AGM Minutes 2022

WEST SQUASH
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2021/22
FRIDAY 17TH JUNE 2022
GIFFNOCK

1. ATTENDEES

NAME (CLUB)
Stewart Hamilton (Giffnock)
Alan Pearson (Newlands)
Joe Ewen (SSRC)
Alan Marshall (Strathgryffe)
Martin Woods (Western/Scotstoun)
Allan Mowat (Western)
Matt Bedwell (Newlands)
Hamish McKay (Allander)

There are twenty two clubs in the West Region, and seven member clubs were represented, meeting the constitution requirements of 25%.

2. APOLOGIES

Gregory Dudziak (Allander)
Billy Stevely (Whitecraigs LTC)

3. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS AGM MINUTES

Proposed by Alan Pearson, seconded by Hamish McKay

3. MATTERS ARISING

None

4. APPROVAL OF ANNUAL STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS – APPENDIX 1

• The accounts for 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 were presented as there had been very little activity since squash was suspended in March 2020 due to Covid19
• The only significant expenditure in 2021-22 had been for junior coaching and for one tournament
• Coaching support had been provided to Galleon and Craighelen before the pandemic
• There was a healthy balance of £21,058 in the bank
• Alan indicated that expenditure is likely to increase in 2022-3, with more tournaments and the likelihood that organisers would now have to be paid
• No affiliation fees had been charged for seasons 2020-21 or 2021-22 and Alan Pearson proposed that these should return for season 2022-23 at the same level as before
• Hamish McKay asked if some consideration could be made for smaller clubs with limited resources, although it was indicated that the main financial burden came from Scottish Squash affiliation fees rather than the West League

Approval of statement proposed by Allan Mowat and seconded by Martin Woods

4. APPROVAL OF AUDITOR & ELECTION OF OFFICE BEARERS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS

• No auditor appointed due to low turnover
• The following committee members and office bearers were elected unanimously:
– President: Martin Woods
– Treasurer: Alan Pearson
– Secretary: Allan Mowat
– League Convenor: Stewart Hamilton
– Tournament Convenor: Vacant
– Scottish Squash Representative: Alan Marshall
– Junior Convenor: Vacant
– Ordinary Members: Gregory Dudziak; Billy Stevely; Matt Bedwell

5. HONORARIA

No committee members had received honoraria

6. TEAM FEES

It was approved unanimously that club dues would be charged for 2022-3 at the same rates as before

7. CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

Alan Marshall reported on Scottish Squash activities:
• After not charging affiliation fees during 2020-21 or 2021-22, Scottish Squash were currently discussing new models for charging clubs which would optimise income and player engagement without penalising smaller clubs
• The most likely system would be to have 3 categories for club fees: 1) Registered without payment, 2) £100 fee would allow clubs to register with SportyHq and participate in local leagues, 3) £195 to allow participation in national leagues and tournaments. In addition there would be a fee of £15/head for players registered in league teams, while non-team players could register without a fee. Modelling suggested that most clubs would pay less than previously under this system.
• Alan agreed to take up the matter of reduced fees for smaller clubs with Scottish Squash
• Scottish Squash had indicated that they would prefer to collect the fees directly from clubs, but the West committee had felt this would be difficult to administer and had agreed that this would be done in conjunction with West league affiliation fees
• The Scottish Open tournament had been held in Inverness at the end of September 2021 and had been very successful, with an live-stream
• The Scottish Squash AGM would be held on 6th September and Alan encouraged players to provide feedback on the new fee structure before then.

8. PRESIDENT’S REPORT

• Martin congratulated clubs on having resumed playing so quickly when Covid restrictions had been relaxed in August 2021 and for completing a full season despite the further lockdown in December/January.
• Although the men’s leagues had returned with a good number of teams, the number of women’s teams had fallen and Martin asked for suggestions on how engagement with new women players could be increased. This was also an issue which Scottish Squash saw as a priority.

• Although only one tournament had been possible in 2021-22, he anticipated more in 2022-23, especially as Matt Bedwell had been recruited to the committee with the aim of assisting more with organising tournaments
• He raised the issue of the ageing nature of many clubs and indicated how this made increasing junior engagement so important. With this in mind, he was planning to increase the number of junior coaching squads and also would encourage more clubs to offer coaching for juniors
• Martin thanked the committee for their help in the past year, but appealed for new blood to join

9. CONVENOR REPORTS

League Secretary Stewart Hamilton

• The men’s leagues had started on 6th October with 58 teams in 6 Divisions, while the women’s leagues had started on 13th October with 10 teams in a single Division
• The numbers were probably better than anticipated, with most clubs having returned after the pandemic. A few had reduced their number of teams.
• Two teams had withdrawn after the start of the men’s season, with one replacement having been added
• The committee had agreed there should be 2 teams promoted and relegated
• One or two fixtures had been cancelled due to Covid issues, but time had been left for these to be replayed and the season had been completed successfully
• The League winners for 2021-22 are listed below
• The long term aim would be to return to 12 teams/division, but this would depend on the number of teams entering and it seemed likely that there would be 10 teams/division for season 2022-23, which was scheduled to start on Wednesday 5th October

Tournaments – Martin Woods

• The last tournament had been the West Closed, held in February 2020 and no tournaments had taken place in 2021-22
• A very successful “Squake” tournament for juniors had been organised at Newlands in April 2022 and it was hoped this could be repeated. The tournament had a theme of both squash and cakemaking, with a prize awarded for both.
• The West Closed tournament would be scheduled for the beginning of the new season, with venue to be arranged
• It was planned to enter a West team in the English Counties tournament to be held in spring 2023 and an informal request had been made to the organisers

Juniors – Martin Woods

• There were 19 juniors in two West squads which were now organised locally rather than by Scottish Squash. Martin hoped to increase the number to 30 with help from Matt Bedwell, but emphasised that this would need additional coaching support and he was trying to encourage younger players such as Beth Moglia to get involved
• The West squads had the best overall results of all the regions in the inter-regional events during 2021-22
• No junior league had taken place in 2021-22 and Martin would contact clubs to assess interest in restarting in 2022-23.
• Having taken over as league President, Martin was no longer Junior Convenor and no specific replacement had been found. He appealed for volunteers to do this

10.TROPHIES AND AWARDS 2021-22

As this was the first in-person AGM since COVID, presentations for both 2019/20 and 2021/22 were held.

11. AOCB

None

Meeting closed at 8.30pm