Advisory Council Members Messrs. Tony Green, Claire Ellis, Robin Nichols, Robert Crewe, Nicky Caine and James Timothy.

Transcription

1 MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE BRITISH WATER SKI FEDERATION LIMITED HELD ON SUNDAY 15 th JANUARY 2017 AT THE QUEENS CLUB, LONDON PRESENT BWSW Board Members Messrs. Mr Patric Foley-Brickley (BWSW Chairman), Patrick Donovan (CEO & Company Secretary), Steve Sopp, Peter James, Martin Winter, Clare Lobb and Nick McGarry. Advisory Council Members Messrs. Tony Green, Claire Ellis, Robin Nichols, Robert Crewe, Nicky Caine and James Timothy. Former BWSW Chairmen Messrs. Aubrey Sheena and Andy Harris. BWSW Staff Members Natalie Masters (Programme Manager Development), Kylie Cooper (Business Support & Communications), Richie Fazackerley (Talent Development Programme Lead) and Sam Haslam (Coaching & Training Programme Co-ordinator). Regions Represented Alan Murray (Scotland), Nick McGarry (North West), Michael Lock (East Midlands) Richard Mattos (Southern) and Patrick Foley-Brickley (Eastern). Voting Clubs Represented by Proxy Allhallows Water Ski Club Bluebird Deaf Water Ski Club Boughton Lodge Water Ski Club British Disabled Water Ski Association Chichester Water Ski Club Cirencester Water Ski Club Cotswold Water Ski Club Dudley Water Ski Club Ellingham Water Ski & Wakeboard Club Gosfield Lake Water Ski Club Humber Bridge Water Ski Club Hunstanton Water Ski Club JB Water Ski Just Wake Loch Lomond Water Ski Club Merlin Brae Water Ski Club Rickmansworth Water Ski Club Rock Sailing and Water Ski Club Stone Water Ski Club Water Ski & Boarding Academy Water Ski & Wakeboard Scotland Welton Water Ski Club Weston Bay Water Sports Club White Rose Water Ski Club Wiremill Water Ski Club Andy Dyne Robin Nichols Colin Slater Roy Collins Tony Green Martin Bennett John Battleday Alan Murray James Timothy Richard Mattos Karen Brooks Nick McGarry Alan Murray Cathy Bird Tony Green Steve Sopp Page No. 1

2 APOLOGIES Apologies for absence were received from: Lord Moynihan (Honorary President), Alan Goggin, Elisa Nicholson, Barry Frame (Allhallows), David Henderson (Loch Lomond), Mike Waterman, Derek Blackmore, Natalie Campbell, John Horne (Aune Valley), Justine Naylor, Patrick Prior (Ellingham), Mark Burridge (JB Ski), Liz Hobbs MBE (Chair Lascelles Trust), Mark Garnett (Humber Bridge), Richard Quill (Cliff Lakes), Tim Cooke (Woodham Ferrers) and Alex Dobson (Welton). MEETING OPENED Patrick Donovan, CEO commenced the proceedings by welcoming everyone to the AGM and introduced the BWSW Chairman Patric Foley-Brickley.. INTRODUCTIONS OF THOSE PRESENT & APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE The Chairman introduced the Board members, staff members present and he also welcomed all the many visitors, former Chairmen and club delegates together with representatives of the Advisory Council. All present then stood in silence in memory of our friends from within the sport who had passed away during the year. Friends lost during the year were: The Rt. Hon. the Earl of Snowdon BWSW Patron, Andy Knowles (formerly of Whitworth Water Ski Club), Alan Michie (formerly of Theale Water Ski Club), Leigh Gilbert, Oscar Ballard and Keith Knox. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE 2016 AGM The Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 13 th March 2016 had been circulated prior to the meeting and were also made available on the day. Already proposed, seconded by Colin Slater, the minutes were unanimously approved by the voting delegates present. ADOPTION OF THE 2016 ANNUAL REPORT OF BRITISH WATER SKI & WAKEBOARD a) Chairman's Report The Chairman outlined several points from his report including that our athletes had achieved outstanding international results this season across all disciplines of the sport. The challenging environment of recent years was also highlighted and the need to re-invigorate the sport he outlined his aim that participants of the sport should be proud to wear the BWSW logo and the change in organisational structure which highlighted the role of the disciplines to include recreational and boat owner. This was a key group of grassroots member clubs who represented circa 50% of our membership increasingly as with all membership organisations we had to demonstrate value. He outlined the areas which the organisation could do better e.g. demonstrating that we add value, operating to the highest standards of governance and meeting the standards of any Code for Sports Governance. Additionally improved communications, increasing participation and driving development of the sport. With safeguarding in sport receiving widespread press regarding issues within Football, he highlighted that BWSW had met the Advanced Standard of Safeguarding and that it was essential for everyone in the sport to report any concerns via the appropriate channels. It further was highlighted that sports funding was increasingly becoming tentative however despite the harsh funding landscape our funding application had been positively received and the period would see 1.3m invested into the organisation by Sport England. The Chairman thanked the Board for their continued support during the year and noted the very hard work of our staff and CEO in maintaining the work of our HQ. He furthermore thanked the staff, the parents and volunteers who made the sport work on the ground at club level. Page No. 2

