The AGM
By Grockle et al
January 27 2016
Thankls to Sloop for this detail. I've done little to it in order to get keep the site happy. I will fiddle with it as the day goes on.
Sloop John B
Announcement of the ground being called the Cooper Asociates County Ground.
Folk I talked too afterwards were rather underwhelmed by the announcement and asking why the members hadn’t been allowed to comment or vote.
Letter read from Roy Kerslake (who is in Australia) referring to his pride in being president etc. And thanking for his farewelling.
Matt Maynard said they would be announcing the overseas players on Wednesday when signatures had been placed on contracts. He thought we would all be pleased when we knew.
Craig Meschede wanted guarantee of first team cricket which we couldn’t give. Maybe we could get him back in 2/3 years a more experienced and better player. Josh Davey impressing and knocking on first team door. Ben Green is Quality. Chris Rogers will bring discipline eg: bowlers expected to hit top of off stump all the time and not too much ‘fancy stuff’.
Guy Lavender referred to the motion received from Greg Bowerman (and seconded by me) and indicated the club’s support for 4 day cricket, opposition to the franchise idea (which Andy Nash thinks is not a starter). There is a desire for change nationally but we hoped it would be via evolution not revolution. The club support maintaining red AND white ball cricket. He indicated that the views of members are gleaned via the area committees and to the executive committee.
Greg Bowerman spoke indicating a view that ordinary members should be heard and that the lack of information from the ECB and their unwillingness to debate on their visit to the SCCC created suspicion of their motives. He spoke of talk in the media about the lack of future for county cricket, the apparent enthusiasm for city based franchises, of players stating that the future would see test players dropping out of test cricket to play white ball cricket and the pressure of finances on counties and the fact that some counties are almost totally reliant on ECB grants.
The CEO said that he and the chairman were already putting the county’s views before the ECB but that other views were being expressed by other counties not in our healthy financial state.
Questions from the floor
Someone suggested that the county’s 6 objectives should be enhanced by 2 overarching Aims – to be a top echelon club and to win the county championship. The top table agreed!
Someone talked about the bad visual impact of the floodlights. Answer – they had looked very carefully with the planners and had received approval. The height of the lights being well above the church towers actually reduces the visual impact (sic).
Complaint about batsmen not acknowledging the crowd’s applause when out for, say, 60. MM said for a top order batsman that might feel like a failure whereas a number 9 or 10 might be over the moon with that score! (Seemed to me he missed the point that players should acknowledge the crowd).
Car Parking. CEO had meeting with leader of council and has suggested several ways forward such as provision as part of the long-term Firepool plan, bespoke park & ride, Buying deicated provision in other under-used car-parks, a drop-off point and crossing on Priory Bridge Road.
A vote of thanks to Tres was moved from the floor and was unanimous.
Finances – Increased profit last year despite difficult trading conditions for the catering team - £330,000 per-tax. Annual interest charges for the new Somerset Pavilion £100,000 but well under control. Playing budget at £2.4m was second highest of the counties.
Committee re-elected without need for vote.
Honorary President – this turned out to be the shock of the night. Brian Rose was proposed by Andy Nash and a second candidate was proposed from the floor – Richard Parsons. Both candidates had speeches made by their proposers and the CEO had consulted lawyers and the process was to be show of hands, a count and if too close a paper ballot.
It was too close and the paper ballot returned a vote of 121 to 114 in favour of Richard Parsons. (I was surprised that this could occur without due notice to members in advance and I gained the impression of a significant push by the Richard Parsons supporters to get their support to the AGM. It worked!)
Richard Parson then thanked everyone for their support and asked the CEO to open a tab at the bar and insisted that everyone , whoever they voted for, have a drink on him.
By this point Brian Rose had taken his leave!
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016:02:15:10:59:47 by Grockle.
Due to an unfortunate oversight a Resolution duly proposed and seconded in due time by members was omitted from the Agenda for the Annual General Meeting on Monday 25 January.
Following discussions with the Chief Executive the Chairman will refer to this Resolution at the end of his report (during which he will refer to the future of English cricket).
The Resolution is that the members should debate the future of English cricket. The proposer Greg Bowerman will be invited to speak to the item before it is opened to members.
Given talk of City franchises and the worrying state of governance at national and international level you, as a member, may wish to speak!
Will the proposer seek an extraordinary AGM?
Members should make their opinions known to the committee by all means, but at the end of the day the committee are democratically elected, and they in turn elect the club's Chairman.
I forsee this going around in circles.
- new president
- meschede future?
- t20 position on signing gayle or not (rogers clearly dead against if that matters to Guy and Mr Nash?)
- seat allocation of new stand
- bowling resources, so far alfie+ dibble (if he counts!) gone and no replacements signed, we'll be told Davey i'm sure, but for me totally unproven. Every likelihood Jove and or Cove will be in squads over summer so just numbers mean for me we keep Mesch or have to sign at least one more squad bowler.
- floodlight update
He's now 21 so unless studying medicine or something then his uni days are probably over.
If the chair gives a full update as he sees it and indicates support for test and championship cricket then I think members will be content!
If you e-mail details to me then I can create a composite front page for everyone of the main points.
Thanks in advance.

