Guernsey
Ireland
Italy
Jersey
Russia

Andrew Hope - Treasurer

Purpose of the meeting
The Chairman confirmed that no notices of motion to amend the Rules of the WCF had been received. Any proposed rule changes agreed at the meeting would be submitted to members by postal vote. Additionally elections due later in the year would be conducted by a postal vote of members.

Minutes of the previous Council Meeting

Minutes of the Council Meeting held in London on 6 July 2001 had been circulated to members and copies were included in the information packs provided to delegates. The minutes of the previous Meeting were confirmed by Council.

Management Committee Report

The Chairman spoke to the Management Committee report circulated to delegates in the information packs. The number of Friends for England in the report should be 31 not 4. The Chairman thanked Chris Williams for the work undertaken on the World rankings and on the Website.

The Report was received by Council.

Financial Accounts

The Financial Reports of the Federation, including the Income and Expenditure Account for 2001 and the Balance Sheet for the year ended 31 December 2001 were accepted by Council

During discussion the use of Friends Funds was clarified. They could not be used for general operating expenses of the WCF. However income received could be used for this purpose. The Council agreed that bank interest derived from the Friends Funds should be allocated to the Friends account.

Budget

The draft budget (including honoraria) for the year to 31 December 2002 was accepted by Council.

Annual Subscriptions

The Management Committee recommended an increase of 5% in the annual subscriptions for members. New Zealand preferred an increase of 2%. The increase in membership fees will be submitted to members by postal vote and would be supported by a budget projected over the next three years.

Applications for Membership

Applications for membership had been received from Sweden and Austria and were approved by Council.

Revisions of Association status

No proposals received.

Draft Schedule of Future World Championships

The draft schedule of Future World championships was agreed by Council

Association Championships
New Zealand indicated its intention to bid for the 2008 Association World Championships. Australia will confirm its intention to bid for future Championships. The USA proposal to bid for future championships is to be confirmed.

Golf Croquet Championships
Egypt was not represented at the Council meeting and has not confirmed its intention to conduct the 2004 Championships. England has agreed to conduct the event if Egypt is unable to quickly confirm its intention to conduct the event.

New Zealand will bid for the 2005 event and England for the 2006 event.

14 Points Team Event
Ireland is considering the 2003 event

Peter Payne commented that the Association Championship event was limited to the larger countries with greater resources and lawn availability, whilst the 14 point teams' event was suitable for members with fewer resources. Lawn requirements for this event are significantly less and could be conducted on a 3/4 court venue.

To consider resolutions submitted

No resolutions were submitted

To consider penalties imposed

No penalties have been imposed

Auditors

Council confirmed the appointment of David Tomlin & Co, Chartered Accountants, 4 Glamorgan Road, Cheltenham, Glos. GL51 3JF, as auditors of the WCF.

Any Other Business

World Championships

The following Issues arising from this event were outlined by Gary Fox:

Distribution of places between member countries.
Following an appeal from the USCA on the number of places allocated, its allocation was increased to 6 places. The number of places available to the 4 largest countries would generally be maintained at 6, provided the number of places in the championships was 64 and greater.

Qualifying Event
The qualifying event was a great success, especially held immediately prior to the Championships. It provided a source of players to fill vacancies resulting from late withdrawals and the places. The format used for the event, one block of 19 players, was successful.

Format
64 places provided the minimum number of entries to ensure an even spread of numbers between members of the WCF and that a majority of the world's best players could play. In these championships approximately 50% of the top 50 players in the world competed.

The documents produced by the WCF covering bidding and hosting World Championship events will be redrafted to take account of recent experience in conducting this event.

Dress Standards
The Council agreed to the revised Dress Standards circulated in the information packs for this meeting

Golf Croquet

It was unanimously agreed by Council that there be no change to the name of Golf Croquet.

Voting Rights of Members, particularly Observer members.

The draft rule changes for a new class of members will be submitted to members for postal vote.

Appointment of Treasurer

Council confirmed the appointment of Andrew Hope, Scotland, as Treasurer of the WCF

The Chairman closed the meeting at 8.30pm

Updated January 4, 2008