3 b) Treasurer's Report Peter James outlined that while the medal success referred to the 2016 season, the financial report and audited accounts related to the 2015/16 financial year. He went on to remind everyone that the financial statement defined the Federation s funds in three distinct areas: Unrestricted (General Activities) covering all the normal everyday business activities of the Federation e.g. cleaning and maintenance of HQ, phones and leases. Lascelles Trust Fund (Restricted Activities) the ring fenced legacy fund left to the sport by our past Honorary President and managed by The Lascelles Guardians. World Class (Restricted Activities) the remaining reserve funds and expenditure of the former UK Sport funded Individual Athlete Programme and Sport England funded Talent programme. It was this grant and the self-generated income of the disciplines which supported elite programmes and not membership fees. At the end of the financial year the outcome was detailed as follows: Surplus (overall company) of 16K though this did include the expenditure of the Lascelles Trust (a reducing fund with circa 10K expended each season) A small decrease in overall income with membership and affiliation showing a small 4K increase and coaching and driving showing a 10K decrease Expenditure decrease overall - 906K (compared to 923K in 2014/15) With his second year in the role of Treasurer it was welcome news to report a small surplus. The overall surplus on general activities (excludes Lascelles and World Class restricted grant spend) was 25K and was primarily driven by increased income from coaching courses and affiliations. Overall 278K was invested in Development programmes with 200K spent on Talent and Excellence related activities of the disciplines. It was highlighted that Talent and Excellence related programmes were funded by grant funding streams and the income generated by each discipline of the sport (and not membership fees). Peter further reported on the forthcoming Sport England funding round and our positive result achieved following on from our submission: 1.3m investment via Sport England for the period. This included 434K core cost support, 191K investment in talent and 696K invested in development programmes It was disappointing news that non-olympic Talent programmes would terminate and the sum invested in Talent represented a gesture to run down programme A further 25K was awarded for product development (membership and driving) In terms of membership subscriptions and affiliation fees the Treasurer outlined that there would be a modest inflationary increase in membership fees for the 2017 season following on from the freeze in The block club liability insurance scheme would remain at the same level of premium and scope of cover following a comprehensive review. Adoption of the Annual Report and Approval of the Audited Accounts for the year ended 31st March 2016 & To authorise the appointment of Menzies as the auditors for the current financial year and to fix their remuneration To conclude Peter outlined that the experience of working with the current auditors was excellent and a recent tender had demonstrated that their fees were competitive. This motion already proposed was seconded by Roy Collins (Cotswold Water Ski Club) and unanimously approved. Finally a note of thanks to the Board members and HQ staff for all their hard work during the 2016 season and Peter s second year as Treasurer. Page No. 3

4 BOARD ELECTIONS The Chairman outlined that Board roles were entirely voluntary and each Board member had given up a great deal of time during the year from their busy working week. Attendance levels for each Board member was provided for the attendees attendance was extremely good and met the requirements of the articles of association. A note of thanks was recorded for Martin Winter who had kindly provided free use of meeting rooms in central London which had greatly assisted with reduced time and cost of travel for the Directors. The Chairman reminded those present of the election procedure i.e. that each year one third of the Board members (excluding the CEO) needed to stand down by rotation and offer themselves for reelection if they wished to re-stand. This year two existing members were standing down with only one re-standing for re-election. A note of thanks was recorded for Alex Dobson who had decided not to re-stand. Additionally there was one new candidate nominated by The Water Ski Academy, Whitworth and our Independents were due to stand with two having been co-opted and one having completed a three year term. Summary resumes had been circulated prior to the meeting and was available on the day; the candidates introduced themselves and highlighted the skills and experience they brought to the role and their wish to re-stand. Independent candidates, seconded by Paul Turner, Natalie Campbell, Clare Lobb and Justine Naylor were elected. Seconded by Robin Nichols, Steve Sopp was re-elected and seconded by Richard Mattos, Simon Waring was elected to the Board of Directors. With no other candidates there was no contest in the vote. ANY OTHER BUSINESS No AOB items had been tabled prior to or during the meeting. PRESENTATIONS Honorary members there were three awards for honorary membership this year: Tony Green former BWSF Ltd Director, member of the Management Committee and former Chair of the Recreation & Development Committee with a lifelong service to the sport and active within his region. Derek Rasey former Regional Chair, Chief Judge and presently active member of the Tournament Committee with a lifelong involvement with the discipline. Steve Sopp, current Board member and Vice Chairman, Chair of Wiremill Water Ski Club and Chair fof the Tournament Committee, Team Captain and very active within Tournament. The Lascelles Trophy Awards were outlined and described as the equivalent of the BAFTAs for the sport. The General Lascelles Memorial Trophies for outstanding competitive achievement within the sport were awarded by our Chairman to the following: Junior Tom Heaps (Barefoot) Open David Small (Barefoot) The Lascelles Trust Fund Grants this year s recipients of grants from the legacy fund bequested by our former Honorary President received their presentation cheques to support their ongoing athlete development within the sport. Trustee Graham Creedy outlined the work of the Trust, its history and ongoing aims to support young athletes. A total of 9,500 of athlete awards from the Trust were made and presented to those attending. Page No. 4

5 A World Champion award was presented by the Chairman to: David Small (Barefoot) Paul Turner outlined David s achievements and Robert Crewe kindly accepted the award on David s behalf as he was unable to attend. Presentations for Volunteer of the Year were outlined and it was highlighted that volunteers were the very foundation of the sport and these unsung heroes ensured the sport could function at every level. The nominations had been assessed by a panel and this year s winners were: Charlotte Wharton Young Volunteer of the Year (Hazelwood Ski World) Matthew Mills Volunteer of the Year (Water Ski & Wakeboard Scotland) Following on from the conclusion of the award presentations the Chairman congratulated all the young athletes and other awardees who had made a contribution to the sport this year. There being no further business necessary the Chairman thanked the delegates for attending and thanked Queens Club for their assistance with today s event together with all the staff members who had attended and helped with the organisation of the AGM. He further congratulated the staff on their hard work during the season and made a note of thanks to CEO for everything our HQ did to support the sport. He wished all present a safe journey home and a very enjoyable and successful season END The meeting closed at 15:00 Minuted by: Patrick Donovan Chief Executive Officer & Company Secretary Page No. 5