A lot of people thought that Brain Rose appointment as President was a fore gone conclusion. Well it wasn't
At tonight meeting Richard Parsons opposed him.
There was a show of hands first and it was to close to decide, we then had a ballot.
The result was.
Brian Rose 114
Richard Parsons 121.
Is this the membership stating their independence and saying we ARE amembers's club and WE will decide ?!
Craig Meschede will not return. What a poor decision to put him out on loan in the first place.
Matthew Maynard came across as being weak and ineffectual. I was very embarrased and disappointed by some of his responses. Can't see him taking us anywhere.
More tomorrow when I have had time to reflect.
A glass half - empty or a glass half - full?
Regardless, both glasses need filling up.
I know they did have their sign up on the Old Pavilion (that was) before, so I suppose this the modern way of doing things, I don't have to agree with it though.

I know we have a Gale arriving from the USA in the next two day's.

It is CC signings that we need.
I note that the Saffer paceman, Rory Kleinveldt, may be available as a Kolpak. Tried (and failed) to get an NOC to allow him to play in some T20 tournament but as part of the process told the SA selectors that he no longer wishes to be considered for them.
By my reckoning he should have Kolpak eligibility until 2018. We've not replaced the experience of Alf and RK is somebody that could probably do a job. Almost certainly a better bowler than TG, for example.
2 big superstar T20 signings due Wednesday, no chance it can be Gayle given our new club captains views on him surely.
Floodlights 53 metres high.
Players told off for not acknowledging crowd if they make a good score, MM said some may see a 60-70 as failiure.
Very strong financial results as we have become used to.
Davey is looking like a first team bowler per MM.
We have also signed someone we all missed, a Scot, strong number 8-9 batter and aggressive off spinner, anyone any idea who he is???
Sounds like a bit of a coup by RP !
A little concerning reading TP's comments regarding MM. "Weak and ineffectual" is exactly what we don't need.
Was it really that bad ?
Grizzzly
I think Brian has the right to be a little perturbed by the democracy of it all. But I suppose that is the way it has been done before. Usually apathy tends to allow people into these posts unoppossed so I suppose we at least we had two candidates and a vote this time.
It is not a particularly powerful position in the club - though some seem to think it is - Richard is probably a little less abrasive than Rosey at the meet and greet so we probably got the best candidate for a 'front of house' face of the county at lunches etc.

But Chris Rodgers is unlikely to be playing 20/20.
Rabada of South Africa would be a my punt for the 50 over game, if available and he is looking to play in England.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
We were told last night (again) that we have THIRD highest players salaries for 2014/2015, in which case it does beg the question is the money being spent correctly.
PS. It was explained last night that direct comparison with other clubs is difficult due to clubs having different year ends in their annual accounts, therefore the various comparisons given were "Best Shots" available.
Damned before you have even tweaked an off-break, or taken guard with the bat.
It's gonna be a long year for the man if 2016 starts off slowly or any chink in the Somerset CC1 armour is perceived in early April.

