Change is as good as a rest they say – and who knows what the League’s divisional structure will look like for this coming season, or how many bowlers per side will be playing in fixtures.

The big decisions will be made at the AGM on Tuesday 8^th March, which will be followed by a deadline for member clubs to let the League know how many teams they will be entering on Fridays and Mondays – and in the Dennis Lewis Thursday Division.

But one change is certain . . . the web address for Mike Beckett’s Results System is changing from bowlingresults.co.uk to bowlsresults.co.uk

All the links that I’m aware of on this site have been changed accordingly but if you have any that you’ve bookmarked, you’ll have to amend them.

Meanwhile, clubs and their bowlers continue to countdown to the 2022 campaign with their ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS, with the following dates (with venues) coming up:

Sunday 20^th February – Maddocks BC at the Social Club in the evening.

Tuesday 22nd February – Bylet BC at their clubhouse in the evening.

Thursday 24th February – Shifnal BC in the evening.

Friday 25th February – Bowring  BC at the clubhouse, 7.30pm.

Friday 25th February – St Georges BC AGM and signing on night at the Sports & Social club, 7pm.

Friday 25th February – Trench BC AGM and signing on night at the clubhouse, 7.30pm.

Slowly, but surely, bowls clubs and their members are coming out of hibernation, hopefully in positive mood and eager to shrug off 2 years of Covid blues.

The League is certainly taking a positive approach to the forthcoming 2022 campaign, having called a meeting to touch bases with club officials on Tuesday 22^nd February ahead of what will be a vital AGM on Tuesday 8^th March.

And on the subject of ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS, the following clubs have now publicised their dates and venues:

Tuesday 15^th February – Wrockwardine Wood BC at Wrockwardine Wood & Trench Social Club (48 Gibbons Rd, Telford, TF2 7JP), starting at 7.15pm.

Wednesday 16^th February – Much Wenlock BC at the town’s Methodist Church (7pm).

Sunday 20^th February – Maddocks BC at the Social Club in the evening.

Tuesday 22nd February – Bylet BC at their clubhouse in the evening.

Thursday 24th February – Shifnal BC in the evening.

Friday 25th February – Bowring  BC at the clubhouse, 7.30pm.

Friday 25th February – St Georges BC AGM and signing on night at the Sports & Social club, 7pm.

Friday 25th February – Trench BC AGM and signing on night at the clubhouse, 7.30pm.

The local case numbers may remain stubbornly high but, with Covid restrictions now eased, the League’s officers feel it’s the right time to crack on with the countdown to the 2022 season.

That means a re-launch of ‘in person meetings’ – starting with a management meeting on Tuesday 22nd February at the Sir John Bayley Club (7.30pm), where both private rooms have been booked to give us the space for delegates to feel as safe as possible.

The aim of this meeting is to touch bases with all member clubs – and let them know what the League expects from them at the AGM in March, plus the ‘how many teams on which nights’ deadlines that will follow very soon after it.

Annual General Meeting night will be Tuesday 8^th March, again using both rooms at the Bayley but starting at 7pm. That’s when key votes on playing numbers for fixtures for the forthcoming season will be taken.

Then we’ll give clubs a little time before the ‘number of teams’ deadline.

And given that I have received interest in both posts, there may also need to be AGM votes on who succeeds Ric Hudson as fixture secretary and David Evans as vice-chairman.

But I must stress there is still time for more nominations to the general secretary – and then the clubs can decide who they want!

The meat on the bones to this plan will be given at the February meeting – and there are already lots of reasons to be positive about 2022 . . . this new website launched, sponsorship deals in the pipeline, new people interested in taking on League roles about to become vacant  and a 90^th birthday to celebrate.

We even made a small profit on last year! Floreat Mid Shropshire!

Welcome, one and all, to the League’s bright, new and more user friendly website.

Sincere thanks go to webmaster Steve Wall for his work on this project, completed in under a week. In effect the website has moved platforms from Google Sites to WordPress, but retraining the domain name of www.midshrop.co.uk

There are still tweaks to be made, including the ability to view minutes of meetings that have been passed as a true record, and other improvements officers want to see – so please bear with us.

