Lawn Bowls Directorate Committee

21/01/2011 - Minutes of Lawn Bowls Directorate Committee - 16/01/2011

Synopsis Of The Minutes Of The 27^th Meeting Of

The Lawn Bowls Directorate Committee

Held On Sunday 16^th January 2011

In The Mojacar Playa Hotel

In Attendance:

John Muldoon (Chairman and National Director Lawn Bowls Spain) (JM)

Jan Dando (LBD and FAB (Almeria Area) Secretary) (JD)

Deidre Leeming (Treasurer) (DL)

Ruth Compton (CAUMA & Coaching) (RC)

Bob Donnelly (Valencian Delegate) (BD)

Liz Mills (Valencian Area Secretary) (LM)

Keith Jones (President of CBUMA) (KJ)

Dave Melville (CBBA Representative) (DM)

Jerry Bartley (North Alicante Representative) (JB)

Apologies:

Graham Marlow (National Director of International Bowling) (GM)

Bryan Redington (Almeria Area Delegate) (BR)

DJ Hilton (Costa Del Sol Area Delegate) (DH)

Mercedes Neilson (Liaison with FEB) (MN)

Jim Neilson (Costa Del Sol Umpires/Markers Representative) (JN)

The following items were discussed/decided:

Alternative Sources of Income for the LBD. A few ideas were put forward as to how income for the LBD could be increased. However, currently it is difficult to discuss financial matters as not all the paperwork has been received from Mr. Winterton. It was felt that this would be better discussed at a later date once all financial information has been received.

World Bowls Capitation Fee. All fees have now been collected with the possible exception of La Manga and JM will be forwarding all relevant paperwork to Mr. Gary Smith in the near future.

DL, BD and LM believed that all World Bowls capitation fees have been collected apart from La Manga. There was some discussion as to what would happen if La Manga did not pay their fees but JM felt that this had now been done. However, he would check.

Responsibility for Exemption Certificates. It was agreed that the people attending the World Bowls Singles Championships are representing Spain. However, at present nothing has been put into the 2011 budget to cover any financial assistance for Keith Jones and Val Sherry who are the two people travelling to Hong Kong this year. Again this would be looked at once all of the financial paperwork has been received. RC agreed that she would be responsible for their TUE exemption certificates.

Costings for coaching courses. RC informed the meeting that she had come to a figure of €30 for federated members and €50 for non-federated members for any future coaching/instructors courses. This was proposed by RC and seconded by KJ. RC also stated that it would be helpful to players wishing to attend these courses if some financial assistance was forthcoming from their club and also it would be very much appreciated if the club where the coaching/instructors course was being held did not charge any green fees – as in the case of Emerald Isle who have been very accommodating in the past.

Kings Cup Play Off. There is currently some discussion as to where this final should be held i.e. Indalo or San Miguel. It was agreed that this should be at a neutral location at a club which is geographically central to both Indalo and San Miguel on a date to be decided by JM and BD.

Spain versus the Costa Del Sol. KJ wished it noted that the match between Spain and the Costa Del Sol (CDS) did not warrant being called a Test Match. This was agreed.

FEB Subscriptions. RC asked why International Players were required to pay more FEB subscriptions than others and asked if this was an FEB directive, which it is. JM confirmed that bowlers representing Spain and bowlers under the age of 60 have been required to pay more for some time. As it has been agreed that Mr. Keith Jones and Mrs. Val Sherry will be representing Spain at the World Bowls Singles Championships JM agreed to consult with GM and Mr. Winterton about their FEB subscriptions and whether they should be paying the higher rate.

Members of the Lawn Bowls Directorate. Due to the current financial position of the LBD JM wondered if there was any necessity for more than one representative from each area – referring in particular to the area secretaries – as it should be the responsibility of the delegates to disseminate the information from the LBD meetings. JM suggested to BD that it would be worth him having a meeting with his other area representatives to decide on future attendees.

JM informed the committee that he had invited Mr. Dominic Mills as competition secretary of the Spanish Nationals Committee to join the LBD Committee.

JM had received a letter of resignation from Mr. Steve Westall (Delegate for the Federation of Valencia). Mr. Robert Donnelly has been elected in his stead.

Spanish Nationals 2011. JM informed the committee that there was to be a meeting of the Spanish Nationals committee on 18^th January where the venues for the Championship would be announced probably only using 5 of the 9 clubs that have put their names forward for consideration. The order of play would not be known until the number of entrants had been received.

RC asked that the Spanish Nationals committee take into account the clubs’ facilities when deciding upon the venues. This was agreed.

BD wished to confirm that the entrance fee for each discipline was €6.00 and not €7.00 as shown on the returns form. This was confirmed as correct at €6.00 per discipline.

