Minutes of Hillfoots Gymnastics Club AGM held at Alva Academy on Saturday 21st June 2014 Present: Sheila Bulloch (Chair), Jennifer Bulloch, Vince Taylor, Margo Taylor, Gina Cardillo, Carla Cardillo, Suzanne Stirling, Stacey Hammond, Zena Horsburgh, Lea Deane, Andy Ward, Claire Miller, Barrie Miller. Angela McCanach, Stephen Morrison, Gillian McAuslane, Gayle Penman, Lucy McCappin, Clare Abel, Claire Graham, Barry Seats, Jennifer McClements, Amanda Sullivan, George Sullivan, Gordon McNeil, Allan Bulloch, Greig Bulloch, Peter Finch, Laura Skelton, Sandra Teven, Helen Finch, Ronnie O’Grady, Ciara Thomson, Deborah Thomson, Rachel Johnston, Tommy Conway, Tricia Conway, Tracy Cooley, Donna Morton, Richard O’Grady, Louise Herd, Sharlene Buchan, Aimee Reed, Erin McClements, Jade Johnston, Andy Johnston, Rachel Johnston, Rebecca Taylor, Jade Morton, Zoe Reed, Lynda Reed(Mins) Agenda

1. Opening Remarks – Chair Sheila welcomed all present and stated that it had been a challenging time for the club, a fairly unsettled period with changing memberships, which has encouraged some inward thinking and developments to be made.

2. Introductions and apologies

All current office bearers were introduced to the members present. Apologies were received from Karen Leask.

3. Presentation of Reports: Chair – Sheila’s report was available via the website in advance of the meeting. (Appendix 1). She reinforced that all communication to members will continue to be via the website. Secretary – Lynda presented a short verbal report. (Appendix 2). Treasurer – Jen presented an outline of the annual costs and projected expenditure amounting to around £20000. Incomings equal outgoings with very little margin and there has been an increase in coaching fees to match the qualifications of the coaches, therefore fundraising is very important. We currently have 70 gymnasts generating income. Full details of the annual accounts will be put on the website.

4. Adoption of Reports: The reports were adopted by Vince Taylor. 5. Amendments to the Constitution No amendments were intimated. 6. Retiring Committee stood down Sheila thanked the retiring committee for their hard work and support and Vince Taylor took the chair. 7. Election of Committee

Position Name Proposed by Seconded by Chairperson Sheila Bulloch Suzanne Stirling Gina Cardillo Secretary Lynda Reed Vince Taylor Helen Finch Treasurer Jennifer Bulloch Suzanne Stirling Gina Cardillo General Member Helen Finch Sheila Bulloch VinceTaylor General Member Suzanne Stirling Helen Finch Rebecca Taylor General Member Karen Leask Helen Finch Vince Taylor General Member Donna Morton Sharlene Buchan Margo Taylor General Member Ronnie O’Grady Margo Taylor Vince Taylor General Member Richard O’Grady Margo Taylor Vince Taylor General Member Deborah Thomson Clare Abel Lynda Reed General Member Rachel Johnston Jennifer Bulloch Helen Finch General Member Claire Graham Margo Taylor Rebecca Taylor General Member Andy Johnston Jennifer Bulloch Helen Finch Gymnast Representative

Megan Leask Carla Cardillo Suzanne Stirling

Gymnast Representative

Jade Morton Donna Morton Jennifer Bulloch

Sheila suggested that the membership should be encouraged to consider the position of Chair being filled by a parent, rather than grandparent, in future, and thanked the membership for their willingness to become involved in the running of the Club.

8. Survey Results Zoe provided a brief summary of the results of the survey and highlighted some points for action, which the committee will address. (Appendix 3)

9. Development plan – 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 Sheila stated that in 2013/14 we achieved all that we set out to do and explained the progress and development plan for 2014/15 via a short Powerpoint presentation (Appendix 4)

10. Forward planning and gym management The Club will be reassessed for Gym Mark this session. 11. AOCB No further business. 12. Vote of thanks and closing remarks Helen thanked the members for their continued support of the Club, and tokens of appreciation were extended to coaches, committee and Vince and Margo.

