Site hosted by
   ESSEX VOLLEYBALL ASSOCIATION

[ Up ]

EASTERN VOLLEYBALL FEDERATION
A Region of the English Volleyball Association
Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire Essex Hertfordshire West Norfolk Suffolk

Annual General Meeting minutes

Saturday 12^th March 2005 at 11:00  Redden Court School – Harold Wood

• Essex 30
• Suffolk 12
• Norfolk 9
• Herts 9
• Beds 7
• Cambs 4
• Unknown 14

• TP reported that there had been a successful EGM at which most of the counties were represented.
• Several volunteers had agreed to take on roles that they felt they could deliver and which would enable the basic needs of the region to be covered although the position of General Administrator was left unfilled.
• The main activities centred around the Mens’ and Women Regional leagues and the Junior Development Squads.
• TP had met with KE & PB in December 2004 to plan for the AGM which it was hoped would be well attended and be able to appoint a wide range of volunteers to share the work load and move the region forward.

• B reported that he had been through the accounts and had them audited by Steve Peacock.
• Although there were some bank statements unaccounted for during the inter regnum he was satisfied that the accounts represented a true and accurate state of the EVF finances.
• Most transactions related to the Junior Development Squads.
• PB reported that there was a healthy balance that should enable the EVF to fund agreed development activities.
• TP reported that the recent income had been from the EVA development grants and that savings had been made by judicious use of venues at low cost and the donations of free time by volunteers.
• The accounts were proposed by Paul Bohannan seconded by Ken Edwards and accepted unanimously.
• PB was thanked for having brought the EVF finances up-to-date.

• KE had attended a number of meetings on behalf of the EVF to keep himself abreast of relevant developments, especially those relating to Sport England.
• He was attending the quarterly NGB Forum meetings – these took a day to prepare for, a day to participate in and a day to complete follow-up work i.e. the equivalent of 12 working days.
• The main issues currently being discussed include:-
• County Sport Partnerships (these will have a major influence once they can be established effectively)
• SportsCoach UK
• Skills Active
• LTAD
• Club Development
• ClubMark accreditation scheme
• EVA regional meetings had been mainly on WSP and he had met with Frances White (EVA Regional Commissioner). He had also been invited to participate in a number of EVA initiatives.
• He had distributed his findings widely but was very concerned at the apparent lack of response and willingness of some counties to pass information on to clubs.
• KE raised several important issues which would require response from others in order to determine how the EVF progressed:-
• Do our Clubs and Area Associations want to be included in the EVF or just go it alone?
• What does the EVA Whole Sport Plan mean for us?
• Does the EVA understand the capacity of volunteers in the regions to be able to deliver its Whole Sport Plan?
• Discussion raised the following issues:-
• Funding to people in the field.
• The EVA Whole Sport Plan is a good idea and an improvement on previous plans but how will it be delivered?
• It was agreed that a meeting with Janet Inman and representatives from the area associations should be convened as soon as possible to answer these questions.
• TP to arrange a meeting for the evening of Tuesday 12^th April 2005 in Cambridge – subject to the availability of JI and a suitable venue. KN offered to host at the UEA in Norwich as an alternative.
• KE was thanked for his time and effort in attending meetings and circulating paperwork. It was agreed by the meeting that he should continue to attend those meetings that he felt would have the most benefit for the region and that his expenses would be met in full by the EVF.

• TP reported that 3 of the 4 Junior Development Squads were currently running monthly sessions:-

• Lorraine Bartlett expressed and interest in coaching the U14 Girls Development Squad in the future.
• TP explained that she would need to complete her EVA Level 2 Coaching Award with the sportscoachUK workshop which KE plans to include in a Level 2 course.
• TP would ask Peter Robinson if he would be happy for LB to assist at his sessions to gain experience.
• The EVA Inter Region Finals would be held at Loughborough from Saturday 30^th April until Monday 2^nd May 2005
• TP reported that JUVO Preparation was underway and that there had been an Essex VA meeting in February to develop involve a team approach to ensure sustainability of the event.
• JUVO is scheduled for Sunday 26^th June 2005 at the Brentwood Centre in Essex.

• KN reported that the Tournament format agreed at the EGM had proved to be very successful overall and an improvement on the previous triangular match structure.
• The main problem was the late withdrawal of teams which simply makes the organisers life more difficult.
• There were on average 12 teams in the Men’s event eventually won by Brentwood VC (Essex).
• There were from 6 to 3 teams in the Ladies’ event eventually won by Stowmarket VC (Suffolk). KN to arrange for trophies to be presented at the next meeting.
• It was disappointing that no schools teams entered a schools tournament.
• KN, and his deputy, were thanked for their time and effort in organising the events.

• PB reported that he had sent out a survey to all referees to which there had been a poor response.
• There was interest from about 12 people, mostly from Essex, for a Level 4 course to be organised.
• PB to circulate details in due course.
• PB was thanked for his efforts on behalf of referees within the region.

• KE reported that he had sent out a survey and could confirm that there were currently 46 coaches to which could be added another 9 from a recently organised Level 1 course that was held at Tendring (Essex) tutored by Paul Westhead.
• Two coaching newsletters had been sent to all these plus any registered coaches
• Mark Harris had assisted at the course and is now a Level 1 tutor.
• KE reported that he was aware of a CSLA course having been completed in Benfleet (Essex).
• KE reported that the EVA had arranged a closed volleysport course for Norwich schools but KN expressed doubts that it had gone ahead. KE expressed concerns at such an isolated initiative from which the region seemed to have been excluded.
• KE was hoping to be able to confirm details of another Level 1 course – probably to be held at Havering VI Form College in Hornchurch (Essex) and a Level 2 course on Ipswich (Suffolk) in due course.
• KE reported that the EVA coaching structure was currently under review to align them to the new UK Coaching Certificate scheme and that coaches needed to be made aware of Long Term Athlete development and Community Coach Scheme.
• It was agreed by the meeting that the EVF would support up to £20 for travel expenses for EVF members taking a Level 2 course and up to £30 for a Level 3 course.
• KE was thanked for his efforts on behalf of coaches within the region.

• This was last updated in June 2000 and it was considered that there needed to be a few minor changes.
• The proposed changes that had been circulated to all members prior to the AGM were accepted unanimously by the meeting with one additional amendment.
• This was to add to item 9.6 under voting rights at the AGM – "No individual may vote in more than one capacity."
• TP to update the Constitution.
•  

• Lorraine Bartlett suggested that communications might be improved if e-mails could be shorter and contain key points that the reader could then chose to follow up where there was genuine relevance and interest.
• This comment was welcomed and it was proposed that a system be developed whereby all volleyball e-mails be prefixed by a statement that clearly stated which category of reader the e-mail had relevance to and what the main topics were.
• It was also proposed that in order for EVF e-mails to be sent to as wide an audience as possible there should be an up-to-date database of members e-mail addresses. This ideally should be under the control of one individual and until such time as this could be done it was agreed that everyone should regularly update each other with any new key e-mail contacts within the region. This would need to be monitored to see how effective it is. KN agreed to suggest a brief guidance note on Email structure.

Meeting closed at 14:00