But if the notion was that he is a probable answer to a potential shortage of bowling depth?
I think that's what the Americans would call "a reach."
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016:01:26:16:22:14 by AGod.
If we have one of the most talented squads of players in the land then we should be an effective and competitive squad unless the whole is - for whatever reason - less than the sum of its parts.
After the excellent (from a competitiveness stand-point) run that included the CC1 runners-up spot and the five one-day finals, will we finally return to being a seriously competitive side in 2016, after three years in which we have never seriously looked likely to win anything?
Answers on a post-card to Mr Matthew Maynard.
* I note what was said about different accounting periods. However, most cricket sides do not sign many players in any given season, let alone in a period of a few months, so I think this will have only a very small effect and probably means that there is little reason to doubt the (approximate) accuracy of the club's "best guess."
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016:01:26:16:29:56 by AGod.
Also, to hoots of derision from some quarters he shrugged his shoulders and said "it's up to them" when asked why some of our players don't acknowledge the crowd's applause when they return to the pavilion upon dismissal / end of innings etc. What happened to displays of simple good manners from the players?
"It's not up to them, it's your job to instruct them to do it" shouted one irate lady. "That's a matter of opinion" said the DoC.
Yes, well many people's opinions including mine do not agree with those of Matthew Maynard.
A glass half - empty or a glass half - full?
Regardless, both glasses need filling up.
They might - but then almost any player on the County circuit "might be on our staff in three years' time."
Nick Compton came back to Middlesex.
I would hope all players, once they've reached about 18 or so, would behave well towards the paying public, and that the senior players might encourage the younger, more temperamental maybe, ones to do so, but Maynard's responsibilities lie elsewhere.
Is this really one of our biggest problems?
Quote:Sloop John B
Due to an unfortunate oversight a Resolution duly proposed and seconded in due time by members was omitted from the Agenda for the Annual General Meeting on Monday 25 January.
Following discussions with the Chief Executive the Chairman will refer to this Resolution at the end of his report (during which he will refer to the future of English cricket).
The Resolution is that the members should debate the future of English cricket. The proposer Greg Bowerman will be invited to speak to the item before it is opened to members.
Did this happen Sloop John B, and if so what was the response of the members present?
Best way of dealing with it from a spectators angle is not to clap, if they feel they are being ignored by the outgoing batsman.
Certainly I do not think it is Mathew Maynard's place to instruct a given player to acknowledge applause, or otherwise.
Far more important items to be brought up at a AGM, IMO.
I certainly saw him trudge off a few times when in the extended sticky patch.
Grockle has my notes of the meeting which refers to it. Will be posted later today.
Saying that one or two others are guilty are or have been guilty of similar traits.
Quote:Roger ivanhoe
Tom, and who was the biggest culprit in "trudging Off", and has been for some time, I think we all know.
Best way of dealing with it from a spectators angle is not to clap, if they feel they are being ignored by the outgoing batsman.
Call it what you like Roger, but ignorance springs to mind, and I am not convinced that 2 wrongs make a right. If it weren't for members and spectators who pay their money to attend, there would be no county cricket in this country, and they would be out of a job as would DOC's and coaches etc.
Even if they did not "trudge off" during their benefit or testimonial season, I would still be inclined to pass on the collecting bucket without dipping into my meagre resources.
A glass half - empty or a glass half - full?
Regardless, both glasses need filling up.
Much appreciated, but there did not appear to be a great deal of discussion on the resolution put forward by the member regarding the future of English cricket.
If so, was it because of the way that the ballot had been conducted or was it for another reason?
Interesting really, because I do not recall in the past there ever being any more than one person duly proposed for the position.
Richard has been a loyal servant for many years and attends most games home and away.
I never found Brian Rose to be an approachable person while Richard is the opposite.
The only downside is he's an 82er!
who disappeared via the kitchen back door once the final result was announced.
Guy Lavender explained how a result would be arrived at, prior to the first vote, the show of hands,he also said that the process had been check with the Clubs Lawyers.
Hopefully there was no confusion amongst the voters as the voting slips showed A and B with no names, but Guy did confirm several times who was A (B.R) and B (R.P).
Really if people had a problem with the process then should be objected well prior to the AGM rather than after the Vote, but I imagine the club will look into the process for future years.
Like Clarence said I cannot remember having two options.
Agree with your posting Mike,
Rob, Richard said he was 71, but agree with the rest of your post.
As an old-fashioned soul, I think players should show respect to the crowd and that it should be normal practice for batsmen to remove their helmets when returning to the pavilion at the end of their innings.
(That angry member was not me!)
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Tractor and Marcus are also 82ers.
I live a very shaded life I'm afraid.
82ers are supporters of a team in Bristol called BCFC 1982 who were reformed after the original BCFC went bankrupt.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016:01:28:04:25:03 by RadstockRob.
Re the vote for Him President. How can you object to a process well before the day when there was zero notice given of the candidates available.
The club really do need to sort out the rules, give due notice of properly worded resolutions and be more up front about what is to be debated and voted on.
In this instance the lack of prior knowledge of Richard Parsons nomination may have led to the management having a President elected that they did not want! (Although they would no doubt deny it!)
He has forged via JL a formal link with Western Australia which will lead to an exchange of both coaches and players.
I agree the rules do need sorting and be more open to the members, Guy Lavender will not want to put the Top Table in the rather embarrassing situation they found themselves on the night.
First time for everything, Live and Learn I suppose.

