Present Alan Grunwald, Lyn Morton, Alan Parker, Keith Robbins, Stan Powell,

Avis Roberts and Arthur Jones

Apologies Jonathan Robinson and Gaye Kyle

This meeting was organised to discuss some matters which arose during the AGM held on May 7^th 2009. Before starting the main business, details were agreed regarding help to be given to the OBA, including possible loan of our Bridgemates, for the green points events to be held in Steventon on June 27^th and 28^th.

The committee had been empowered by the AGM to decide whether or not to join the proposed Pay to Play scheme. After discussion the committee agreed unanimously that Wantage Bridge Club should join.

The current status of the Ridgeway Cup was not satisfactory in that only four clubs were participating this summer instead of the usual six. If we continued to organise a summer competition the format would have to be altered. Several suggestions had been made and it was thought that teams of four rather than eight might be more popular. Alan Parker would contact other clubs to ascertain their views.

The current format for club team nights was discussed. The committee expressed the firm opinion that if we advertised that we would play teams on a Thursday evening, then we should play teams. Members of the committee knew of several players who come considerable distances to play in teams events. This presents difficulties if an odd number of pairs turn up. The possibility of playing Butler-scored pairs had been discussed at the AGM but had found little support. We will seek to reduce the chances of odd pairs arriving on a team night as follows:-

• Making a prominent announcement on the website home page
• Announcements at the club on the two weeks before a teams night
• Adding information to the club’s details on the EBU website if possible; and
• Considering issuing members with a printed calendar listing teams nights.

After discussion the committee decided to call a Special General Meeting before starting play on Thursday 27^th August to review the vote at the AGM that we should revert to playing Match-Pointed Pairs in case an odd number of pairs arrived to play on a teams night.

Krys Kazmierczak would speak to the committee in September regarding methods of increasing club membership.

The committee considered asking Andrew Robson to give a talk in Wantage, possibly in November 2010. We agreed to reconsider this following Ed Scerri’s talk.

Alan Grunwald will confirm with the OBA that we will enter two teams in the Wessex League in 2009/10.

It was suggested as an experiment to speed up play that Bridgemates should show only percentages rather than individual results. The views of our Tournament Directors should be ascertained.

Date of the next meeting September 2^nd at 7.30 in the Comrades Club as originally planned.