bowling

Aide-Memoir for Club Bowls Secretaries

This document contains an aide-memoir for those poor souls who have just taken on (had thrust upon them) the job of Club Bowls Secretary, and information on the British Crown Green Bowling Association (BCGBA) Player Registration Scheme.

Not strictly speaking a Secretary's job, but most correspondence from organisations to whom dues need to be paid is usually addressed to the Secretary.

·         BCGBA Handbook - Each Club is required to purchase a minimum of one BCGBA handbook annually. BCGBA Bye-Law 27.

·         County Affiliation Fee - Each year, Clubs will need to pay an Affiliation Fee to their parent County, some Clubs adjacent to County Boundaries affiliate to more than one County, but need to make a choice as to which one is their "Prime County". BCGBA Bye-Law 5 & 5(a).

·         Insurance - As from the BCGBA AGM of January 2000, it is mandatory that Clubs hold Public Liability Insurance, and where necessary, Employers Liability Insurance. BCGBA Bye-Law 5(a).
Some Counties can do this on behalf of their member Clubs, usually at bulk preferential rates, but if you are not sure about this, have a word with your County Secretary. There is also a scheme run by the BCGBA.

·         Bowling Leagues - If your Club runs a team (or teams) in a League, then the appropriate League fees will need to be paid. Clubs that play their home matches on Municipal Greens usually need to reserve the greens by writing to the Local Council in good time, so that other organisations do not get in first.
A Club, which plays in a League affiliated to other than, its own County must also affiliate to that County. BCGBA Bye-Law 5.

·         Open Competitions - A Club holding a Competition which invites or accepts entries from Clubs outside its own County will need a paid-for Open Competition Certificate obtainable from the BCGBA Chief Executive Officer at least 28 days before the event. Your Parent County will also need to be notified of these Competitions, as well as any other Competitions that accept entries from Clubs within the County boundary. BCGBA Bye-Law 11(a) - (f).

·         Player Registration - Some confusion can arise regarding the word "Registration". All players who play competitive bowls are required to be Registered with the BCGBA. Currently this is a once only item, a card bearing a unique number being obtained from the Registrar for the County on payment of the current fee. Please see the section entitled Players Registration Scheme below for details.
Clubs are required to maintain an up to date list, available for inspection, of all their BCGBA Registered members, and to forward a list of all their Registered members to the Registrar for the County by the 31st May each year. BCGBA Bye-Law 5(b) - 5(k).

Leagues also tend to use the word "Registration" to indicate a procedure whereby Clubs nominate which of their members will be playing for teams in that League during the coming season. This usually requires doing at the beginning of each season, is a different use of the word "Registration", and nothing to do with the BCGBA Registration scheme, except that each player needs a BCGBA card. BCGBA Bye-Law 5(h)

 

Players Registration Scheme - BCGBA

In 1991, the BCGBA decided that, starting in 1992, a new life membership scheme would be set up to replace the annual levy. Each player wishing to play competitive bowls under the Laws of the BCGBA would pay a one-off Registration fee, and be issued with a numbered card to signify Registration under the scheme.

To facilitate the operation of the scheme, each County Association was required to nominate a Registrar who would be an agent of the BCGBA. These Registrars would be responsible for issuing Cards to players within each County on receipt of the appropriate fee, and forwarding a summary of cards issued, together with the fees collected, to the BCGBA at the end of every month.

Applications for Registration

·         Name(s) - It can help considerably if the full name of each player is provided. This helps to avoid confusion when searches are needed. Spelling, of course, needs to be accurate, and it should go without saying that Club Officials check that any new members do not already hold a BCGBA registration before submitting their names. The gender of players should be indicated if not self-evident.

·         Club - The name of the player's Club should be provided.

·         Registration Fees - See the current year's BCGBA handbook under Bye-Law 5 for the fees payable for new and replacement cards.

It is strongly recommended that cash is NOT sent through the post. Cheques and Postal Orders should be made payable to B.C.G.B.A.

·         Submitting Player Registration Applications - Applications for Registration should be sent with the appropriate fee to the Registrar appointed for the County. The names and addresses of Registrars can be found in the BCGBA handbook, and the one for a particular County is usually reproduced in that County's handbook.
The fee for new registrations, and that for the replacement of lost or damaged cards is reviewed at a General Meeting of the BCGBA, held annually on the third Saturday in January each year. Any alteration of fees to take effect immediately.