RPRA (Irish Region) AGM - 01/02/14

[willie reynolds]

The AGM of the RPRA (Irish Region) will be held in the Clarion Hotel, 75 Belfast Road, Carrickfergus on Saturday 1st February 2014 at 1.00pm. If any member wishes to be on the INFC Committee please attend the RPRA (Irish Region) AGM.

AGENDA: 1. Minutes of previous AGM, 2. Matters arising, 3. Statement of accounts for 2013, 4. Any other business 2013, 5. Election of officers for 2014, 6. New clubs.

Following the AGM a meeting of Region Delegates will be held. RPRA Council have stated the Irish Region will have only two Council Delegates this time instead of three.

Following the Region Delegates Meeting there will be a General & Appeals Committee Meeting at 3.00pm.

AGENDA: 1. Minutes of last meeting, 2. Matters arising 2013, 3. Correspondence, 4. Suspension/Removals.

The meeting will also Mandate the RPRA Delegates on voting re the AGM to be held in Coventry on Friday 28th February at 9.00am. Meeting Report will follow.

Quick meeting for the Irish Region -

Despite the weather the attendance was just as usual with delegates present for across Ireland, President Sammy Thompson got the meeting away by taking apologies and then the members were asked to stand and observe a moments silence in respect of those who had passed away in the last season. The minutes of the previous AGM were read by Secretary Robert Reid and passed as were the Statement of Accounts checked this time by Larne & District HPS. Under Any Other Business there was a question about Drug Testing Kits supplied by the RPRA.

All offices were declared vacant and Sam Briggs was invited to conduce the election, he started by thanking all those who had done good work and had assisted the sport in any way over the year. Most of the positions remained un-changed from the season previous.

Life Vice-President Lyndon Boyle (Dromore), President Sammy Thompson (Coleraine & Co Derry), Vice Presidents Sammy Briggs (Lisburn & Dist) and Jim Serplus (Laurelvale). Secretary Mr & Mrs R Reid, 131 North Road, Carrickfergus, Co Antrim.
RPRA Councillors: The membership has dropped below 2,500 so we just require two members this time. It was agreed S Thompson, S Briggs and Reserve J Serplus would serve. PO Steve McGarry.

Irish Region Appeals Committee: J Serplus, W Knowles, A C McGrugan, J Burrows, R Reid, S Briggs, S Thompson, W Reynolds, B Kelly, G Delaney, C O’Hare, W Seaton, G McDowell, N Hanna, S McGarry, R Hamilton, S Thompson, R Reid, K Quigley, D Dunne and W Ferguson.

INFC Committee: P Smith, C O’Hare, D Suitters, W Reynolds, C Lyons, L Woodside, G McDowell, B Stevenson, G Delaney, W Sawyers, R Duddy, J Serplus, K Shannon, P Dunlop, W Kelly. INFC Appeals Committee: S Cairns, J Burrows and W Knowles who replaced R McCracken who had retired.

Sammy Thompson returned to the chair and thanked the members for his re-election and said he would do his best. Next item was New Clubs: The following were successful – Mourne & Dist (Strabane), Irish Social Circle (Cork), Harmony HPS (Ballynahinch) and Northern Ireland Middle Route.

Following the AGM a Region Delegates meeting was held, the minutes of the previous meeting were read and passed. There was a discussion on Claims for Awards, in future they must be delivered to Secretary by hand or post Recorded Delivery. All claims must be signed by the Club Secretary.

Council Delegates were to advise the meeting on their deliberation regarding the RPRA Agenda and their voting arrangements were agreed. Support: 744, 7/6, 7/7, 7/8, 7/14, 7/19 and 7/23. Vote against: 7/1, 7/2, 7/3, 7/5, 7/9, 7/10, 7/11, 7/12, 7/13, 7/15, 7/16, 7/17, 7/18, 7/21, 7/22, 7/24, 7/25, 7/26, 7/27 and 7/28.

The final meeting was the General & Appeals Committee and with a short agenda it was not expected to last long and neither it did. Minutes of the previous meeting were read and passed. One outstanding case is on-going and suspensions were lifted for members in Carrick and Coleraine. Two items of correspondence were marked read and the meeting closed at the early time of 3.15pm.