WCF Management Committee Meeting 28th November 2009, Victoria Croquet Center, Melbourne, Australia
Present:
David Openshaw – WCF President
Charles Jones
Max Murray
Consulted by email after the meeting:
Rhys Thomas
Amir Ramsis
Andrew Hope - Treasurer
Max Murray
Carole Jackson
Brian Storey - Secretary-General
Note:
Some of the items discussed were eventually deferred to the 2010 WCFMC agenda due to the significant change in WCFMC personnel following the 2009 WCFMC elections.
1. Over 50 World GC Championship
This had agreement from Keith and conditional agreement from Rhys (workload issue see below) and Brian (dependent on also holding U21 in future see below).
It was concluded this has support and should go ahead. We need to decide on the financial arrangements for the event.
1a Workload. We have already organised help for Sec Gen on Tournament Administration. Keith helped with the recent Women's championship. It is believed we should formalise this with the appointment of an events manager probably from outside the WCF MC on either an individual tournament basis or on a permanent basis for all events. We will need to specify in detail the responsibilities of this job and its boundaries to the responsibilities of the Sec Gen. Charles /new WCF MC to action
2. Under 21 GC Championship
Discussion on when to hold next event. David said CA had suggested that a small event might to held right before the WCF GC championship in July 2011. NZ is another possible venue.
Both to be pursued. David to contact CA, Charles to contact CNZ. This event was supported and actions to go ahead.
3. European Team Championship
We discussed some alternatives. Unanimous view that the event should be like the 2009 event. AC/GC, some teams from outside Europe invited. 2 venues if needed. To be held in June 2011. WCF and CA to approach Cheltenham as already agreed with CA. There seem to be two views a) continue as 2009 under WCF with invitations to selected non European members b) hand over to FEC and presumably restrict to European members only. Further email discussion required with options in a document.
There is a time issue involved here . David has agreed with CA that we will jointly approach Cheltenham to hold this event again in 2011. To be credible we need to be specific about the event. But without a venue we can of course forget about holding it and there are very few alternatives.
4. Next WCF AC Championship
Max reported that progress was being made on the detailed programme for the event to be held in March 2012 in Australia. Max to update us in early New Year.
5. WTC Costs (Tiers 2 and 3)
David reported that it was planned for the entry fees to cover lawn and ball hire. Also discussed was how other costs should be met. After some discussion it was agreed that Charles Jones be authorised to spend up to £1000 after full budget discussions were held by the WCF /CA organising committee.
The level of our expenditure would be dependent on sponsorship activity, any CA contribution and the purpose of the expenditure.
Also agreed as a result of this discussion that Max would report back to us regarding financial results of the Womens World Championship.
This is agreed following comments from Rhys, Brian and Keith. Also agreed that we should establish a policy covering all our events. (Responsibility of the new WCF MC)
6. Uruguay
Help for them would go through the normal channels.
This means that Uruguay would have to go through the normal procedure for applying for development grants.
7. Name of Women's GC Championship Trophy
We did not refer to this trophy as the Clarke Trophy at the event, though we asked Chris to present it. The trophy is engraved with the words "Donated by Chris Clarke".
8. Court of Arbitration.
It was agreed that at this stage in our development we should not develop a court of arbitration. Rather we should expect National Associations to deal with their own issues.
Brian wants us to reconsider, Keith asked if a process for members to appeal against decisions of the WCF MC was discussed. Answer no it was not. In the circumstances this should be passed on to the new WCFMC committee for further discussion.
9. WCF Council Meeting
It was agreed that this should be held on Monday after the end of the WTC. It was felt this was in the spirit of the 2009 Council Meeting decision.
Agreed on this even though not exactly in line with WCF council meeting decision. But Brian wants input from new members of the committee. Charles to arrange.
10. GC Seeding
Agreed that the present GC Ranking system was still some way of being appropriate for seeding championships. Charles to discuss improvements with Stephen Mulliner. Agreed.
11. Statute 214.2
In view of the possibility of a member country objecting to a WCF event being played in China in 2010 (for example an 8 player invitation event), it was agreed to ask voting members to agree to waive Statute 214.2 as it applies to any event held in China in 2010.
Rhys comments: Either we honor the statute, revise it, or drop it-but we can't just waive it when it's convenient. Keith comments: Unless the committee feels there is a time constraint that requires us to ask members to waive 214.2 for the China event in 2010,
David would prefer us to come forward with a proposal to amend 214.2
Max, Charles and David all believe that revising 214.2 will take a long time,
Brian proposes discussion at next Council Meeting. So there is a time constraint as far as China is concerned. Given the current environment and the focus of attention on 214.2 David is not prepared to continue to work on the China project which might entail a WCF tournament in 2010. Such a tournament is very unlikely to involve all members ie it might be an eight player invitation event. So we need to find a resolution or abandon China project. Max, Charles , Amir and myself favour the waiver approach. Remitted to 2010 WCFMC.
12. Womens AC Championship
It is known the ACA have been in favour of this event for some time. Charles expected that CNZ would also be likely to support this event . Agreed that we should pursue this. Charles to discuss with CNZ about hosting.
Rhys and Brian firmly opposed, Keith supported. We now have had support from CNZ and even an offer to host by them in 2012.
Max, Charles and David strongly support this championship. The example of the GC Womens has been to generate considerable additional enthusiasm in both Australia and NZ. and no doubt it has led to improved standards of womens play. It is expected this would also happen for AC. There is no suggestion in this proposal that the WCF 'Open' championships should become men only. This can be made explicit.
13. Summary of events Schedule
2010
- WTC (incl Macrobertson Shield) England Aug
- Over 50 GC Championship Cairo Oct
2011
- European Team Championship England June
- WWGCC Toronto June/July
- World GC Championship London July
2012
- AC World Championship Australia March
2013
- World GC Championship NZ?
- Womens GC NZ ?
- AC World Championship England July/ Sept
2014
- WTC Tier 1 Macrobertson Shield NZ Jan/Feb
Charles to approach CNZ re 2013 events.
Noted high WCF workload in 2011. We will need Event Organisers to handle the WCF admin for each event.