World Croquet Federation
WCF Council Meeting held at the East Glos.Tennis Club, Cheltenham, England at 2.00pm on Tuesday 9th August 2005.

Present:
David Openshaw (President)
Rhys Thomas (Management Committee and USA)
Amir Nagiub (Management Committee and Egypt)
Tony Hall (Past President and Australia)
Peter Batchelor (New Zealand)
Steven Mulliner (England)
Phil Cordingley (England)
Carole Jackson (South Africa)
Peter Millson (South Africa)
Owen Edwards (Australia)
Kevin Beard (Australia)
Jonathan Kirby (Scotland)
Bruno Hess (Germany)
Chris Williams (Wales)
Sarah Burrow (Jersey)
Andrew Hope (Treasurer)
Brian Storey (Secretary-General)
Tore Gulbrandsen (Norway - Applicant)

Apologies
Graeme Roberts (Management Committee)
Gary Fox (Management Committee)
Peter Payne (Management Committee)

David Openshaw opened the meeting and explained due to his continued involvement in the Championship he was unable to stay and that due to this absence, he requested that the Council appoint someone else in his place for this meeting. The Council unanimously agreed to appoint A. Hope as Chairman. Proposed by P. Cordingley; Seconded by T.Hall.

1. Minutes of Council Meeting of 27th June 2003

Proposed T. Hall; Seconded S.Mulliner that these to be agreed to be correct. Unanimously agreed nem con.

2. Report of the Committee

There was no report submitted.

3. Statement of Accounts

Details had been circulated earlier to members. The Treasurer reported an increase in monies over the years and the Friends a healthy balance sheet with income increasing over the recent period due to the holding of more events.

These were proposed and seconded as approved and adopted nem con.

4. Applications for Membership

Applications for membership had been received from the Croquet Association of Norway Association and Finnish Croquet Federation as Observer nations.
Mr. Tore Gulbrandsen gave a report of the sport in Norway and the level of activity.

Both were unanimously accepted as observer members.

5. Applications for Championships to be recognized

This matter was deferred to the Management Committee for decision as the President was absent form this meeting and he had vital information as to current applications.
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6. Consideration of resolutions proposed.

These minutes are cross referenced to the appendices of proposed resolutions for brevity.

The appointed scrutineers reported that there two postal votes had been made: Canada with one vote and Egypt with two votes. The votes from both countries had been cast in favour of all the proposals made.

Appendix 1 - Classes of members and voting rights.

It was confirmed that observer status would not convey any automatic entitlement to participate in any WCF event. Associate membership would do so.
The Secretary-General was asked to contact all observer nations and ask them to consider Associate Membership.

Proposed: Tony Hall; Seconded S. Mulliner - All agreed nem con.

Appendix 2 - Secretary-General and Treasurer voting rights

Speaking for the motion, Tony Hall stated that it was not always easy to get the right people for these jobs and the voting right was seen as an opportunity to attract the best people. The Australian Croquet Association has problems in the past. Stephen Mulliner was concerned about the lack of backing papers regarding the motion and took a different view. If a vote was given it could also lead to a good candidate being compromised. Both posts were appointed positions and not elected and as such it was not right, persons in this position, should be given a vote.
Proposed T. Hall; Seconded R. Thomas.

A vote was taken: For 14 votes; Against 3 votes.

The proposal was passed.

Appendix 3 - Compliance with and promotion of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

A discussion took place regarding the proposed promotion of Child Protection issues and the amendment of WCF rules. Proposed by T. Hall; Seconded by R. Thomas. It was unanimously agreed to endorse the proposal, nem con.

Appendix 4 - Power to make regulations

A discussion took place regarding the suggested Regulations and their linkage to the WCF Rules. It was agreed they would always be subservient to the WCF Rules. Proposed by R. Thomas; Seconded by T. Hall. It was unanimously agreed to adopt the resolution nem con.

Appendix 5 - Copyright and Property Rights

A discussion took place on the correct phraseology to use to protect WCF intellectual property, title and logo. The original proposal was proposed by S. Mulliner and Seconded by P. Cordingley.
The proposal was then amended, New paragraph 37 Copyright and Property Rights to read, "All copyright, patents, registered trade marks, trade marks, and any other intellectual property rights relating to WCF Events, WCF logo, all other property and other related matters shall remain with the World Croquet Federation". It was agreed that the implementation of this "protection" to be the responsibility of the WCF Management Committee. Amendment proposed by K. Beard; Seconded by O. Edwards.
The amendment was carried nem con. The substantive proposal therefore automatically failed.

Appendix 6 - Communications, Relationship between WCF and its Membership, Undertaking by members, Quorum, Notices for meetings and Indemnity.

The Secretary-General requested that the component parts of this proposal be taken in turn as it was his understanding that some would be the subject of lengthy discussion.

