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Croquet Spring Meeting Flushed with Success of Expanding Leagues, Festival, and Coaching

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NWFCC Spring Meeting – Sat 2ndMarch 2019 – Executive Summary

A disappointing attendance of about twenty members at the Spring Meeting at Culcheth discussed latest news of the CA re-organisation, Federation Leagues and the 2019 Festival of Croquet.

A Special General Meeting has been called by the Croquet Association to discuss changes to the Constitution. The changes if adopted will reduce the size of the Executive Council and provide a greater input from the Federations. Our North West Federation Committee are in favour of these changes and urge all club members to vote in favour – members can vote on line (via CA website) or by post (See February Croquet Gazette) – the closing date is 20thMarch and we would like a significant contributory vote from the north west – all delegates were asked to encourage voting back in their clubs.

The 2019 League Fixtures are now published and there is a 14% increase in activities with 183 matches over six leagues, this may lead to capacity problems in some clubs if matches get postponed.  Clubs are urged to read League Rule 2(b) which covers the procedure when a fixture cannot be fulfilled.  The Handicap criteria for the B League have been changed for 2019 and the Doubles games may now be played with Alternate Strokes format.  All Golf Croquet matches must now be played in accordance with the 5thEdition of the Rules of GC – copies available from the CA shop or Federation Secretary.  

The planned Club Coaches course at Bury on 13thApril has been massively over subscribed and a second course is planned for later in the season.  Only one request has been received for general coaching under our Flying Circus banner – Bronze AC coaching at Keswick.  Paul Rigge will also be running weekly coaching clinics at Fylde and Pendle.

On National Croquet Day (12thMay), the CA will be participating in a BBC Countryfile event at Castle Howard, York, and may ask for volunteers to help.

The annual Festival of Croquet (Southport, 29/30 June) will be expanded to include a Level Play Golf Croquet section with two person teams, to add to the other four sections.  The registration fee will be £39 per team per section and closing dates for entries is 9thJune.  The Meeting agreed to fund the hire of three portable toilets for the Festival for £306.

Bowdon announced they are running a new Short Croquet tournament in July and are getting involved in the new Croquet Matters development programnme.  The lawns at Whitehead Park Bury are much improved due to new drainage. Crake Valley have received a grant to renovate their clubhouse.  Fylde are developing a new marketing prescence using Facebook, Twitter, etc.  They have also renovated their drainage ditches.  Lawns at Pendle have been improved and are developing links with the local U3A.  Southport lawns have improved due to a Ground Aeration programme and have replaced the Boundary Boards around the South Lawns.  Tatton Hall have received a Townsend Award for their development strategy.  

A proposal for changes to the Federation Constitution to clarify voting rights was discussed and the meeting decided to seek expert advice before proceeding further.

The meeting closed at 12 noon.  The next meeting will be the AGM on 16thNovember 2019 at Culcheth.

This Summary is a personal view by Tony Thomas, 3rdMarch 2019 and may not represent official NW Federation policy.

You can read the official Draft Minutes here

New Croquet Future Starts Now

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PLEASE HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF CROQUET

For some time the CA Council has accepted it is too large which can lead to a lack of focus and is proposing far reaching changes to make a significant difference to the way Croquet is managed in England.  Consequently, the Croquet Association will be holding a Special General Meeting in London on 30th March in order to amend the Constitution.  In essence, the proposed changes are:

  • A smaller Council (15 instead of 32!) to focus on strategy and direction with an Executive Board and committee structure running the day to day business.  
  • Twelve elected representatives from across the country grouped by Federations or Constituencies – the NW currently has one rep and this is unchanged in the new arrangements – elections to be held in the Summer so the new Council can commence in the Autumn.

To implement these changes, the Meeting needs at least 60% of those voting to vote in favour provided there is a quorum of 25.  Every individual member is entitled to a postal/email vote and these will be available from mid February – more details will be published in the next edition of the Gazette and also on the CA website.

John Dawson (Chester) is the north west Representative on CA Council and has been involved in these developments and kept the Federation informed

Your Federation Committee are generally in favour of these changes and recommend all north west members to exercise their right to a postal/email vote and vote in favour of the change.

Individual Members of all classes, including Standard members (those who have been registered as members of the Association by their club), can.

You can vote electronically on the CA website – more information here  

OR you can submit a paper vote by using the voting paper in the February Croquet Gazette or by downloading a Ballot Paper from the CA website and posting to the CA Office – get your Ballot Paper here 

CLOSING DATES FOR ALL VOTES – 20th MARCH 2019

 

HERE IS THE FORMAL NOTICE OF THE SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING:

NOTICE OF MEETING

A Special General Meeting of the Croquet Association will take place at the Hurlingham Club on Saturday 30th March 2019 commencing at 11.15 a.m.

AGENDA

Motion, proposed on behalf of the Council by John Bowcott (Chairman), seconded by John Dawson (Vice-Chairman):

“That the Constitution of the Croquet Association be amended as shown in https://www.croquet.org.uk/?d=2252“

Notes to the Agenda

A clean version of the Constitution with the proposed amendments applied can be downloaded. Printed copies can be requested by Home Members from the CA Office.

The purpose of the amendments is to improve the governance of the Association, by reducing the size of the Council and clarifying its role. As a consequence, the way in which its members are elected would change. Background information about the proposed changes can be found in an article in the February issue of the Croquet Gazette. A page containing replies to any frequently asked questions about them may be published on the website.

Individual Members of all classes, including Standard members (those who have been registered as members of the Association by their club), can vote electronically on the website or by returning this ballot paper by post beforehand, or in person at the meeting. Postal votes must arrive at the CA Office no later than 20th March, which is also the closing date for electronic voting.

The motion requires a 6 to 4 majority of Individual Members voting.

Dr. I. G. Vincent, Hon. Secretary.

 

Would You Like to become a Club Coach?

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Help Your Club, Your Members and Yourself by becoming a Club Coach

If you are a regular Association or Golf Croquet player with a Handicap Card, why not consider becoming a Club Coach.  Your Federation is running:

One Day course: Becoming a Club Coach

Whitehead Park, Bury – Saturday 13th April 2019 – 10am to 4pm. 

This course is for both AC and GC players aiming to develop their coaching skills and seeking to become qualified CA club coaches. Coaches also find that coaching others can significantly improve their own game. You are expected to have a working knowledge of the Laws of AC or the Rules of GC.

The course is free and organised under the Federation Coaching scheme.  It will be run by Paul Rigge and Don Williamson.

Interested?  please book a place by emailing Paul Rigge (paul.rigge@tiscali.co.uk) as soon as possible.  It is expected this will be a popular event, so early booking is advisable.

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Webmaster – Chris Alvey (webmaster@croquetnw.co.uk)