REPORT BACKOF THE MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF DRRS –7th AUGUST 2007.
Present: The President, Past President and Messrs Friend, Harrison, Healy, Hinshelwood, Homer, Lane, Rice, Wakeham and Webb.
1.Apologies: The Vice President and Messrs Meagor and Rice.
2. Minutes: the minutes of the May (Grading) Meeting were approved.
3. Matters arising: Devonport Services RFC Junior Section. The decision of the Executive not to appoint referees to the club for the season 2007/08 was reviewed in the light of developments since May. After some discussion it was resolved that this decision should stand and that no referees would be appointed to the Junior section of this club during the 2007/08 season. Relevant parties would be informed by the Secretary.
4. Correspondence: the Secretary reported that he had received the following,
a) Mr Geoff Simpson : RFU/PRL Dispute- moves towards a resolution.
b) Mr Watts- various items re. ELRA
c) Simon Collyer-Bristow RFU-Leadership Academy.
d) Daily Mail Competitions.
5.Current Membership: Mr Webb reported that numbers were as per Grading List.Members had been informed of their gradings for the coming season.
6.Appointments Secretary: Mr Hinshelwood presented his proposals and, these were, with suitable modifications, approved. It appeared that SWG and Federation would appoint to Launceston 2, Exeter 2 and Plymouth Albion 2 games for the coming season. After some discussion it was demonstrated that such was a misapprehension and that the current system would continue.
7.Grading Secretary: Mr Webb reported that all gradings had been finalised and members duly informed.
8.Exchange Secretary: Mr Friend revealed that the programme for the season was complete. Leicestershire would not be participating and some Societies had requested games below Level 6 since they had a dearth of suitable candidates at that level to send. Devon would endeavour to assist and send members of a suitable standard on exchange. The matter of Cornwall’s inability to provide assessors to cover all exchange games was discussed but it was accepted that a solution was somewhat remote.
9.Training Secretary: Mr Wakeham confirmed that arrangements for the Main Laws Meeting at Okehampton on 15th August had been finalised. The new training schemes had been launched at the Daventry Conference. CRDa Trainer Notes were available and these, it was considered, were well composed and presented. Local Area Meetings would take place four times per season at the usual venues. Mr Wakeham had “chased up” those who had passed ELRA Courses with a view to securing their services to the Society and had enjoyed some success. The Society would receive two new members from Oxford, Messrs Newton and Swift who would be commencing their studies at Exeter University and continuing the tradition established by Messrs Lane, Neagle and Miss Amor.
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10.Disciplinary Officer: Mr Rice was away but, it being the close season, there was, happily, nothing to report. Mr Friend introduced the new Disciplinary Form which County Disciplinary Committees would now now expected to complete in respect of each alleged miscreant. Referee reports would need to be clear and comprehensive to enable the new system to operate effectively. Mr Webb opined, and it was agreed, that such a bureaucratic system would strain the tolerance of volunteer officials to the limit.
11.Finance: Mr Harrison presented his report. All monies had been received with the exception of Plymouth College. He had paid for kit and equipment and, despite raising the mileage rate and not raising fees, a modest loss had been incurred. DRFU was proving difficult over sanctioning a rise in charges to clubs and were claiming that the Society reserves were DRFU money. However, he intended to put a proposal to raise charges to clubs by not more than £5 per game and was confident that it would be approved. Mr Friend pointed out that SWG had paid £4000 towards expenses incurred by DRRS members while on SWG business and this was a sum saved to the Society. The sponsorship arranged by the President had been completed and shirts would be with members shortly. The Society is grateful for such support.
Mr Harrison then announced that he would, in all probability and for family reasons, be leaving Devon to return to the Home Counties. This was regretted by all since he had been a most successful Treasurer, but it was lessened by the revelation that this move would take several months. The matter would be kept under review.
12.DRFU: No meeting, therefore nothing to report.
13. SWG/FEDERATION/RFRU:
SWG: The season would commence on Sept. 1st. A conference would be held at Swindon to sort out matters and a similar one to cover the North of England was also to take place. Tier 1 would include Mr Friend Jun, Mr Davies and Ms Daniels. Tier 3 would include Mr Steggall.
Federation: the exchange with the USA was in preparation. Messrs Wakeham and Harding would represent the Society. Mr Webb raised the matter of the proposed sponsorship of the Federation by Skinner’s Brewery. Mr Watts had been active in driving this forward but its implications needed to be explored fully. He hoped that this would happen at the meeting on August 16th.
RFRU: nothing to report
14. AOB : the Secretary announced that he would be out of the country during the period August 19th to 31st, please contact either the President of Past President.
Meeting closed at 20.39 hours.
Date of next meeting: Tuesday, September 4th at 19.00 hours.
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