The AGM was opened at 7.45 p.m. and the chairman John Amery welcomed everyone to the meeting. Before proceedings began he asked for a minutes silence in remembrance of our vice President John Browning who had died recently.

APOLOGIES – The only apologies received were from Chris Clark

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS AGM – The minutes had been circulated previously and were approved by Dave Wright and Paul Fenech as a true record. There were no matters arising.

CHAIRMANS REPORT – John report that SAMF continued to enjoy a healthy membership and the finances were sound. He explained about the introduction of the Individual league and that we would continue to sponsor the final next year with £1000.

John also told members about SAMF sending a team to the World Club Championships, he was delighted to have won the silver medal and congratulated the team. He explained about the lack of funding from the NFSA and that SAMF had contributed towards the costs of team members. 

John went on to Explain about SAMFs major contribution to the NFSA selection process and reminded us that every member of the England teams were SAMF members.

John thanked the secretary for coping with the ever increasing workload, and also other committee members who share in the working of SAMF: Nick Haward, Eddie Painter, Darren Phillips, Ian Bowell, Dick Penny, Sid Wisdom who had organised this years Nigel Robinson match and all members who ran qualifying matches.

John mentioned two issues, bait restrictions and measure & return size limits that were on the agenda later. He finished by thanking all members for their continued support.

SECRETARIES REPORT – Andy started by saying how fast the last 5 years had gone and that it was with regret that he was giving notice that he will be standing down in April 2003. SAMF had achieved a lot during this period. He explained that now was the time for everyone to consider a successor for the role.

Andy said he was very grateful for the support he had received during his time as secretary and that he would be leaving SAMF in a healthy position. Membership had grown to an average of 400 members per year, 25 of which were life members, but disappointingly only 2 juniors. Of the things that had been achieved during the last 5 years the following were the most noticeable:

-          Introducing a catch and release policy for all SAMF matches.

-          Much closer links with the NFSA.

-          Introduction of the Individual Leagues.

-          Extending the Forces Challenge to include the Police and Fire Brigade.

-          Sending a team to the World Club Championships.

-          Introducing life memberships.

Andy also explained about the increasing workload coming through the office and thanked Darren Phillips, Dick Penny, Eddie Painter and John for their assistance.

Not everything had gone smoothly and the problems surrounding the third party public liability insurance this year had proved to be a major headache, this was to be discussed in more detail in the treasurers report. Another area of concern was the decline in area representatives and match organisers.

Andy finished by saying he still wanted to be involved in SAMF and thanked everyone for the support they had given him.

TREASURERS REPORT – SAMFs net worth is £10435.96 which is a slight decrease of £342.00 from last year. However there are a number of reasons for this: 16 months since the last AGM, £950 to cover AT sponsorship (£500 of which will be repaid), Sponsorship of the Individual League £1000, Third Party Public Liability insurance up £1.75 per head, Challenge team expenses of £961 & computer repairs of £463.

Even though we are still in a healthy position the committee proposed to increase subscriptions for next year to £15 which was unanimously agreed. This was the first increase for many years and would cover the increase in insurance and give more financial help to match team members. It was also unanimously agreed that we would pay for every individual to be insured by the Northern Federation insurance scheme irrespective of whether members were covered by the NFSA as individual members.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS – We have received two resignations from area representatives, Leigh Field from the North West and Chris Smith from North Wales. Bill Lindfield and Mick Flynn were duly elected to cover these areas respectively. The following people were elected:

John Amery – Chairman

Chris Clark – Vice Chairman

Andy Steele – Secretary

Mary Steele – Treasurer

AREA REPRESENTATIVES

South West Scotland – Jimmy Briggs

North East – Paul Fenech

North West – Bill Lindfield

North Wales – Mick Flynn

Anglia – Dave Wright

Sussex – Dick Penny & Angel Wolfenden

Hants & Challenge Match organiser – Darren Phillips

Kent – Mick Davies

Essex – Dion MacFayden

South West & Individual League organiser – Eddie Painter

South Wales – Joe Arch

Humberside – Rob Neale

DAIWA PAIRS Nick Haward was absent but had left a report with the secretary, which he briefly outlined. Nick had taken over from John and this was the first he had organised. Once again the competition had gone smoothly and well supported by 80+ pairs. Nick had introduced a few changes to aid our conservation policy and was trying new venues to create interest. The weather had been unbelievably good which had not harmed the fishing, Andy finished by congratulating the winners, Peter Fairclough & Martin Sherwin.

INDIVIDUAL LEAGUES Eddie Painter gave a report on this years final to be fished on Chesil this December which will be contested by 40 qualifiers. He also told us about the leagues already set up for next year, and explained now was the time to take action if any member wanted to start a league. Next years final is to be organised by Dick Penny on 11^TH and 12^TH October and SAMF will once again sponsor the final with £1000.

NATIONAL SEA LEAGUE Ian Bowell gave a report on last years final and the rational behind the decision to move next years final to Clacton, which is on 3^rd & 4^th May.

NIGEL ROBINSON MEMORIAL FUND John thanked Sid Wisdom for running this year’s event in Preston that had put £97 into the fund, which now stands at £1533.09. Mark Rogers volunteered to organise next years match on the Parade in Kent, and Andy said he would contact him about the details.

FINAL 2003 – PROPOSALS FOR THE NORTH WEST Bill Lindfield proposed next years final to be in the River Mersey on 29^th & 30^th November. He told members about his plans for the event and answered questions about the fishing. In the absence of any other proposal this was unanimously accepted.

ALF John explained that the fund, which stands at £11338, seems to be a substantial amount but probably would not be enough if we had to use legal services to fight a case. However the way the fund was set up it could only be used by Sea Anglers.

PROPOSALS AND RULE CHANGES

Earlier John had spoken about two issues which had provoked quite a difference of opinion amongst members – bait restrictions and catch & release size limits. Darren Phillips had produced a paper on these subjects which had been circulated as far as possible prior to the meeting. John explained that he wanted to have an open forum on these subjects so that the committee could take the views of members into consideration for future events, and that no decision was to be taken at this meeting. Darren presented his document to the members explaining the rationale behind his views. There followed quite an intensive debate and it was quite obvious that there were strong arguments on both sides.

To bring matters to a close Tony Burman made a proposal that SAMF did not have any further bait restrictions and that all future matches be fished catch & release to a minimum size limit of 18cms. Several members seconded this and Darren accepted that this was a good compromise. A vote followed 26 for the proposal and 15 against, therefore the proposal was carried.      

SAMF had received a written proposal from a member and seconded by several members to reduce the number of hooks from 3 to 2. The rationale was to conserve fish stocks & bait beds, help measure and return and let others see that we were making a contribution to angling. After a brief discussion a majority vote was made against this proposal.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS Mick Flynn offered a vote of thanks to the secretary for his work during the last 5 years.

Meeting closed at 09.30 p.m.