WCF Management Committee Meeting 10th August 2005

It was agreed that time table and status was as follows:-
1st WCF Women's Golf Croquet Championship - Cairo Egypt November 2005
7th WCF World Golf Croquet Championship - Hawkes Bay, New Zealand March 2006
MacRobertson Shield Trophy - Melbourne, Australia November 2006 :
MacRobertson Shield Trophy - Great Britain - June-August 2010

Awaiting confirmation was:-
11th WCF World Croquet Championship - Palm Beach, USA October/November 2007
8th WCF World Golf Croquet Championship - Cape Town, South Africa March 2008
12th WCF World Croquet Championship - New Zealand January - March 2009

In considering hosting the event in 2007 the USA stressed that they were only at a formative stage of putting a plan together. In the event they decided to postpone that arrangement the event in 2007 would be hosted by New Zealand and USA would host in 2009.

Dependent upon the success of the event in Cairo in November a decision would be taken by USA to consider hosting the next World Women's Golf Croquet Championship also in 2007. In the meantime it was agreed that the event be put out to all members to consider for the future.

A proposal had been received that WCF should consider hosting a World Women's Association Croquet World Championship. A discussion took place. Whilst it was accepted that women were generally poorly represented amongst the top players in the world, there was no support for the proposal. It may be construed as patronizing and there are better ways of promoting women's play in the sport.

It was agreed that the WCF should promote six person team croquet where possible rather than the 14 point game. A possibility was to have non MacRobertson Shield nations play in a tournament together. It was acknowledged that there would be a problem finding six person teams in the first instance, but nevertheless the matter will be explored:-
a) Discuss with the MacRobertson Committee the best way forward whether WCF or they to organize.
b) Discuss with non MacRobertson countries the depth of support.

2. Council Meeting 9th August 2005

Feedback from the Council Meeting held the day before were then considered:-

Indemnity.

In agreeing to the proposal to amend the WCF Rules to indemnify Council, Officials in the event the organization was sued, subject to conditions, the Council had expressed a wish that suitable insurance be taken to cover for such an eventuality. It was agreed that the Secretary-General discuss and take tenders from brokers and report back.

Notices

The Council had expressed a view that the notice periods in the WCF Rules were excessive and should be shortened. They had asked the Management Committee to give thought to this and propose change to reduce these time limits to a reasonable level. A discussion took place and it was agreed that the 180 days be reduced to 90 days and the 90m days to 60 days. This would require a substantive motion to be put to Council. It was agreed this would be done by postal vote at the same time as the elections for the Committee.

Election for Committee

It was agreed that D. Openshaw as President, A. Naguib, and P.Payne will retire at the end of their tenure between 1st January and 30th June 2006. The vote would be by post.
D. Openshaw, A. Naguib, and P.Payne all gave notice of standing again. Gary Fox had tendered his resignation but been persuaded to continue in post until these elections. Graham Roberts would be contacted to discover his intentions.

WCF Regulations

Following the decision by Council to support the motion to incorporate the formation of Regulations in the WCF Rules, the Secretary-General had proposed a number of draft documents for adoption.

A discussion took place with the following decisions:-

Sports Regulations - approved;
Equipment Regulations - approved;
Development Regulations - approved with the exception that no monies would be loaned or granted for the purchase or hire of equipment, and no equipment would be loaned. This is to reflect the belief that the developing nation should show some form of commitment to the development and have already some infrastructure.
Hall of Fame Regulations - A discussion took place and the idea was adopted in principle. A Vetting Committee to be established to make decisions on suitable candidates and the matter further discussed at the Friday Committee meeting.

3. WCF Business Plan

The plan was presented in draft (Version 0.3) form and detailed examination given to its component parts.

1. Deleted
2. Agreed
3. Agreed
4. Agreed as per Item 1 above relating to 6 person teams.
5. Agreed
6. Agreed
7. Agreed
8. Agreed. It was acknowledged that participation in any large scale Sport Event would require fulfilling certain criteria. Such as number of members on each continent and adherence to World Anti-Doping Agency Protocols. The ultimate objective was to make all this possible in time and reach a maturity that would enable such a thing to be a possibility. It was thought to be a long term project.
9. Agreed
10. Deferred for further consideration by the Committee and possible recommendation to delete objective from WCF Rules..
11. Agreed
12. Agreed
13. Deferred for further consideration
14. Agreed with notice that:-
14.2 1 Not possible at this time;
14.2.2 Agreed: 2.6-2.9 to be the Committee that covers these aspects at this time.
14.3 Agreed
14.4 Agreed

4. Golf Croquet Rules

It was agreed that the next meeting of the WCF Golf Croquet Committee would take place at Hawkes Bay, New Zealand during the next Golf Croquet World Championship. This was to review the current rules.

5. Any Other Business

WCF Event Meals
A discussion took place regarding meals at WCF events for players and officials. It was clear there was a wide discrepancy between event hosts as to the affordability of the subject and the level of feeling. A discussion followed in which it was agreed that ideally, where possible, all meals costs for lunch and tea should be borne by the hosts. If they could not, the charge should be at cost price only and not excessive. The matter would be raised placed in the forthcoming Events Regulations.

National Uniforms
A query arose regarding National Uniforms for players. It was clarified that players could play in National Uniforms that had been submitted for approval by a Member Association and been approved by WCF. Isle of Man had done this. Others were encouraged to do so.

Accounts
The Treasurer discussed the Accounts that had been presented to the Council meeting in greater depth. The total income amount in excess of capital this year was estimated to be approximately £10k that could be put to development processes. It was agreed the accounts be put on to the WCF web site.

Entry Fees
The Treasurer raised the issue of collection of entry fees to WCF events. He had spent a considerable amount of time chasing players and national officials to solicit payments due, and a better system should be used for the future. It was agreed that in the future, all entry fees should be paid to WCF at the time that nominations for events were accepted by national associations. Wild Cards by a certain number of days after acceptance of nomination and qualifiers probably at the event itself. In the event that associations failed to pay the entry fee the nominations would not be accepted.
In respect of this event all defaulting players would be sanctioned in the event of continued non payment.

Meeting closed at 5.00pm

Next meeting 4.00pm Friday 12th August 2005 at East Glos Club, Cheltenham

Updated January 4, 2008