Minutes of the VSMBFL AGM 2025 Meeting held at Wendover Bowls Club, 12 th May 2025. Meeting started at 20.00 hrs. Welcome. The Chairman formally opened the meeting with a welcome to those present. Our thanks go to Wendover Bowls Club for providing the venue and ensuring everybody was welcomed and looked after. Members attending Wendover: Brian Harrison, Brenda Harrison, John Brooks, David Catlin, George Hunt, Michael Hobson, Pauline Hobson, Belinda Horn, Chris Barksfield, Ann Smith, Eric Smith, Tony Bloomer, Ian Leedham, Mike Greaves Bierton: Bessie Rice, David Rice Marsh Gibbon: John Everett, John Thompson Beacon: Peter Coker, Linda Coker Thame: Colin French, Ian Rutherford Stewkley: Sue Neale, Julia Corkett Committee: Malcolm Richards, Bob Hine, David Williams I apologise for any misspelling of names, I sure some of you must have been doctors in a previous life. 1. Apologies for absence None 2. Minutes from last meeting 15 th May 2024. The previous minutes were unanimously voted as being a true account and were duly signed off. 3. Matters arising from last minutes None 4. Correspondence None 5. Chairman’s Report (Malcolm Richards) The end of another successful year for the Vale League. 9 clubs competed in the league, 8 took part in the John Robinson. Congratulations, once again, to Chinnor for winning the league, and to Beacon, who came second, just overtaking Marsh Gibbon who came 3 rd . Marsh Gibbon have had another good season reaching, once again, the final of the John Robinson where they came in second place to Chinnor. So, once again, congratulations to Chinnor, who incidentally also won the single mat league, beating Amersham in the final. The John Robinson final was, once again, held at Wing Short Mat Bowls Club and we are grateful to them for hosting it, providing the raffle, refreshments and setting the evening up. Our Presentation Evening was held, once again, at Haddenham, this time on a Saturday evening. It was the usual success with 12 teams bowling, 50 people attending, a great buffet provided by the Haddenham ladies, a good raffle and a thoroughly enjoyable end of term get-together. Thankyou to Haddenham for hosting it and to them and Chinnor for organising it. We played 4 games of 3 ends in the evening and the overall winners were….. Marsh Gibbon. Well done to them. My thanks to the committee - Bob as treasurer, Dave Williams as Secretary and particularly Dave Barber as fixtures secretary and for looking after the website. As usual all results appear as soon as the games are done (except when he goes on holiday) and, no sooner was the season finished when next years fixtures are circulated. But primarily, thanks to all of you the clubs that take part for making this such a friendly and entertaining league to be a part of. Some of us will now play in the Summer single mat league. For others, have a good summer and we look forward to seeing you all in the Autumn when the league starts all over again. 6. Secretary’s Report (David Williams) There was nothing to report. No correspondence, no phone calls, just a few emails from the chairman reminding me to get my act together as there are at least some duties that need attention. 7. Match/Fixtures Secretary’s Report (Dave Barber) Dave Barber reported that all went well with the fixtures this season. 8. Treasurer’s Report (Bob Hine) These remained the same as last year. Proposed by Colin French seconded by Dave Catlin. 9. Fees for coming year Theforegoing of the club membership fee as above was proposed by John Thompson and seconded by Sue Neale. Vote: unanimous in favour. 10. AGM Business There was a vote regarding the reduction of ends in the JR competition. This was to reduce the length of the matches so we could all get home earlier. The vote was equally split 3-3 so the Status Quo prevailed and the change was rejected. Defaulting due to bad weather points allocation. There will be a change to the rules for fixed points. Unanimous. There was a proposal for the pool of players in the JR singles to be reduced from 6 to 5. This was. Rejected. Vote 1 for, 4 against, 1 abstention. 11. Election of Officers The chair is not standing for re-election and there were no nominations so the post remains vacant. The suggestion to vote the existing committee members back in en bloc, in the absence of any other nominations was proposed by Linda Coker, seconder John Thompson, vote unanimous. Thus the committee are: Chairman: Malcolm Richards Secretary: Dave Williams Match/Fixtures Secretary: Dave Barber Treasurer: Bob Hine 12 Next AGM The next AGM for the VSMBFL will again be held at Wendover on Monday 11 th May 2026at 19.30pm.