Before the meeting commenced a one minute silence was observed remembering volleyball friends from Poole.

With insufficient clubs represented to make the quorum of 2/3 of paid up clubs, the meeting was declared inquorate by the Chairman. It was agreed to proceed with any decisions to be ratified at the next General Meeting.

1. Apologies for absence had been received from Greg Brown, Alan Banks, Ahmed and Aysha Daout, Mark Harris. The Secretary apologized for the clash with English Volleyball Association AGM.
   
1. Minutes of the AGM 22^nd June 2003 were approved.
   The following matters arising were noted
   - information on the Essex web site had been circulated to all clubs
   - a copy of last year’s Treasurer’s report had not been received
   - the Executive would report on development plans under AOB
   - Essex had offered to host the County Cups. They had been offered joint hosting but arrangements had fallen through with the other host and by this time the venue was unavailable. Essex sides had competed in the Men’s and Women’s Area cups.
   - the £450 made available for a Level 3 modular coach course had not been claimed by anyone and would revert to Essex funds.
   - Essex won the 2003 EVF Veterans tournament and indeed had successfully defended the title since.
   
1. The Officers presented verbal reports
   
   President. Paul Bohannan referred to the big picture of sport which was now on the government’s agenda. Many sports were seen to be in decline and the push to increase participation should be good for volleyball. The channel would be via Regions into Counties through County Sports Partnerships. Others sports in the past had proved more adept at getting money for example form Awards for All. There is also potential for closer links with health which means working with different partners. Volleyball needs to concentrate on these and harness new sources of funds. Any ideas on how to move Essex volleyball forward should be raised with Paul, Brendan or Ken.
   
   Chairman. Brendan Osborne referred to the change in operating format in the County with less officers and more use of Email/Internet, now in its second year. This had resulted in fewer administrators and less workload, apart from League Secretary. However there had been casualties in terms of things getting done. If people want improvements they need to help out. He specifically thanked the League Secretary (Ian), Treasurer (Steve) and Secretary (Ken) recognizing that others were also worthy of praise including those who ran clubs.
   
   It was right too that we acknowledged the loss of three colleagues in August last year who were tragically killed in a road accident at the Poole Tournament – James Phillips, Suzie Manning both from Essex and Mark Pitman from Wessex. They were and remain much loved. Poole this year will be a difficult event for many players and there will be a commemoration. Essex had renamed the Handicap competition the Phillips-Manning Cup with a new trophy as a fitting remembrance.
   
   Brendan asked for those present to recall Essex successes during the season.
   - Tendring boys represented England at the World Schools Cup in Cyprus finishing 20^th of 28. There was clear progress in the level of play and the English team had proved popular. St Edwards School, Romford had represented the girls. Tendring would be hosting an Israeli team shortly.
   - Essex won the EVF veterans tournament for the third successive year
   - JUVO 2003 and 2004, run by Tony Pennock had over 100 teams with strength in u12/13 and new schools still entering.
   - VETVO was won by Gerry’s Hat Trick (Chelmsford) this year
   - Essex players had featured strongly in the three Regional teams in the Junior Inter-regional competition where the teams finished u15 girls (4^th), u17 girls (2^nd), u17 boys (1^st), the latter team being coached by John Embrey.
   
   Secretary. Ken Edwards referred to his Email outlining the role and the little he had actually done during the year. There had been minimal activity in Essex, no meetings and little correspondence from the English VA. He noted the significant changes in Sport in the UK and noted that volleyball was one of the 31 chosen sports and a Whole Sport Plan was being prepared centrally. His concern was that Essex was a bit like the Marie Celeste, with less people, and he expressed the hope that it would not become the Titanic and sink. As indicated last year, he was not standing for re-election.
   
   
   League Secretary. Ian Johnston. Brentwood Wildthings won Div 1, Comets Div 2 and Divas Ladies Division. Wildthings also won the Rucanor Cup, Rascals the Tachikara Plate (other finalist defaulted), Essex Girls, Brentwood the Janet Bedford Ladies Cup and Essex Youth the Phillips- Manning Cup (renamed from formerly named Handicap Cup). Ian referred to his annual moan – fixtures changed without advice and missing scoresheets. The number of fixtures not taking place ranged from 30% in Ladies and Div 1 to 51% in Div 2. He also referred to the lack of support for finals day, our showcase event and held as part of the Brentwood Festival of Sport.
   
