Approximately 30 members present. No apologies for absence had been received.

None.

Alan Grunwald said that the new website was now in operation. Every effort was being made to ensure that results were available before midnight every Thursday. As a consequence the majority of "hits" were between 11pm and 1am. A new laptop and printer had been purchased by the club at a cost of £451.

Alan thanked Ann and Brendan Breen, who were standing down from the committee, for all their efforts in the club for at least the last 5 years.

Wantage were the champions for 2005/6 in Division 5. Alan Grunwald expressed his thanks to all those who played during the last 2 seasons. This season we will run 2 teams:

‘A’ team (captain Keith Robbins) and ‘B’ team (captain Lyn Morton).

Ken Eaton stated that income was similar to the previous year but the increased expenditure was mainly due to the purchase of computer equipment and increased donations to charity. Overall the financial situation was satisfactory.

Next season we propose to spend about £8.50 on the use of pre-dealt Duplimate boards per club night. The question of obtaining interest on our current account at Barclays Bank was raised but any amount obtained would be minimal.

Alan Parker indicated that last season had been successful, particularly the performance of the Wessex League team. We would enter a team for this summer (Ridgeway Cup). Club nights and other events, such as simultaneous pairs, had been well supported.

The following were elected unanimously to serve for the coming year:

Chairman Alan Grunwald

Vice Chairman Arthur Jones

Treasurer Ken Eaton

Secretary Alan Parker

Committee members (5) Lyn Morton, Avis Roberts, Peter Cecil,

Keith Robbins, Jonathan Robinson

Arthur Jones raised the issue of the new EBU directives. Alison Nicolson said that it would be up to clubs whether or not they were adopted and further guidance might be given by the EBU. The committee will consider the impact on Wantage and report back to the club in 3-6 months time.

Competitions for 2006 would be for Pairs, Singles and Improvers. This last would be awarded at the discretion of the committee but the meeting thought that the Improvers award should not be made to the same player more than once.

It was noted that some pairs tend to sit in the same place every week and thus only rarely, if ever, play against each other. Alan Grunwald suggested that approximately one third of the tables be selected at random and the pairs there asked to swap directions. In the ensuing discussion it emerged that some club members have medical conditions that make them prefer to remain stationary throughout the evening, while others prefer to move for the same reason. The committee will consider this and make recommendations to the club in 3-6 months time.

Keith Robbins suggested that table money should be waived for the director each Thursday; this was agreed by the meeting.

The Chairman appealed for more members to attend training as directors.

Alan Parker (Hon. Secretary)