SQUASH SECTION ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 12th SEPTEMBER 2022 7.15pm
Present: M Shipley (Chair), M Forster (Secretary), K Forster, T Coats, A Hammond, I Mapstone, N Woodward, M Barnes, A Snaith, T Staincliffe, A Kirkbride
Apologies: I Davies, D Leonard
1. Minutes of the AGM held 8th April 2019
Formally accepted following proposal from M Barnes, seconded by K Forster.
2. The AGM Report 2022
Covers the years 2019 to 2022 as there had been no opportunity to hold an AGM because of the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.
As Chair, Marc gave a detailed walkthrough of the report in order to demonstrate to everyone the amount of court maintenance and upgrades that have taken place during the past few years and highlighted the planned work that is still to be undertaken.
Marc expressed gratitude for the court wall cleaning that took place in August/September 2022 by a team of volunteers.
He also invited members to express any ideas for further improvements to the club in order to enhance our playing experience.
Marc highlighted the statistics in the report that demonstrated the great effort undertaken by the 3 home teams during the 2021/2022 Northumbria Squash Winter League season.
Also shown is the statistics relating to the Summer League teams Boldon Bandits and Boldon Lions, and Marc congratulated Dan Douthwaite who had been named as the most valuable player.
Marc explained that the Court Bookings information show that the club looks to be coming back to pre-Covid 2019 levels but obviously the squash money passed to the Club Treasurer for court bookings had been seriously impacted by Covid.
Memberships are maintaining a healthy level, despite Covid, and Marc stated that in August 2022 £6,919 had been passed to the Club Treasurer for Memberships and court bookings.
In response to a query from Ted Staincliffe about whether the squash club is willing to consider offering a discount in membership fees for OAP’s, Marc stated this would be brought to the Squash Committee for discussion.
Marc also explained that a percentage of squash money collected is being held in a separate fund for the benefit of the squash club.
In response to a query from Ted Staincliffe about asking the Club for money, Marc explained that the Squash Committee does indeed approach the Club Treasurer for money for major works.
3. Election of Committee Members
Chair – Marc Shipley
Secretary – Mandy Forster
Treasurer – Marc Shipley
Committee Members (continuing) – Kevin Forster, Tracey Coats, Mick Barnes, Ian Davies, Anita Hammond, Mark Flynn, Russell Hughes, Connor Snaith.
Committee Members 2022 – there is one vacancy to be filled if any member wishes to join the Committee.
4. AOB
Neil Woodward asked if a seminar could be organised to demonstrate how to use the Defibrillator that the Club has recently installed. Kevin explained his daughter is a Registered Nurse and is willing to come and demonstrate its use.
Mick Barnes queried whether blocking the courts off at the next AGM would encourage more members to attend. He was asked to bring this idea to the next Squash Committee meeting.
Marc explained that following guidance from England Squash it was acceptable for the Team Matches to go ahead on the day of the Queen’s funeral on Monday 19th September 2022.
Neil Woodward queried whether increasing energy costs would impact on future fees. In response Marc explained that energy costs for the overall Club are a matter for the Club Executive Committee to discuss, however Squash fees are determined by the Squash Committee and not influenced by the Club Executive.
The AGM Meeting closed at 7.45pm.
