Mr N J Wylie (Chairman and Vice President) Mr P A S Sly (President)

Mr F E Bull (Vice President ) Mr V H Reeves (Vice President)

Dr R P de Parcq (Vice President & Hon Treasurer) Mr A Cox (Captain)

Mr E C Ford (Vice President) Mr P L Rawkins (Vice President)

Mr M A Arnold-Gilliat (Vice President) Mr D Grimshaw (Deputy Captain)

Mr P Leffler (Vice Captain) Mr D Cooke (Assistant Treasurer)

Mr A J Rawkins Mr L T Huggett

Mr S Gourevitch Ms M Israel

Mr I Golder Mr M Collier

Mr N Davison Mr K P Jeffs

Mr G J S Frith Mr S Keating

Mr G Davis Mr M Davies

Mr D Lindley Mr R E Lambe (Hon Secretary)

Were received from S Keogh, K Keogh and D Jillings..

Having previously been displayed on the Notice Board, were agreed a true record.

To be covered within the Agenda.

Mr Cox reported that it had been a difficult year due to the disinclination of some active members to row in competitive crews. Any wins had been solely due to the Deputy Captain D Grimshaw, the Vice Captain P Leffler and I Golder. He hoped they would continue their efforts. And thanked them for all that they had done. He also thanked the committee for their support, naming Chairmen M A Arnold-Gilliat and N J Wylie also the Treasurer Dr R P du Parcq and Secretary R E Lambe. He had now served four terms as Captain and considered it was time for him to retire.

The open regatta wins for the year are appended to this report.

The Accounts for the period 2000/2001 together with the Audit Review are appended to these Minutes.

Mr Cox reported that it had been a very successful year with a payout of £3000 and a profit of £3171.63. For the first time the number of tickets sold had been over 6000. A new bank account had been opened paying a much higher rate of interest. For the coming year the prize structure had been revised giving ten monthly draws of £25, £40, £60 and £100. There would extra prizes of £100 at Christmas.

After today's meeting the draw would take place for June to October inclusive with prize money of £1125 being given out. Potential ticket sales for the coming season were 616 giving a profit of approximately £3,500

Mr Reeves proposed that two Votes of Thanks to Mr Cox be proposed, one for his service as Captain and one for his efforts on behalf of the 300 Club. This was agreed with acclaim.

. Mr Wylie opened the discussion by reading from a prepared statement. He detailed the history of the inter club communications of the recent few months. Although Cygnet had overwhelmingly approved the principal of amalgamation there was considerable dispute about the proposed name and this had not been voted on at the Cygnet Special General meeting on I July 2001. In the original Joint Working Party Discussion Paper it had been put forward that this should be Cygnet Barnes Bridge and the women had accepted this. In particular amongst middle and older generation Cygnet members it was considered that the addition of Barnes Bridge was irrelevant as the name Barnes Bridge had only been in use four years. In a letter from Vice President Paul Rawkins published in the Autumn Newsletter he had opined that the BBLRC brought very little to the merger whereas Cygnet were giving a great deal.

Meetings had been held and letters exchanged. A suggestion was made that the new club should be called Cygnet Barnes Bridge but that after two years the name should revert to Cygnet unless a two-thirds majority decided otherwise. Eventually a message was received from the BBLRC that this would be acceptable but that only a simple majority should be sufficient to not revert the name to Cygnet after two years. This was found to be unacceptable to Cygnet and the BBLRC Captain replied that she could only go back to her committee regarding the two thirds majority if it was confirmed that Cygnet would give the 'green light' for the transfer of Cygnet assets including the Bungalow on Hamhaugh IsIand. But up to this point neither finance nor the future of the Bungalow had been fully discussed and resolved.

A meeting of the two clubs Treasurers with their teams was held and Dr du Parcq reported back to the Club committee that the joint club finances were viable but only if the Cygnet model of financial management was followed. The Cygnet committee accepted this. But the committee was still deeply divided regarding the future name. It had become clear that some middle and older members had become stronger in their resolve that the amalgamated club should be called Cygnet and Cygnet only.

The Chairman gave his view that there were now three options which were:-

Option 1.

If agreed this would then be conveyed to BBLRC. They would then need to vote to accept it or reject it. If accepted the transition to amalgamation would then be smooth and the only transfer of assets would be the limited ones from the BBLRC to Cygnet. If rejected, then that would will be end of the matter.

Option 2.