   Discussion took place on how to address the problems with competitions. Ideas included moving the League Fixtures meeting, banning changes of fixture dates after certain dates/Xmas, imposing fines and requiring teams entering the cup to commit four people to finals day. There are also issues with Essex University and difficulty of having meaningful contact with them. Ian will take account of the points made with a view to operating the rules on a trial basis in 2004-5 to reflect this – details at the Fixtures meeting which was set for 7.00pm Wednesday 14^th July in Brentwood. Proposals for leagues in the coming year are likely to see 7 in Div 1, 6 in Div 2, 5 in Ladies. The committee was asked to look at personnel for the finals. Action Committee.
   
   County Squads. Tony Clark referred particularly to the success of the ladies area training with a variety of clubs taking part
   
   Web Manager. Ken Edwards said he had simplified the site and continued to update material from what he was sent. A show of hands suggested people do look at it, although he had as yet received no feedback on the Club Introduction Pack.
   
1. Annual Accounts. The unaudited accounts for the past 24 months were presented by Steve Rosser (separate sheets) and questions answered. Essentially the Association is well placed with a strong net asset position at 31 March 2004 held between its general and development funds. The later would be boosted by writing back the £450 provision offered to help keep the modular level 3 coaching course running.
   
   There was discussion around 2004-5 budget and particularly the proposal to leave entry fees unchanged. It was agreed that with an inquorate meeting the level of fees should not be altered, however the Committee will look at ideas around reducing their impact on clubs such as changing the date due, refunding 50% (less any fines), nil entry fees for JUVO. Action Committee.
   
   Fees for 2004-5 are therefore:
   Open and Women’s League£100 senior teams£25 junior teams
   Rucanor Cup£ 30 senior teams £ 5 junior teams
   Janet Bedford/Phillips-Manning£ 20 senior teams £ 5 junior teams
   
   It was agreed to ask Steve Peacock to audit the accounts for 2002-3, 2003-4 and reappoint him for the coming season. Action Treasurer.
   
   
   
1. The election of Officers took place with the following elected
   
   Chairman (2yrs) Brendan Osborne (proposed Ken Edwards, seconded Ian Johnston)
   Secretary (1 yr) Ken Edwards (proposed Paul Bohannan, seconded Ian Johnston)
   President (1 yr) Paul Bohannan (proposed Tony Pennock, seconded Ken Edwards)
   Vice-Presidents Gordon Day, Ken Pearce, Tony Pennock, George Peto, Mark Harris
   re-elected en bloc (proposed Paul Bohannan, seconded Brendan Osborne)
   
   It was agreed to prepare a role description for Vice-Presidents. Action Committee.
   
1. Any Other Business
   
   A number of proposals and ideas to develop volleyball in Essex were tabled.
   
   It was agreed that the Association supports fully Project Granite to embed volleyball in Tendring as outlined by Ken Edwards to the meeting. Action KE
   
   It was agreed to look at holding a ‘state of origin’ competition where players represented their home area rather than club. It was suggested that a one off event possibly building to a more significant series of matches was appropriate. Action Committee.
   
   Ken Edwards reported on an earlier discussion about coaching in the county. The issues raised included, courses (both developmental and award based), funding, development, supply and demand. It was agreed that the first step was a survey to establish contact and appetite. Action KE. Paul Bohannan undertook to lead similar work with regard to referees. Action PB.
   
   Tony Pennock outlined the recent history of Eastern Volleyball Federation which had fallen into decline. The new structure of sport required Regions to operate more effectively and there was a meeting to be held 3^rd July in Cambridge to progress this at which Janet Inman, English VA Development Director would speak. Tony was aiming to step down at that meeting and one idea was that people from the 6 county associations step up and operate more at regional level.
   
   Steve Rosser noted that there was funding which could be called on to support development initiatives and that we should aim to make a real impact.

Note all decisions made will require formal ratification at the next General Meeting however this should not inhibit activity in the county.