OOASC AGM Meeting 13th May 2019 – Minutes
OLD OWEN’S ASSOCIATION AND SPORTS CLUB LIMITED
MINUTES OF AGM HELD AT COOPER’S LANE on Monday 13th May 2019.
Meeting commenced at 19.35 pm.
1. Tim Lane was appointed Chair for the meeting:
In attendance: Tim Lane (TL chair), Ian Breeze (IB), Alan Davison (AJD), Rob Hattrell (RH), Alan Hunter (AH), Paul Kennedy (PK), Fiona Lane (FL), Rick Martin (RM), Hannah Nemko (HN), Ken Rowswell (KR), Derek Webb (DW).
2. Apologies for absence:
David Bent, Grahame Ciombor, Janet Cunningham, Peter Cunningham, Eamonn Dempsey, Adrian Dolling, Alan Flook, Gavin Flook, Sean Flook, Robin Gupta, Bill Hamilton-Hinds (WJHH), Sharon Martin, William Read, Grace Rowswell, Anwar Sardiwalla, Alec Spencer, Douglas Sutton, Sally Tanner, Vincent Tanner, Andrew Ward.
3. Minutes of the AGM held on 16th May 2018:
The Minutes were approved and seconded by PK.
4. Matters arising from the AGM Minutes:
i) The Financial Accounts Statements for year ending 31st July 2017 were signed off a week after the AGM.
ii) All equipment except the Gang Mowers are now stored away under lock and key for safety reasons and to prevent vandalism. The Gang Mowers are taken to a safe place onsite for storage.
iii) Associate members were assured that they are now allowed a say on matters since the Association has become a charity.
5. Chairman’s Report:
TL gave a report for 2018/2019.
Achievements
a) Two new members joined the Committee i.e. Rick Martin as Grounds Manager and Sharon Martin as Safety Officer dealing with all safety and compliance issues.
b) The Groundsman Chris Langley left last September and instead of replacing him the Association has entered into an agreement with Ward Amenities as the Grounds contractor for any work to be done under the watchful eye of Rick Martin. Ward Amenities is run by an ex-pupil of the school, Andrew Ward. The ground is continually hired out to numerous football & cricket clubs, notably Potters Bar United and Finchley Ladies Cricket Club and the extra income received is very valuable to us. The Ground is a picture at present due to the efforts of Andrew Ward, Rick Martin and other helpers.
c) The Pavilion Clock was repaired thanks to a donation from the Cricket Club.
d) The Clubhouse Pavilion windows refurbishment was completed which has made a considerable difference to the appearance to the Clubhouse. Thanks to member Eamonn Dempsey for all his efforts in leading and completing the project.
e) The Clubhouse is regularly used socially by our members and their friends with events such as birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and wakes. We also cater for darts matches, quiz nights, tribute nights, fireworks night, ladies fashion events, card nights, art sessions, other Clubs meetings & reunions.
f) Works have started on refurbishment to the Gents toilets which will be completed in the next couple of weeks.
g) The website continues to grow in content and hits.
Objectives
a) Continue to grow our membership and hopefully stronger ties with the school can help achieve this. HN was in agreement with having stronger ties between the School & the Association.
b) Try and encourage more female participation and all suggestions to the Committee is welcome.
c) Encourage members to join the Committee especially younger and female ones to bring more thought, ideas and numbers on the Committee.
d) A long term strategy for the disused tennis courts needs to be discussed.
e) The Car park lines need remarking.
f) The Contract for the current managers John and Lynn Clark expires in July 2019 so re-negotiation is required.
6. Financial Report and presentation of accounts:
i) The Financial Accounts for the year ending 31st July 2018 were signed off.
ii) TL pointed out that the Accounts do not really show a true position as the figures shown are for the year ending 31st July 2018. There is currently £55k in the OOASC bank account.
iii) AJD will provide an update of the Investment Bond performance at the next committee meeting on Monday 24th June 2019.
iv) AJD is concerned at our recent spending on capital assets such as the changing rooms, ladies toilets and now the gents toilets being refurbished. As a result we have been spending more than we have
been getting in. AJD stated that we need to try and keep spending to a minimum and to generate more income. He suggested looking at increasing Rents for all those concerned.
v) TL pointed out that all required repairs & ground works will have been done. No further works is planned unless there is an extreme emergency so there will be a surplus in the Bank.
vi) HN proposed that OOASC should keep finances stable for the next 2 years to which everyone agreed.
