|
Tally Ho, Stratford St Mary and the Woolpit Friendly bridge clubs have also opted not to sign up to the new scheme involving universal membership, according to English Bridge Union records. The remaining 15 clubs affiliated to Suffolk intend to remain within the EBU.
Despite rejecting P2P, Colchester Castle asked if it could continue its link with Suffolk Contract Bridge Association “in a non-affiliated manner.”
The request has been firmly rejected and the club’s players now face being in the ‘wilderness’ outside ‘official’ bridge. Chris Chambers, membership secretary of SCBA, wrote to the secretary of Colchester Castle, Bob Ferris, stating that there is no half-way between being an EBU and a county member. To be a county member a player must be a member of the EBU. After Universal Membership all club members will be county members.
Bob Ferris stated that the decision to disaffiliate from the EBU had not been taken lightly. The club had been affiliated to the EBU and Suffolk since its formation in 2002.
“The P2P proposals resulted in heated discussion particularly within the committee that voted 5-2 with one abstention, to disaffiliate.
“When put to the club members just over 80% voted to disaffiliate.
“The reasons for this decision were not highlighted in the vote but I believe that the major reasons would be:
|
1 The perceived lack of franchise for EBU members and affiliated clubs in the EBU/stakeholder voting process which decided to implement the P2P proposals. The perception was that the proposals had been “steamrollered” through without any respect for individual club members.
2 The compulsory nature of the proposals. It was thought that club members should be free to join the EBU or not.
3 The additional cost that would be incurred by most of the club members with absolutely no tangible benefits of any kind.
4 The views from many respected bridge commentators which highlighted a nationwide objection to the proposals.
5 The lack of concise information from the EBU as to how any perceived additional monies generated would be expended.
6 The hope that if enough clubs voted to disaffiliate the EBU would reconsider their P2P proposal.
“We understand that the Castle Club is the first of the Suffolk clubs to declare whether or not to remain in the EBU, it will be interesting to note which way other clubs in Suffolk and nationwide decide to go.
|