Spanish Nationals in other Formats (Progress).

a. The National Grass Green Fours competition has been scheduled for 11^th-14^th June 2011 at Cabrera. A meeting is to be held in the next week by the FAB (Almeriense) delegate to finalise the format etc. of this competition.

b. Unfortunately the suggested National Fours/Pairs competition in the CDS region has had to be shelved. JM stated that he thought it would be a good idea to visit the CDS to talk to the Owners Association and also to speak to Mr. Winterton with reference to JM’s request to keep the sum of money put aside for this in the 2011 budget – which appears to have been overlooked.

c. JM also stated that he would like to look into the possibility of holding an under 60’s Open Singles Knockout in the North Alicante area. JB felt that it was too late to put it into this year’s calendar but would look into the matter for 2012.

Changes to the Laws of the Game

a. JM is now in possession of 1,000 new law books. He has 200 spare books due to the CDS originally asking for 300 but now only wanting 50.

KJ asked where any profit from the books would go and it was agreed that this should go into the coffers of the LBD.

b. KJ asked where we stood with the requested changes to the Domestic Rules (in particular with regard to substitutes in a side singles match and playing on the same rink on the same day in two separate competitions) now that the new law books had been received. JM stated that he was quite happy to send any requests for inclusions to World Bowls but felt that the request should come from all sections of Umpires/Markers Associations and not just one or two. It was agreed that any change to a domestic game’s laws for a club/region could be decided upon at club/regional level and it would just be a case of putting these changes into the competition’s conditions of play.

c. JM apologised for the confusion between the various regions about the date of implementation of the new laws. It was thought that although the date of 1^st January 2011 was decided at the last committee meeting this would be too soon as it would not be known which rules had been accepted by World Bowls and which had not. Unfortunately the message had not reached all regions and some were still under the impression that it was 1^st January. It has been decided that the new laws will not now come into force until 1^st April 2011. It was agreed that JD would formulate a document to be sent to all clubs indicating the new laws that were to be adopted by Spain and to inform the clubs of the date of implementation.

Atlantic Championships/European Championships 2013. JM informed the meeting that it was currently not feasible to try for the Atlantic Championships to be held in Spain. JM then read out a short resumé from a letter that is to be sent to Mr. Boto, President of the FEB, putting forward a case for Spain to hold the European Team Championships in 2013.

Information regarding the International scene:

March 12-17 Hong Kong Tiger Bowls and China Open. This year we will be represented by Jackie Breslin, Fred Roberts and two new squad members, Brian Robertson Jnr. and Eddie McLaren. Fred will be the Captain and Jackie is acting as his Secretary.

April 10-20 World Cup, Australia. Spain is being represented by Paul Brown and Peta Rhodes.

August 27-September 3 European Championships in Haarlem, Holland. Debbie Colquhoun, Peta Rhodes, Mick Johnson and Joe Stamper have been selected to represent Spain in this competition.

October 17-30 Atlantic Championships. Details are awaited and selection will be announced in March 2011. This should be 5 men and 5 ladies.

November 12-15 World Bowls Test Match v Portugal in Villamoura. This will be 10 men and 10 ladies. Portugal also wish to again play the Iberian Challenge. They have re-established their Federation with all clubs and had Gary Smith and Barry Fleming out to assist. It is now working very well with all clubs.

As regards other Test Matches, GM is keeping in touch with other countries but, to date, there is no movement. The main problem seems to be finance with many budgets cut in half. England are even looking to see if they can attend the Atlantic Championships. GM believes that those that do decide to attend will wish to again come to Spain to play on carpet at some time during the year. The problem will then be getting green space at possible short notice.

GM stated that Madrid regards the squad as Ambassadors for Spain in that they promote tourism.

Lawn Bowls Spain. GM has suggested to JM that the committee changes its name from Lawn Bowls Directorate to Lawn Bowls Spain with the FEB still being the controlling body. This change, if accepted, would bring Spain into line with other countries. It could also, with elections, help to bring in the club players to the control of their sport.

JM agreed to speak to MN with the intention of writing to Mr. Boto on this topic but the final name of the committee has not yet been decided.

DL informed the meeting that the new bank account for the LBD has finally been set up at the Bancaja in Rojales, Quesada with JM and DL as joint signatories.

Minutes of the LBD. JD asked whether the minutes from the LBD should be published on the Bowling in Spain web site. It was agreed that there should be a synopsis published to keep everyone informed of decisions made.

Area Delegates. BD asked whether there would be any objection to his having meetings with the other area delegates outside the confines of the LBD to make for better understanding of each others regions and how they are run. There was no objection and JM asked to be kept informed with the intention that there could be a bi-annual meeting of the delegates and the chairman.

Support for World Singles. JM read out a letter that he intended to send to all clubs to ask for their support in assisting Keith Jones and Val Sherry with their expenses whilst representing Spain at the World Bowls Singles Championships in Hong Kong.

Date and Venue of Next Meeting There being no other business the meeting was closed at 15:30pm. As previous stated the next meeting will be on Sunday 10^th April 2011 with the venue to be decided at a later date once it is known which members will be attending.