TL thanked Nicki Culhane at DAOS for all her work with the accounts.
7. Board of Directors:
i) Sally Tanner resigned as a director but was immediately re-elected to the board.
ii)The Directors were re-elected ‘en bloc i.e. AJD, IB, WJHH, PK, TL, ST, VT, KR, DW.
iii) No new Directors were proffered for election.
8. Election of Officers:
Proposal of Officers by TL seconded by KR.
The elected Officers for 2019/2020 are as follows:
Chairman – Tim Lane
Vice Chairman – Ian Breeze
Secretary – Alan Hunter
Treasurer – Derek Webb
Membership Secretary – Alan Hunter
Website Administrator – Alan Hunter
Ground Manager – Rick Martin
Safety/Compliance Officer – Sharon Martin
Zoo Club Secretary – Alan Hunter
Football Club Representative – Paul Kennedy
Cricket Club Representative – Rob Hattrell
Potters Bar United F.C. Representative – Phil Riley
Ordinary Members – AD, IB, WJH, TL, ST, VT, AW
Accountants – Baxter & Company
9. AOB:
Cricket Section
i) RH reported that the new Cricket season had just started with the first round of games played last Saturday in the Saracens Herts League. The 1st XI Team is playing in the Championship Division for the first time after being promoted from Div 1 last season. The 2nd XI is playing in Div 7A and the 3rd XI is playing in Div 10B after being promoted from Regional Div A East last season. The point was made that we need to try and get the 2nd XI closer in divisions to the 1st XI to help with the progression of players between the two teams.
ii) TL reported that the Cricket Club has just recently reintroduced a junior section for players aged 4-15. We currently have 18 mixed age players at present and have a recruitment drive in place led our new Development Officer, Jim Clark who is being paid by the Cricket Club. The Cricket Club has already covered half of Jim’s salary via Quiz Night, OOCC Fantasy Team competition and donations so progress on all fronts is going very well.
iii) TL stated that the Cricket Club will be organizing a ‘Cricket Family Fun Day’. This is being scheduled for a Sunday in June (possibly 16th or 30th) but confirmation and further details to follow. HN has requested that once everything is finalized can she have some flyers to distribute at Owens School.
Football Section
i) PK reported that the season just finished was a quite a successful one. Matches were played on Saturday. The 1st XI had their highest league position for a long while and had recruited some new players. The 2nd XI reached the Old Boys Cup Final but lost. The 3rd XI reached the AFA Cup Final but lost. The 4th XI did the double of League & Cup. The Vets reformed and played on Sunday mornings in an 8 team league.
ii) PK reported that Phil Riley had agreed to replace Steve Reid as Potters Bar United F.C. representative on the Association Committee. Phil was subsequently proposed and seconded on to the Committee.
iii) IB reported that he was looking to increase rents (i.e. 10%) for Non-Owens Football teams for next season.
iv) DW asked about Women’s Football Teams at the Ground. Everyone agreed it was definitely an avenue to explore. HN will notify the School Alumni via Anna Breeze who has just joined the School.
General
i) Fiona Lane asked HN about the Association liaison with the School. Hannah confirmed that the Sixth Form parties at Owens Ground have been stopped, but she will encourage the Owens School Association (OSA) to hold more events at the Sports Club. There now seems to be more of a link between the OOASC and the OSA which should benefit both parties.
ii) AJD informed the meeting that the Wood yard have not paid the rent for parking in the Car Park. The issue will be discussed at the next Committee meeting.
Meeting closed at 8.40 pm.
Next Committee meeting Monday 24th June 2019 at 7.30 pm.