He was already an area rep. on the club committee, so they must have known that he was going to stand against Brian Rose.
When the result of the ballot was announced one irate member stood up to say that the procedure for the election was seriously flawed, and intimated (he may even had said) that a group of members from the Bristol area had been rounded up to attend and vote for their preferred candidate.
The comment, Roger, that they had checked the current rules with their lawyers may simply have meant that they asked the club’s Vice Chairman for his opinion, as he is / was a lawyer I believe.
Ballot slips should have been printed in anticipation of a ballot because the Chairman asked whether there were any other nominations from the floor. There weren’t any but there could have been, which frankly is a mockery of the manner in which to elect a President.
Richard Parsons is not from Taunton. He represents the North Somerset and Bristol Area, and I believe lives across the border in Wales.
A glass half - empty or a glass half - full?
Regardless, both glasses need filling up.
But whatever, he has been elected as President of SCCC for the next three years......plenty of time to check the rules.
Does it really matter where he actually lives?
He attends a lot of cricket home and away. I can only think of one away game that I've been to that Richard and his wife have not been at.
Hundreds attend AGM and see new President elected.
The floor was asked for any other nominations for president and Richard Parsons name was put forward.
It was than explained how the vote will be done. A show of hands for each person, if it looked close than the office staff would count the hands, if still close voting papers will be handed out.
It was explained several time who 'A' and 'B' was on the paper, and it was said again just before the voting papers was handed back to make use everybody was happy with the way they voted.
The only improvement I could see was for it to be announced before the meeting, and the names to be on the paper.
At the end of the day we are told it is a members club and the members voted for who they wanted, not only that the AGM was well advertised for members to attend.
I suppose as you say Mike. It was the members AGM, it is advertised well in advance (though I'm not sure the possibility of a President's ballot was part of that) and there must have been a quorate number or the vote wouldn't have happened.
Whether it could have been done some other way or not, as someone says, it's done. It isn't a position with huge power anyway and has little to do with the control or management or even strategy of the club's cricketing resources as far as I am aware.

That is exactly how coups happen.
With someone mobilising his supporters, and making sure they all turn up, with the club not even aware another candidate was going to put his name forward.
Even if he is a thoroughly good bloke surely the democratic way is to say 'Nominations close on December 31st (or whenever) and the vote will take place at x venue on y date.
I totally agree with Chunky's post, and believe the rules should be changed.
I also have no idea of the respective merits of the candidate and fully accept Grockle's point that the post itself is not hugely influential or important.
But you can't suddenly "produce," a candidate moments before an election - it does beggar the question as to whether only a relatively small portion of the electorate was aware that Mr Parsons was going to stand and, if so, were they mobilised to turn up and vote for him. If both candidates are widely known in advance, then I see no problem with competing camps turning up to try and get their candidate pushed through. But if supporters of Brian's believed he was the only candidate whereas supporters of Mr Parsons knew that he was going to stand, then that is patently unfair and anti-democratic.
I would take a bet that if you asked the regular members at home and away grounds, who is more approachable and more proactive amongst the two names, RP would win by a far greater margin than he did at the AGM.
The management have said the current rules on the procedure needs to be updated and I am sure they will do so.
Anomaly, "something that deviates from what is standard, or expected", it happens in all walks of life.
Members wishing to put their opinion how those rules should read, put it in writing to Guy Lavender at the County Ground.
Old Boy!
I have always assumed that the position of club Chairman was an honorary position and the person did it for the love of the club and not for financial gain.
When the club introduced businessmen to be chairman, in the first instance with Giles Clarke who succeeded Richard Parsons, did the position then become a paid one? I am asking because I was told by a member at the AGM that our present Chairman was receiving a large salary from the club. I will not disclose the figure that I was told but it was most certainly not the kind of sum that one would expect to be paid as an honorarium.
I doubt that I will know for sure until I possibly raise it at an area AGM later this year.
The club President and Treasurer are both honorary positions. Why not the Chairman?
A glass half - empty or a glass half - full?
Regardless, both glasses need filling up.
He may get paid as an ECB representative as he now has cricket responsibilities outside of the club.

Agree they should be accessible on line. After all we are repeatedly told it is a members club!
In that way the club could impart certain information only to the membership should they so wish.
They are under the heading Match Days and Ground Regulations.
Additional rules apply to Membership of the Long Room, and the Somerset Pavilion.
Members invited to re-join the Long Room Membership this year were supplied with an updated copy of the rules for 2016 (Long Room only)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016:02:10:17:45:37 by Roger ivanhoe.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016:02:10:19:19:41 by Mike TA1.
The rules, of which I once had a hardcopy, run to several pages and detail all matters governing the constitution etc. of SCCC.
