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Committee meeting minutes

Present - MB, FC, PD, CH, LN, PW
Absent - MR

One amendment to previous minutes - Damaged/old spools were not destroyed, they were given to Julian on Luton Fencing Club as spares.

Otherwise minutes agreed as correct

• Club 60th Anniversary to be added to next committee meeting agenda. Discussion took place regarding the whereabouts of trophies
• Dates agreed for following competitions :
  
  Gary Baker - 21st January 2006
  Doug Facer - 23rd April 2006
  Note - Prices now agreed with Moulton College £90 each for the day
  
  The three club jackets ordered have now arrived
  Protective teaching aids have been ordered and delivered, now available for use
• Website matters :
  
  CH has spoken to recent beginners and they have agreed to write an account for inclusion on the website
  LN - info passed to MR as discussed previously
  MB - info passed to MR
  FC - advised is currently collating info as previously discussed
  PD - condensed Armourer tips to be formulated for inclusion
  
• PD - asked whether finances had been balanced. FC advised she is currently looking to ensure the books are balanced for 31st December 2005-12-28
• Feedback given from members who attended the Leicester open. Free entry was obtained by those who helped set up and a donation to the club was secured. Encouragement to be given to club members to help out, set up etc in future.
• Discussion re AGM etc. Following items agreed to be actioned - 59th AGM set for 26th January 2006 - Agenda to be written and distributed.
  
  MB and FC to sort covering letters and Agenda
  
  Ideas for 60th Anniversary to be added to AGM agenda
  
  Nominations to be submitted in writing by 12th January 2006
  
  Setting of fees to be added to Agenda
  
  It was noted that no minutes from the last AGM are available

• PD advised committee that he had spoken to a recent beginner and they had expressed dissatisfaction that they had not picked up a weapon for the first three weeks of the course. CH advised this was no longer the case, and beginners now held a weapon in first week. CH gave feedback from questionnaire given to last beginners course. Feedback was encouraging.
• FC advised that at present it was not financially viable to run the next beginners course. Agreed that it was not advisable to drop sessions to two hours as it may not be possible to go back to three hours if another long term booking was made by another club. CH suggested if the beginners course had lower numbers than usual possibly make use of half the hall and use it for more one to one tuition for club members. To be looked into for future courses. FC advised 6 beginners are needed to cover cost of the hall.
• Advertising for beginner courses was discussed and the following agreed :
  
  MB to ensure posters are provided to NCC for supply to Libraries and inclusion on their electronic noticeboard. PW to provide poster to NBC Sport Development Officer for Council Sports Halls, secondary schools etc. PD to investigate posting advertising in village magazines
• LN suggested club nights be altered to provide more coaching, felt that ladder goes on too long. Suggested that with extra coaches now qualified possibility existed to provide small group coaching with different weapons.
• Suggestions following this were as follows : CH first hour warm up, footwork, coaching in groups by weapon. FC one week coaching on presiding? JN suggested coaches could cover presiding as and when they felt necessary. Agreed to try these ideas next club night and review as necessary.
• GB would like to run team competition within the club. Idea that each time would have an experienced fencer as Captain and mentor the other members of the team. To be run over whole year. PD advised Luton Club run a "league" within the club. CH advised number of clubs run a "limited hit" competition. Suggested run similar on club nights, eg 3 hit foil, 1 hit epee etc. GB to investigate and supply ideas for start in January 2006.
• LN advised he had received a suggestion from Towcester Fencing Club for an "interclub competition". They will visit on Thursday to discuss age groups etc

• Info needs to be provided to all club members. To be printed and handed out to members.
• FC - suggested ensuring that all club members are made aware that they will NOT be permitted to fence unless they have the correct kit. Also to be advised re Junior size weapons etc.
• CH requested clarification of visitors fee. MB and FC advised that fee was £5 per person per night. Charged at discretion of Treasurer, must however still be member of BFA. Proof required.

• FC - updated history of club. MB to be provided with this and amend as necessary to provide to The Sword. Also to investigate article in local papers.
• FC - advised cheques sent to relevant charities regarding Gary baker Epee and Doug Facer Foil competitions.
• PD - Radio Northampton broadcast saved on pc, copy provided if requested.
• GB - 17th January 06 is date of next Regional Committee Meeting. GB advised he attended last meeting, can someone else attend. To be arranged.
• PD - PAT testing organised for Club electrical testing via engineer at his place of work.

Meeting closed at 9:50pm

1. MB FC to organise distribution of letter and agenda for AGM
2. PD FC to provide info for website as previously discussed
3. Advertising material to be provided to committee members to advertise beginners courses
4. GB to look into team competition for the club
5. MB FC to organise copy of new kit regs to all club members