MINUTES OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The Annual General Meeting of Hockey New South Wales Limited (ABN 12 104 263 381) Women s Masters was held on Friday 28 th July 2017 at 17.00pm at Parkes Hockey Centre, Barker Street, Parkes NSW 2870 In attendance: Anne McPhail Central Coast HA, Jodie Spindler Central Coast HA, Gail Brown Far South Coast HA, Lynne Koerbin Far South Coast HA, Mel Lachlan Goulburn HA, Lisa Breen Goulburn HA, Sue Abba Illawarra South Coast HA, Sue Simpson Illawarra South Coast HA, Maria Hardy Metropolitan South West HA, Chrstine Hanbury-Brown Northern Sydney & Beaches HA, Elaine Trodden Northern Sydney & Beaches HA, Val Gregory Orange HA, Gail Pringle Orange HA, Louise O Leary Parkes HA, Deirdre Mackay Southern Highlands HA, Melinda Armstrong Southern Highlands HA, Jeanette Churchill Sydney East HA, Vicki Sandrook Wagga Wagga Combined HA, Sharon Smith Wagga Wagga Combined HA, Sharyn Wellham Wagga Wagga Combined HA. Women s Masters Sub Committee present: Helen Taylor, Gretchen Gamble and Jane Rowlands Apologies: Nil
BUSINESS Meeting Opened at 5.06pm 1. Welcome by the representative of Hockey NSW Womens Masters Jane Rowlands, Chairperson, welcomed all attendees. 2. Acceptance of the 2016 Annual General Meeting Minutes THAT the members of Hockey NSW Women s Masters accept the 2016 Annual General Meeting Minutes. Proposed by: Sue Abba Illawarra South Coast HA Seconded by: Val Gregory - Orange HA All in Favour Result: Motion Carried 3. Financial report Helen Taylor presented the financials and explained the 2017-2018 budget to the delegates. THAT the members of Hockey NSW Women s Masters accept the 2017-2018 Financials and Budget. Proposed by: Vicki Sandbrook Wagga Wagga Combined HA Seconded by: Sue Abba Illawarra South Coast HA All in Favour Result: Motion Carried 4. Notice of Motion Notice of Motion from Lithgow Hockey Association The proposed motion was read by the Chair (Lithgow Association was at the north venue in Grafton) and opened the motion for discussion. Helen Taylor explained situation with Lithgow as the events had developed. Lithgow s problem arose when a group of players who objected to going to their scheduled north venue, sought to join other Associations who were going south a shorter travel distance. They did this without the knowledge of their own Association. Lithgow s executive subsequently was only able to field one team at their allocated northern venue. This group of players not only ignored the interests of their own Association, but were doing so against the Hockey NSW Women s Masters Committee s implemented policy which had been formulated and decided upon by member Associations voting at the 2015 AGM. This policy was one which allowed for the identified Central Band of Associations to also alternate with a split (based on number of team s total) in each half state championships, to be allocated north/south. These venues are known to Associations one year prior to the actual event, so any queries or requests can be dealt with by the WM Committee well before teams are required to be nominated by Associations. Discussion amongst Association representatives followed, with agreement that this was an internal problem for that Association to solve, but also that the issue of the need for formal releases was not one of real concern to Associations or individuals. Gretchen outlined differences between under age groups and Women Masters State Championships, see below. Women's Masters is very different to other State Championships groups: state teams not selected at champs most matches on grass fields not necessarily correct dimensions no "tech" bench
qualified umpires not required length of matches much shorter Associations decide on their teams to be submitted depending on availability of players and their ages--not ability Age divisions. are "over", not "under" so composition of a team can have vast age differences within. (35-65+) There is no system of "promotion or relegation" of teams from one Championship to another Age divisions available may differ from one year to another depending on team entries Often teams submit entry to a particular division but to make a viable comp. divisions are amalgamated -- ie. entries are O/45 div 1, div 3, div 4, but all combined to make div 2! Most players are participating for reasons of camaraderie/enjoyment/ friendship, although. they all want to do their best, and if possible, win. It is viewed as a "weekend of hockey, away from pressures of home and other demands"--a chance to relax with friends--and play hockey Women s Masters has some policies that are different to those applied to "under age" and "Open" teams--- this is one of those Women s Masters have their own Charter under which they operate Women s Masters players often play with friends ---they can change, depending on circumstances, in any particular year. From about 1800 players this year, there have been no complaints relating to this issue. Under age divisions at their State Championships would involve about a quarter of this number of players, so logistics in enforcing becomes an issue. One requests release to play elsewhere, then gets, or doesn't get an OK? What happens then? Does a player go elsewhere anyhow? Or does a player just not participate at all? This all seems to go against the Women s Masters philosophy that operates at out State Championships. Should we just refer to them as "State Tournament" and not State Championships? The matter raised by Lithgow is not directly one of needing to ask for a release in order to go elsewhere. The cause of their concern was some players not wanting to go North for 2017 when South venue was closer to Lithgow. The problem arose because 8 players did not go through their Association prior to requesting inclusion to play in another Association team in the South venue. They did not apparently inform their Women s