Minutes of the Annual General Meeting, held at The High School of Glasgow Members’ Bar, and via Zoom, on Saturday, 25th May 2024.
1. Sederunt – Ian McCreath (Chair), John Lees, Charlotte Barrett, Jim Chisholm, Alan Parker, Chris Kalman, Maggie McLellan, Aileen Smith, Joan Mackie, Ian Downie, Peter Reid, Neil MacKenzie, Anne McGregor, Sandy Weir, Paul Finch, Paul Bateson, John Smith, Martin Petty, John Swift, Geoff Weston and Colin Wilkie.
Attending via Zoom – Ian Chitty, Iain Lynch, Chris Heeps, Ross Gallagher, Duncan Mitchell, Graham Dick and Dean Sewell.
2. Apologies – Janice Moir (Proxy Form), Pam Begg (PF), Kenny McNally (PF), Graham Conkie (PF), Tim Lorimer (PF), Jim Watson (PF), Jane Neil (PF), Jon Marshall (PF), Neil Ward (PF), Babs Buglass(PF), John Michalik (PF), Susan Sloan (PF), Derrick Reid (PF), Arthur Robertson (PF), Phil Joyce (PF), Gladys McClymont (PF), Robert Breen (PF), Colin Burrell (PF), Tony Walker (PF), David Lancaster (PF), Gareth Kingsley (PF), John Bennett (PF), Lynda Tulloch (PF), Douglas Morrice (PF), Ernie Brittain-Dodd (PF), Iain Cameron (PF), Gordon MacKenzie (PF), Lee Edmonds-Ward (PF), Kevin Donnachie (PF), Stephen Bilham (PF). Stuart Stephen (PF), Rob Campbell (PF), Brenda Connor (PF), Rhona Weir (PF), Cairine Scullion (PF), Murdoch Shirreffs (PF), Joyce Souness (PF), Peter Girvan (PF), Scott Chisholm, Margaret White, Ian Dunbar, Roddy Cameron, Alan Auld, and Roy Chrichton.
3. Approval of the Minutes of the AGM held on Monday, 8th May 2023.
Proposed – Paul Bateson.
Seconded – Chris Kalman.
A.O.C.B. – i) Iain Cameron directed to the website for insurance query.
ii) Chris Kalman’s suggestion that the insurance information is only a suggestion was implemented.
iii) The SH insurance cover was taken up for Tilburg and the Celtic Cup for SM.
iv) John Lees sent out the list of shirt numbers to John Connachan as requested.
v) Bra - not attending in 2024 but will continue to attend in the future.
4. Secretary’s Report – John had sent this out as a joint Secretary/ President’s Report to all members, due to Mike’s illness. He noted that he had forgotten to add a huge thanks to all those who help behind the scenes, and we still need other volunteers to help throughout the year.
5. President’s Report – See secretary’s Report. We were able to have an Exec in Dundee that Mike was able to attend, and it was lovely to see him. Ian Chitty as Vice-President is there to stand in if necessary. Ian McCreath thanked all on the Executive for their help this past year. We were asked if the Way Forward paper was still in place – Ian McCreath replied that we have moved through, and beyond the paper, which had given us direction for starting Scottish Thistles. Charlotte informed us that there were 200 responses to the SH survey, and from those results, we can look for another way forward. We discussed the problems that SMH were having – we will be able to help if asked but won’t be getting involved until asked. Sandy Wier had asked if there was any financial help for the O75’s – there is a lot of overlap with the players in the international side and the Thistles. This was agreed. There were discussions from with the floor on offering help to older players that are leaving the game – what SH can do or want to do; how much we can do as Thistles, offering summer hockey, etc. SH have all the information on players, far more than we have. We will be looking at the survey responses and try to work with SH.
6. Treasurer’s Report – This had been sent out in advance to all members. Proposed – Charlotte Barrett
Seconded – Alan Parker.
Jim told us that we are bringing in more than our expenditure. The ‘downside’ is that we need to look at spending some of our funds. We already subsidise the playing tops, kit for the O75’s, etc, but need to think about where some could be spent. All our tournaments broke even last year.
7. Membership Subscriptions 2024/25 - Jim advised keeping the annual subscription at £20 and continue with the offer to new members of 2 playing tops for £20. Associate/non-playing members will have zero charge. This was accepted unanimously.
8. Election of Office Bearers – All were happy to stay on and Ian McCreath asked for volunteers – anyone who feels they have something to offer the club, please say. All were happy for the Executive to stay as is, and there were thanks for Iain Lynch and John Smith for their hard work
9. Election of ordinary Executive Committee members - All were happy for the Exec to look for and Auditor to verify the accounts, no accounting qualifications needed, just a bit of common sense, and to appoint on the members behalf. Ian McCreath took this time to talk about the byelaws that he had set up with the agreement of the Executive and were on the website. They are for the members benefit and tell us if there is anything else you want added. Personal contact details – please tell us of any changes, it makes it easier for us to hen contact you. All information is secure and is only passed on to those who need to see it – age-group co-ordinators, managers, captains, etc. Images – only those that promote the club, nothing insulting. Events – respect for others, remembering your responsibilities, etc. Discipline – the policy is there to find an amicable solution for all parties.
10. Election of Auditor - We need to find a new Auditor, as Norrie Springford is standing down. We have asked, but have received no notes of interest so far, but the executive will continue to look.
11. A.O.C.B. – i) There was a discussion with the floor on affiliation with SH, as they don’t run anything for Thistles currently – Exec to follow this up.
ii) Insurance – getting insurance cover to travel abroad to play competitive hockey continues to be problematic. Not all insurance companies provide this and playing ad hoc hockey won’t cover you. In discussions with the floor, there are companies who provide this, and it was agreed that the executive follow up on the Dragons cover. Dundee is covered through Dundee Wanderers.
iii) Jim noted that on individual finances, it was easier to pass on to co-ordinators to contact individuals.
iv) In reply to a question, John lees replied that the information for Dundee 2024 will be going out this weekend. He was waiting until after the AGM.
v) A question was asked if information of ‘lost’ members throughout the year could be put on the website – Ian McCreath more than happy to put onto the website.
vi) A Life Membership for Mike McInally was proposed – unanimously accepted.
vii) It was also proposed that the Dundee festival be renamed The Mike McInally Hockey Festival – all approved and John lees will check that Mike is happy with this.
viii) We were asked that as the December Open day was cancelled, could there be another on in its place? Exec to investigate this.
ix) Dean Sewell noted that SportsCoverDirect provide cover for playing competitive hockey abroad and asked if that could be put up on the website? Ian McCreath agreed to do this.
After thanks from the floor to the executive, and no further questions, the meeting closed at 16:58. John Lees thanked everyone for their attendance.
John Lees
Secretary
Note from Secretary: It became obvious during the AGM that those attending via Zoom were finding it very difficult to hear when comments came from the floor for which I apologised. When I was writing the Minutes, I found it very hard to hear what was being said on my phone recording. We will make every effort to stop this happening at the 2025 AGM.