Appendix 1

HILLFOOTS  GYMNASTIC  CLUB  

REPORT  FROM  THE  CHAIR  2014  

 

 Hillfoots  Gymnastic  Club  is  known  as  the  friendly  club  and  over  the  past  year  many  people  have  worked  very  hard  not  only  to  retain  this  title  but  to  build  on  it.    The  new  committee  structure  has  allowed  the  business  of  running  the  club  to  be  shared  by  many  rather  than  a  few  individuals  trying  to  do  everything.      The  development  of  our  website  has  been  a  great  boost  for  the  club.    All  information  relating  to  the  club  can  be  found  on  the  website  and  is  our  primary  source  of  information.    This  makes  it  easier  for  us  to  communicate  with  all  our  members  and  of  course  is  more  environmentally  friendly  than  producing  reams  of  paper.  This  only  works  if  everyone  remembers  to  check  the  website  regularly:  

hillfootsgymnasticclub.btck.co.uk  

It  is  a  joy  to  see  so  many  young  girls  enjoying  the  sport  of  gymnastics.    However  there  are  other  benefits  of  the  club.    The  social  interaction  and  friendships  forged  between  the  girls  is  great  and  one  which  all  involved  with  the  club  try  to  encourage.    Inclusion  and  equality  are  as  important  as  the  development  of  sporting  skills  and  this  ethos  is  supported  by  our  Positive  Coaching  Scotland  and  Gym  Mark  accreditation.  

Over  the  past  year  the  club  has  been  involved  in  a  number  of  other  developments  and  I  would  like  to  highlight  a  few:  

Community  Sports  Hubs  

The  club  was  initially  invited  to  join  the  Lornshill  Academy  Sports  Hub  as  we  do  have  a  satellite  session  in  the  school.    The  purpose  of  the  Sports  Hub  is  to  bring  together  the  sporting  community  within  a  identified  area.    This  means  voluntary  sports  clubs,  schools,  private  clubs  and  Council  services  all  coming  together  to  share  a  common  purpose  –  to  encourage  more  people  into  sport.        Funding  for  the  Sports  Hub  initiative  comes  from  sportscotland  and  is  used  to  help  and  support  member  clubs.    In  November  2013  the  club  was  also  invited  to  join  the  Alva  Academy  Sports  Hub.    This  seemed  more  appropriate  as  the  club  is  based  in  Alva  Academy.    Links  will  continue  with  the  Lornshill  Hub,  but  our  main  focus  will  be  the  Alva  Hub.    

Coach  Education  

This  year  the  club  is  pleased  to  report  that  Katy  Warnock  and  Rebecca  Taylor  have  gained  there  Level  1  coaching  certificate  and  Liana  Cardillo  her  Level  2  WA  coaching  certificate.    This  is  a  great  achievement.    There  is  however,  a  degree  of  frustration  as  Carla  Cardillo  has  been  trying  to  gain  access  to  Level  3  WA  coaches  training  and  there  are  just  not  enough  places  for  the  number  of  coaches  on  the  waiting  list.    Hopefully  this  coming  year  will  see  Carla  gain  her  Level  3  and  a  number  of  other  coaches  go  forward  for  coaching  awards.    The  club  would  like  to  ‘Raise  the  bar’,  but  need  the  appropriate  qualified  coaching  staff  in  order  to  achieve  this  goal.  

Club  membership  

There  has  been  a  great  fluctuation  in  membership  this  year.    An  advertising  campaign  through  the  schools  and  nursery  schools  has  generated  great  interest  in  the  club  and  we  have  had  a  fairly  big  intake  of  new  members.    As  with  all  sport,  the  club  looses  the  older  members.    This  is  normal  and  the  club  still  has  a  very  healthy  membership.  

Competition  &  Grades  

This  area  of  the  club  has  been  reviewed  by  the  coaching  staff  and  Head  Coach  Carla  will  give  a  presentation  on  the  way  forward  at  the  Annual  General  meeting.  

