Don’t get me wrong, the meeting runs smoothly, everyone who wants to contribute can and does, Officers’ reports are circulated in advance, nothing is accepted by the Chairman unless on the agenda or amending what’s on the agenda and we all treat each other and each other’s contributions with respect. There’s even an Open Forum immediately after the AGM to allow free debate on issues not raised at the AGM.

So what’s my problem?

I used to call it the bog roll syndrome when I was Trades Union representative. Call a workplace meeting to discuss whether to have soft or hard paper and everyone would have an opinion and would be desperate to share it with everyone else. Call a meeting to discuss contracts and conditions of service and there’d be a deafening silence. I have to admit this was a Civil Service Union in the 70’s and 80’s though. Hardly a hotbed of militant activism.

There is a comparison to draw though. In our Club, the Membership is willing to discuss reimbursement of drivers’ expenses till the cows come home, but not a word is said about improving our performances on the green. There’s a superfluity of comment and advice on such meaty topics as whether to have one Finals’ Day or two, but not a dickie bird on minor issues like recruitment and maintenance of membership numbers. Don’t point out those issues were not on the agenda; I know that, my very point is, the Membership does not put such issues on the agenda. Anyway, these issues were opened in the Officers’ reports, but no one had any comment to add or questions to ask.

As with the mundane matters, like taking the rubbish sacks to the tip, the Membership still believes in the magic of fairies. Who else do they think performs all these little minor miracles? Surely they don’t think it’s the Club’s Officers and Managers. Who else do they think tackles the major issues, like the very future of the Club, on their behalf? Surely not the Executive Committee. Then again, maybe they do. Maybe the Membership is happy to abdicate all responsibility for the club, its wellbeing and its future to the Executive; let someone else do the thinking and the graft. Maybe that’s why there’s a total lack of new volunteers to take on any of these responsibilities.

Yes, once again all the Club’s Officers and Managers were re-elected without opposition. The only exceptions were the two Captains and the Competitions Secretary and Committee.

Our new Captains are Mike McGrath as Club Captain, with Greg Fish as his Vice-Captain and Angela Fish as Ladies’ Captain, with Hazel Waldon as her Vice-Captain. We all wish them every success and the Club every success under their leadership on the green.

The “Contacts” element on our home page has been updated, though I’ve forgotten how to create the hyperlink to the e-mail addresses. I’ll have to consult my son again.

As to the Competitions Secretary and Committee, well what can I say? There were no volunteers and unless they come forward by the end of January, there will be no Club Competitions next year.

Now don’t get me wrong, the Club is in a very healthy state. Our membership numbers remain healthy, our finances are sound and we continue to improve the facilities we offer. Our green of course remains one of the best in the West and this winter we have already invested heavily in major treatment to ensure it runs even better next year.

So, why the glum reflections on last Saturday’s AGM? I don’t know, maybe it’s my constant disappointment in the human race as a whole, maybe it’s just my disappointment in the reluctance shown by the majority of our Members to put themselves out and contribute to the success of our Club.

Perhaps my point will be proved when we get no “comments” on this posting.