Masters rep, or their Association Executive of this until the matter was fait accompli. This is clearly inconsiderate and wrong. However, as perhaps many from that Association didn't want to go North they had the option to not play, or if indeed there were insufficient nos. to form a team, they could have gone on the W M "Pick up" roster, and still ended up playing elsewhere --ie. South instead of North. Is the suggestion that they could have only gone on the North P/U list? --and if no team required them there? That scenario would deprive them of the opportunity to participate in 2017. To me the matter is simply one of correct procedure. To "overcome" any problem (and I don't believe there is one now) that may arise from playing with an Association that is not your "prime" (i.e. the one through which you register on "revolutionize") at WM State Champs, I suggest the below. It is a requirement--even just as a matter of courtesy--that a player informs their Association of their intention to play at State Championships in a team that is from another Association. Nothing depends on which Association you play with at Women s Masters State Championships--- see all points above. If the problem is that 35/1, 40/1, 45/1 divisions have Associations "stacking" teams in order to win that division, then that can be overcome by stating that there can be a limit of 2 players from another Association included in that team, in which case a "release" form could be required. These would be the most competitive divisions and they have games on turf (therefore reg. sized field but still with all the other differences to other age divisions state champs) I see no point in making more work for volunteers at Association level, to keep records of who has played elsewhere and when etc. Nothing "rides" on this, so why also create more work for the Hockey NSW office staff, who would have to "track" players, then notify players and Associations of the situation. Bottom line--"if it aint broke, why change it"?
Further discussion ensued re the allocation of Associations to both north and south venues each year. Helen explained the history behind this, and the logistics re allocating Associations to a venue each year. Helen indicated that once venues were known, there could POSSIBLY be a slight re organisation, on application with reasons, to the Women s Masters Committee, and an Association could be changed to attend a different venue N/S in a particular year. Recognition that geographic location could be one such reason, but consideration to number of games possible at either venue would always need to be taken into account when finalizing this. THAT the members agree that formal releases for players competing in the Women s Master State Championships must abide by the State Championship Player Release Policy. Moved By: Jane Rowlands - Chairperson Seconded BY: Gretchen Gamble Women s Masters Committee member Result: Lost The Chair asked for a show of voting cards from delegates after again reading Lithgow s motion. It was lost unanimously. Voting conducted Against 11 Votes Notice of Motion from Parkes Hockey Association Inc Discussion commenced by Parkes as to the reason for discussing the matter. Helen T explained reasons with reference to number of games required, travel distances, leave from employment, number of fields (grass and turf) dinner event, opening ceremony etc and need to finish the championships by 3 pm Sunday to allow for safe travel home for all. Therefore, match times are worked backwards hence need this year to start at 12pm. All were satisfied with the explanation and Parkes agreed all was OK and there was no need for a 9 am start on Friday for Half State Champs. PLEASE NOTE: Final results of both proposed motions will be determined when voting from both AGM s are counted. The result of the motions will be communicated to the Women s Masters Community ASAP. 6. General Business a) Helen further explained division of Associations for State Championships b) Far South Coast moved the following motion: That HNSWWM Committee request from HNSW that it ensures that the venues for W M State Champs for each year are announced in the preceding year s AGM Passed unanimously c) Additional request was made that as each Association is informed of the venue by e-mail, the announcement simultaneously appears on the HNSW web site. All agreed Discussion of uniforms for Women s Masters State Championships for 2018 and beyond. Helen explained Women Masters position re geographic location distance wise and that if an old Association was wanting to still wear that uniform it did not pose a problem for us, but the matter was with each Association to discuss and decide, keeping in mind Hockey NSW policy on amalgamation. Example was that given by Tumut who sends several teams greater number than their Wagga Wagga amalgamated Association sends and has a large number of uniforms in excellent condition. For a once a year event they felt it was an unnecessary and also wasteful requirement, that they dispense with their Tumut uniform and all purchase a new Wagga Wagga one, to be worn once a year for two days.
Similar situations arise within other Associations where distance between the towns Inverell/Moree, Cowra/Bathurst--- mean that for an annual event, Women s Masters participants would be required to purchase an entire new playing strip. The matter is one to be discussed within these Associations. Discussion on availability of interested people to act as judges and technical personnel, either on their own or as learners under the supervision of the technical panel, at the National Women s Masters Championships in Newcastle Sept-Oct 2017. Explanation re mentoring of Technical personnel, Umpires Convenor, at State Championships and Nationals was briefly explained and discussed. The general feeling of the meeting was one of understanding. Meeting closed at 6.13pm