South Cardiff Panthers AGM 11th March 2010

Attendees: David Saunders(DS), Kim Swain(KS), Bryan Bliss(BB), Arron Thomas(AT), Mark Horsman(MH), Michael Ferry(MF), Michael Davidson(MD), Liam Corbett(LC), Chris James(CJ), Andrew Atack(AA), Srinath Lakshmaiya (SL), Morris Attard(MA), Ben Smith(BS), David Holtham(DH), Ryan Freeman(RF)

Appologies: David Gamble(DG, Dougie Young(DY), James Gibson(DG), Adam Crocker(AC)

Meeting start time: 7:20

Meeting end time: 8:10

  1. DS proposed a vote for the roles of Club Secretary, Club Treasurer, Club Captain, Team Coach and his current role of Club President. Nominated and voted in for Club Secretary was MH, Club Treasurer was BB and AT, KS & DS were voted to remain in their roles from last season
  1. KS handed out the WARFL fixture list and DS opened the floor to any questions and thoughts on the season only being 3 months long. All attendees were happy with the amount of games and length of season.
  1. DS announced that the home games would be played at the Riverside pitch in Llanrumney as they were last season and the Council changing rooms would be available at a better rate than last seasons at the rugby club. 4 home games to be played in the league, all games to kick off by 13:00, teams with less than 7 players at time of kick off automatically forfeit the game.
  1. DS brought the pre season tournaments to the table, which will be British Clwb Challenge on the 17th April and the WARFL Clwb Challenge which will take place on the 1st May. Everyone was happy that Panthers will take part in these two 9 a side tournaments. DS to inform WARFL that Panthers will take part in both tournaments.
  1. KS raised that official training will start on the 12th April, however Sunday informal training sessions will take place and information regarding these will be texted to players and available on the website.
  1. Training sessions from the 12th will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays on Roath Park at 6:15 until 8:15. The session will start with 45 minutes of Outdoor Fitness (Our Fitness Sponsor) and cost £2 per person per session.
  1. BB discussed membership fees and explained how last seasons cost of £35 per person had risen to £40(£35 for students) per person this season due to inflation. He also explained that each team member would get a Panthers branded polo shirt and 2 training shirts in return + WARFL registration.
  1. MH discussed the team wear range for this season and passed around examples of designs of polo shirts, jerseys, socks and hoodies. A vote was taken on whether we would receive a navy or a white polo shirts with membership packages, Navy was voted as the winner. Mark also explained that white polo’s may be purchased separately by players along with hoodies. MH to look into panthers branded head band for MA and a wrist band for CJ. DS explained how jerseys, shorts and socks may be purchased by individual players after the initial kit of 14 had been bought by the club. This was so that all team members could see the quality of the kit before paying up front so that no arguments over value could arise.
  1. MH informed everyone about the new website, its functions and how everything would be going through the website for the coming season. MH asked all team members to sign up to Pitchero and to edit their personal profiles to enable website messages and team selection to be sent out automatically by the website.
  1. Panthers may be able to claim gift aid enabling 28p of every pound donated to the club being paid to us through the scheme. Therefore if we are given £100 we could claim a further £28. BB to investigate this and if suitable for the club sign up to it.
  1. DS & BB raised that membership fees are to be paid to BB only and be paid by the 12th April. This is to give time for BB to investigate point 10.
  1. AT raised that CJ looked extremely homosexual sat in the corner on his phone and should return to the meeting in a manly manner.
  1. DS informed the meeting that Spire Healthcare Cardiff would be sponsoring us and how their logo would be printed on the back of the shorts and back of the shirt, sponsorship slogan to say “Spire Healthcare, Covering Our Arses”. Funds received from Spire will pay for shorts and socks.
  1. MH informed the meeting that Cardiff Sports Nutrition would be sponsoring us and will be providing the training t-shirts and an in store discount for all team members. There is also the possibility of funds becoming available from them too and possibly water bottles/shakers. MH also informed the meeting that Dyfed Menswear have been approached regarding sponsorship and is hoping for official confirmation of this in the next week.
  1. DS & MH brought up fundraising, DS explained how by 3 team members signing up to fundraising.org.uk a cheque of £28 had been received and urged everyone to sign up for this. MH explained how all details regarding how to set this up are on the website under fundraising with a step by step guide.
  1. DS discussed how bag packing for an hour or two on a Sunday at a supermarket would be a good way of raising funds. DS informed the attendees that Panthers would be supporting the Noah’s Arc Appeal and that funds raised from fundraising activities would be spilt 50:50 with the charity. MF suggested that flyers were made and distributed during fundraising activities.
  1. MH raised the Sport Relief 3 mile run and informed the meeting that himself BB, SL, RF had already signed up and urged everyone else to do so.
  1. AT suggested a Horse Racing Night as a pre-season night out and fundraiser. The idea would be to hold a joint night with the Cardiff Wildcats Volleyball Team to raise funds for both teams. AT was hoping that we could get 80 people between the two teams and make a substantial sum for both clubs. Everyone agreed that this was a very good idea and for AT to progress with organising the night some time in April.
  1. DS proposed that the Panthers complete the three peaks challenge some time this years as a fundraiser but also as a team building trip. The idea being that the three peaks in the UK are walked within 24 hours, majority of the team to walk but some to be drivers and support staff.
  1. DS & KS brought up the issue of friendly games and informed the meeting that Panthers had been approached by Chippenham Redbacks about playing a mid week friendly during the season and also that the Bristol Dockers were interested in coming to play Panthers. The bye weekends were suggested for the Dockers game, DS & KS will investigate further as everyone agreed that this would be a good move for the club.
  1. DS raised the end of season tour and went through the options of Bordeaux and Dublin. It was decided that the tour would happen in October to coincide with the International Rules game between Ireland GAA and Australia AFL should it take place in Croke Park. Further discussions will take place during the season pending confirmation of the GAA vs AFL game.
  1. AT thanked everyone that had worked hard for the club over the off season and as Captain was looking forward to the upcoming season.
  1. MA suggested getting in touch with local papers about stories on the Panthers and possibly getting fixtures/results printed in the sports digest sections over the summer months. Everyone agrees that this was a good idea and DS will investigate further.
  1. DS asked everyone if they had any ideas of who could sponsor the WARFL League this season as he had been asked to find a sponsor. AT, AA & CJ suggested Dow Corning which they work for and will ask the Marketing Dept whether this would be a possibility as they work for the company.
  1. DS & MH suggested that after every game Panthers have a 100 club game where everyone puts money into a prize fund and a winner is drawn out, similar to a club lottery.
  1. LC enquired about Outdoor Fitness’s association with the club. DS responded that Outdoor Fitness will supply training for Monday and Wednesday sessions only and will be featured as a sponsor on team jersey’s.
  1. DS informed the meeting that match fees would be £5 per game and £4 for students. This is to cover the hire of the pitch and changing rooms + money for each player would go into the fund for the end of season tour.

All Actions:

Action 1: DS/MH to inform WARFL that a Panthers team will take part

Action 2: KS to send MH email addresses of all Panthers

Action 3: MH to email Panthers a link to sign up to Pitchero

Action 4: All Panthers to edit their personal profiles on Pitchero

Action 5: All Panthers to pay membership to BB by c.o.p 12th April

Action 6: MH to get confirmation from Dyfed Menswear regarding sponsorship

Action 7: All Panthers to sign up to fundraising.org.uk

Action 8: DS and KS to organise friendlies against Redbacks and Dockers

Action 9: DS to get in touch with local papers

Action 10: AT/AA/CJ to follow up on a sponsor for WARFL