Paragraph 2.1 - Communications. It was agreed nem con that all communications between WCF and member associations would be via the Secretary-General and the nominated member representative and vice-a-versa.
The text to read, "Correspondence and communication between the Federation and a member association shall be between the World Croquet Federation Secretary General and a representative nominated by the Association"
Proposed S. Mulliner; Seconded T. Hall. Passed unanimously nem con

Paragraph 2.2 - Relationship between Members and the World Croquet Federation

In discussion, S. Mulliner reported he would not support anything over which he had no control, sanctions would be unfair and generally the proposal was unworkable. R. Thomas felt he was happy to agree with the principle behind the proposal but could not agree to the inclusion of this rule. It was considered that it would be difficult to ascertain exactly what the word "unfairly" meant in this context.

Proposed by T. Hall; Seconded by K. Beard. The motion was defeated nem con.

Paragraph 2.3 - Undertaking by Associations

It was agreed most of the text was reasonable. The Secretary-General withdrew part 40.1.4 relating to guidance on the basis that all guidance was just that and should not be prescribed by a Rule.

A discussion took place on part 40.1.5. S. Mulliner stated he could not agree to a situation where a contract made by another party would be binding on all its membership without them being a party to that contract in the first place. This was agreed unanimously and the proposal was withdrawn.

With these withdrawals, the matter was proposed by K. Beard ; Seconded by S. Mulliner. Agreed unanimously nem con.

A discussion took place on part 40.2. Following the adoption of "Associate Membership" made earlier, the text should be amended to include the words, "and Associate Members" after the words "…Full Member Associations".

The amendment was proposed by S. Mulliner; Seconded by R. Thomas. Agreed unanimously nem con.

Paragraph 2.4 - Quorum

Proposed by Carole Jackson; Seconded by Owen Edwards. Agreed unanimously nem con.

Paragraph 2.5 - Notices

A discussion took place regarding the time scales currently in place. Part 41.3 was discussed in detail. It was considered that although most or all notices would now be sent via electronic communication any postal notices should have more grace than 24 hours. It was proposed by S. Mulliner; Seconded by T. Hall that "24 hours" be replaced with "7 days". Unanimously agreed nem con.

All the parts of the motion were then proposed by S. Mulliner; Seconded by P. Cordingley. Unanimously agreed nem con.

The Members asked the Management committee to look in detail at the current time limits imposed by the Rules and make proposals for change in the future.

Paragraph 2.6 - Indemnity

A discussion took place regarding the necessity of this rule change. It was clear that some form of indemnity insurance was required by the Federation to prevent financial loss in the event of a financial claim.

The Management Committee was requested to examine and obtain suitable insurance. Proposed T. Hall; Seconded K. Beard. Unanimously agreed nem con.

Appendix 7 - Minor, apparently inconsequential changes and the Reformatting of the WCF Rules

A discussion took place about the approach to these amendments. Part 3.1 should read "Associate" not "Affiliate" as decided earlier.

S. Mulliner stated that where gaps deliberately appeared in Rule numbering they should be recorded as such.

Proposed S. Mulliner; Seconded T. Hall. Unanimously agreed nem con.

7. To consider revisions of Association status

From the floor Wales and Germany requested they be afforded Associate status from their current Observer status. Proposed by
S. Mulliner; Seconded by J. Kirby. This was agreed unanimously nem con.

In addition the Management Committee was requested to solicit all current Observer members to request that consider Associate Membership.

8. Confirm, Revise or Remove any penalties imposed under Rule 31 or 32.

The Secretary-General reported that no penalties had been imposed on any member since the last meeting.

9. To elect auditors as appropriate

The Treasurer reported the current auditors, David Tomlin, were actually "independent examiners", professional accountants that examined the books. Proposed by Hope; Seconded by Carole Jackson. Unanimously agreed nem con.

10. Transact any other business of the Federation

10.1 Discussion on future compliance with and promotion of the World Anti-Doping Agency protocols.

A paper had been circulated prior to the meeting setting out the aims and objectives of WADA together with a model for International Federations.

A discussion took place in which Australia and England had already adopted their own code pursuant to WADA. R. Thomas stated he was concerned on the efficiency of testing laboratories and the likely cost of testing. He considered that the implications for members could be far reaching whether we adopt the protocols or not and careful thought must be given to the matter. A. Hope expressed concern regarding the use or non use of Beta Blockers. The Secretary-General confirmed that Beta Blockers and Alcohol were two drugs where a Federation had discretion whether to make their use prohibited or not. In further discussion it was apparent that if Beta Blockers were banned then it would affect many, particularly older, players who did take them. If they were not banned then it would perhaps encourage the use of the drug for many players too.
The Secretary-General was asked what he wished from this discussion. He stated that it was his opinion that the WCF should adopt WADA protocols. The question of Beta Blockers and Alcohol to be decided by the WCF membership. Croquet was currently amongst the very few international sports federations that had not signed up to WADA and there was seemingly a credibility gap in our aims and objectives.

After further discussion it was proposed by S. Mulliner; Seconded by R. Thomas that the matter be referred to the Management Committee for further consideration and to come back to the membership with firm proposals. Unanimously agreed nem con.

10.2 Croquet Film

R.Thomas reported he was engaged in conversations with a Television Executive about the possibility of a reality TV show featuring croquet players. He gave details of the likely impact on the sport and the control he would exert if the project materialized. The plan was endorsed unanimously be the members.

The meeting closed at 4.59pm