Sponsorship  

As  always  the  club  looked  for  sponsorship  and  Tracy  Fyall  managed  to  generate  support  from  a  company  in  Grangemouth  who  were  willing  to  purchase  tracksuits  for  the  club.    Unfortunately  due  to  the  club’s  inability  to  agree  what  kind  of  tracksuit  we  lost  the  potential  funding.    As  chair  I  take  full  responsibility  for  this  and  hope  we  have  learned  a  lesson  from  this.    We  have  been  very  successful  in  gaining  funding  through  Clackmannanshire  Council  which  has  allowed  us  to  purchase  a  second  hand  high  beam.  A  coaching  block,  power  board  and  beam  cover  will  be  with  us  in  early  July.    A  saving  to  the  club  of  around  £1,400.  

Fundraising  

This  area  has  been  under  the  direction  of  Helen  Finch  who  delivered  a  very  family  friendly  and  enjoyable  race  night.    The  sponsored  walk  didn’t  do  as  well  as  although  there  were  20  walkers  only  3  /  4  submitted  sponsor  money  to  the  club.    In  October  this  year  the  club  are  hoping  to  hold  an  inter  club  competition  which  will  be  the  major  fundraiser  for  the  year  along  with  a  Christmas  Fayre  in  early  December.    Please  watch  the  website  for  information  on  all  events  and  your  continuing  support  will  be  much  appreciated.  

College  placement  

Since  the  start  of  2014  the  club  has  been  very  fortunate  to  have  Zoe  Reid  in  the  gym.    Zoe  initially  came  to  the  club  as  a  student  placement  working  with  the  gymnasts  as  part  of  her  teacher  training  course.    Zoe  is  a  former  member  and  took  responsibility  for  the  members’  survey  which  was  recently  carried  out.    Zoe  will  present  the  results  of  the  survey  at  the  Annual  General  Meeting.    Zoe  is  now  continuing  to  work  with  the  club  as  a  helper  in  the  gym  with  a  view  to  becoming  a  qualified  gymnastic  coach.    I  am  delighted  to  have  Zoe  on  board.  

 

 

Members’  Survey  

As  I  have  previously  mentioned,  a  members’  survey  has  been  carried  out  and  the  results  have  helped  shape  next  year’s  development  plan.  

 

It  has  been  a  great  privilege  to  work  with  so  many  dedicated  people  and  bring  the  sport  of  gymnastics  to  so  many  young  girls.    My  thanks  go  to  the  coaches,  committee  members  and  parents  /  carers  who  have  helped  and  supported  the  club  in  the  past  year.    Without  the  support  of  parents  /  carers  the  club  could  not  thrive.  

 

Sheila  Bulloch,  Chair  2014  

Appendix 2 - Secretary’s Report 2014

Since the last AGM we have had another very busy and productive year at Hillfoots Gymnastics Club.

As Sheila pointed out in her report we have had quite a bit of movement within the gym but, regardless of age and stage, each gymnast comes along with an expectation that they will be worked hard and have fun, and you only have to look at their faces on the way out to know that this has been the case.

Many have experienced success in achieving their personal targets, celebrated by the Club “Ding Ding” and they have been able to demonstrate their skills at our own displays, Tullibody Gala Day, a Grades competition in Perth and Dundonald’s annual friendly competition in Ayr.

We have also seen our coaches develop and they have become a very solid team, working together, to the benefit of the gymnasts.

This year’s extended committee has worked hard to introduce new measures and policies to try to ensure the smoother running of the Club and I would thank them for their input, ideas and time, in particular, Sheila, our steering force.

The development and improvement of a Club does not happen overnight, so clearly there is still work to do to make Hillfoots the best club it can be. We are always on the lookout for any willing helpers, so I would encourage all parents to have their say and get more involved in the coming year.

Lynda M Reed

Secretary

Hillfoots Gymnastics Club

 

Appendix 3 – survey results

Appendix 4 – development plan