He firstly thanked Pete Clarke who was retiring after two very successful years as Second Team Captain, having had a Played 7 Won 7 record in 2009. A second retiree was Match Secretary Mark Smith, who has served the Union for 13 years. It has been very fortunate that Pete Clarke will take over Mark's duties.

Your President concluded by asking the attendees to thank John Stubbings for all his service to the Union, which included 11 years as County Secretary and then becoming Centenary President

As the next item on the agenda, the AGM received a report from the Board of Directors on all the activities of the Union during last year, a year when Warwickshire 'did the double' by winning both Midland Leagues. That review has been sent to all member clubs should you wish to read it.

The retiring Treasurer, John Powell, then presented the accounts for the last year, asking delegates to note the 6-7% drop in actual club membership over the last year. He did though let the AGM know that with most membership returns for 2010 already made, the drop in 2010 will have slowed down to only 2%.

Note was also made of how the County Card sales have grown as it becomes a very popular addition to club member benefits. More promotion will be made in 2010 and Club were asked to join with these efforts.

The AGM moved onto subscription levels for 2011. It was proposed that the WU affiliation fee be raised by 25p to £ 5.00 the same as that payable to the EGU. This was approved.

In a year of transition, the meeting then considered the election of new principle officers.

In his last act as President, John Duncombe told the meeting that the best part of the presidency was meeting people up and down the country. He then introduced the new President, John Powell to the delegates, citing how John (Powell) was an ideal candidate, combining the ethos of a voluntary worker with the skills gained from a career as a top accountant, and how this had come through with his measured contribution to the Board. The nomination was seconded by President of the Midland Golf Union Mr Jim Dean

With that John Duncombe gave the new President his badge of office and in return, received his Past President?s badge.

Your new President then told of John (Duncombe's) two years of office. There was the horizontal rain of the Junior National finals and second place in England for some very talented juniors, to be followed by 'the double' where John's leadership was one of the factors in this triumph.

He praised the Seniors for their very good golf, the County player successes for Fred Jewsbury and Midland Order of Merit Champion Andy Sullivan, then finished by thank all for a wonderful contribution to Warwickshire Golf.

The second new appointment was for Roger Harrison, to replace John Powell as County Treasurer. Mr Harrison has followed the same path as John Powell through being the Treasurer for Copt Heath Golf Club.

The AGM also approved the re-appointment of all the committee members.

As a final part of the main agenda, David Morgan outlined how the new design for the County web site will be available very shortly. It will include on-line entry, a County Diary, a new colourway, many new features. The launch will be promoted through the first paper based edition of the WU Newsletter and David asked delegates to further promote to all their members the new e-mail newsletters they will be able to sign up to.

You President then introduced the new responsibilities being undertaken by John Duncombe as voting member for our County at the EGU.

John spoke of the support that the EGU is giving to clubs, which has included a Roadshow in every County of which 65% of clubs have attended. The Centralised Handicapping Database now has 85% of clubs registered to it and 50% have uploaded their member details.

The EGU have allocated £ 100K towards a number of test cases about VAT, which if successful will be of significant benefit to a number of types of club. They have prepared responses to questions not yet asked as the implications of Equality Legislation become apparent.

There is a commercial partnership soon to be announced, an 'Advantage Card', part of a program to help clubs find new members. The common statistic used is that if a regular golfer is one who plays 12 or more times a year, then only 27% of golfers are club members.

To conclude, John told the meeting of work that has been going on vs the possible amalgamation of the EGU and the EWGA, a decision which has to be ratified by the Counties.