There are two things that could happen here. If rejected we must accept either Option 1, or Option 3. If accepted, then the process of amalgamation and the transfer of the assets would commence. However, things then may become complicated. Transfer of equipment and cash would be via a simple majority vote at a special general meeting. The transfer of the Bungalow needed a 2/3rds majority. Would there be 2/3rds majority necessary to transfer this asset? The chances are that there would not. What happens then? Cygnet will need to remain in existence as Cygnet Rowing Club with just one asset - The Bungalow. How would this be administered ? Who would be the members of Cygnet Bungalow Club etc? Indeed very messy. Alternatively the transfer of the Bungalow to a new club could involve substantial Stamp Duty, so much so that could mean the Bungalow being sold to pay the dues. Legal advice was being sought.

There is a feeling that this would be the best option. It would give the Club more time to look at the issues and resolve any problems. However, this option would only delay the process of making a decision even longer. Certain members are intransigent in their view that a merged club should be called Cygnet and Cygnet only. Thus the process will just drag on, making the whole membership even wearier of the matter than it already is.

It was the Chairman's opinion that a positive recommendation one way or another must be made. He further recommend that in the interest of club unity and to stave off tearing this Club apart, that Option I be selected.

The President referred to a recent suggestion of the BBLRC President Miss Rubina Curtis that the name should be 'Cygnets'

There followed a very full and at times heated discussion. The following options were considered

(i) That the name should be Cygnet RC and that alone and if rejected then both clubs would continue as before.

(ii) The name should be Cygnet Barnes Bridge but reverting to Cygnet after two years unless a two-thirds majority voted otherwise. But this would mean rule changes. Older and middle members considered the change back to Cygnet, unless the two-thirds majority chose otherwise, could produce a difficult situation.

3. To do nothing what would then happen? The problem would not then disappear.

Mr Golder spoke forcibly and was concerned that the younger active members were expecting the change to a joint club. He considered that concern for the past should not be allowed to influence what was best for the future of the Club.

Mr Reeves explained that since 1929/30 both men and women had rowed from the Boathouse and both had invariably worked together. He saw no reason for amalgamation; he considered a merger irrelevant. He also thought that if it came about then that would be an end of Cygnet RC. He continued that we were the custodians of the past and how would a merger improve the future? He later said that speaking as an ex Civil Service Sports Council General Secretary any opposition from the CSSC to the continued support of rowing should be fought.

Mr Bull stated that he supported Mr Reeves in much of what he had said. Many men's clubs had accepted women and had trouble once the clubs had become mixed gender. He considered the suggested advantages of a merger over rated and over emphasised.

Mr P L Rawkins pointed out that his letter to the Newsletter had not ruled out amalgamation. Mr Wylie was of the view that the women were adamant about the name. Mr Gourevitch was very firm in his view that amalgamation had been agreed and should go ahead.

It was also suggested that the two Clubs should join together for administrative purposes but still race as separate clubs. Finances to be combined. This was similar to idea suggested at a Management Committee by Mr Golder. The matter was not pursued. It was also suggested that the Club name remains Cygnet but that it be Cygnet Barnes Bridge for entries for open events.

After further full discussion it was agreed that the following proposal be put to the meeting and in the order recorded in these minutes. The Secretary advised that the first two motions would require a two-thirds majority as a rule change was implied. This did not apply to Option 3.

Motion 1: Proposed by Mr D Grimshaw and seconded by Mr I Golder

This proposal was defeated by 15 votes to 11

Motion 2: Proposed by Mr I Golder seconded by Mr D Cooke

This proposal was defeated by 15 votes to 11

Motion 3: Proposed by Mr P L Rawkins seconded by Mr M A Arnold-Gilliat

This proposal was approved by 13 votes to 11 with 2 abstentions.

It was agreed that the BBLRC should be advised this result as a matter of urgency.

As there be no nominations no Captaincy was elected.

The meeting closed a 3.00pm

Veteran B Sculls D Jillings

Senior 2 Coxless Four I Stephenson, M Baldwin, D Cooke, I Golder (steers)

Veteran E/F Handycap Sculls N M Jackson

Senior 2 Coxless Pair S Keating, D Lindley

Veteran E Single Sculls N M Jackson

Senior 2 Coxless Four I Stephenson, M Baldwin, R Neaverson, I Golder (steers)

Senior 2 Coxless Pair S Keating, D Lindley

Mixed Senior 1 Fours L Norris (BBLRC), H Sanderson (BBLRC),

Elite Coxless Pairs G Estcourt, S Morgan