For now though, welcome aboard and enjoy!

Just a couple of reminders . . . the League’s AGM, scheduled to have been on Monday 17^th January and in person at SJBC, has been postponed due to the latest wave of positive Covid cases.

The plan now, based on the prediction that the current spike will pass quite quickly, is to organise an ordinary management committee meeting in mid February, probably via Zoom, to touch bases with member clubs.

At this meeting we would look to set a firm date for an in person AGM, which your officers feel is vital ahead of the 2022 season given the votes on rule change proposals that have to be made.

And to finish with some good news, Molson Coors have finally confirmed that the £300 sponsorship deal, agreed for the pandemic curtailed 2021 season, will be paid at the end of the current quarter, when talks on a new deal for 2022 will begin.

I’m sure it won’t come as a big surprise but, in the light of the latest Covid wave, the League’s officers have decided to postpone the AGM that was scheduled to be on Monday 17^th January and in person at SJBC.

Officials of member clubs have already been contacted direct with this news, but the reasons to cancel became overwhelming in the last few days.

And given that clubs will be asked to vote on playing numbers for the forthcoming season at the AGM, it makes sense to put it back to the date of the normal March executive (Tuesday the 1st) – at the earliest!

The plan now, based on the prediction that this current spike in positive cases will peak and pass quite quickly, is to organise an ordinary management committee meeting in mid February, probably via Zoom, to touch bases with member clubs.

At this meeting we would look to set a firm date for an in person AGM, which your officers feel is vital ahead of the 2022 season.

I hope you all understand and agree with this move – we just know clubs cannot make important decisions without having a much better idea of how many they are going to have bowling for them this year.

Malcolm Fletcher – general secretary

At the dawn of 2022, the League’s officers would like to wish all MSBL bowlers, their families and friends a very happy New Year.

Everyone hopes we will be able to get back to some kind of pre-pandemic normal, but there remains doubt as to what the new Covid variant might have in store for – although the early signs are thankfully hopeful.

What is not in doubt is that there is a need for new faces on the team that runs the League in 2022.

For Fixture Secretary Ric Hudson and Vice-Chairman David Evans have informed the general secretary that they will not be standing for election at the League’s AGM – whenever it is held.

Many of you will have read in the Christmas message on this website that the League’s officers are monitoring the Covid situation very closely with a view to making plans for 2022.

And they will be making a decision before next weekend as to whether the AGM goes ahead in person on Monday 17^th January, is held virtually that night or even delayed a little.

Given the rule change proposals that are due to be voted on at the annual meeting, a delay would give clubs more time to assess playing numbers for a forthcoming season that is scheduled to start in April.

Member clubs will be kept informed directly by email of any firm decisions, but for now, keep safe and here’s sending everyone very best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year.

POTENTIAL PRESENTS

Delegates of member clubs were given plenty to think about over the festive period at the League’s December management meeting.

The last meeting of 2021 ended with a presentation by Chris Child and Amy Ruffell-Hazell of Energize, outlining the exiting potential of a new £3.5m Sport England funding opportunity in the West Midlands linked to the 2022 Commonwealth Games. It’s called Places & Spaces (https://www.sportengland.org/how-we-can-help/our-funds/places-and-spaces) and is a crowdfunding programme with awards up to £10,000 match funding for projects.

It is capital based, so anything facility or fixed fittings will be considered, and requires setting up and coordinating on the online Crowdfunder page.

More potential good news for clubs is that the League has agreed a two-year sponsorship of a new website that is being designed – worth £100 per annum – with Local Print Pros.

And the Telford-based company is offering clubs things like low cost embroidery; good turnaround flexibility, local drop off and collection; individual club and team sponsorship.

Said Streve Reeves of the company: “Any club signing up to our Team Page will receive: Free Embroidery Setup; a dedicated Team Page hosted on our website, where players can individually purchase the club’s playing shirts, showerproofs, jumpers, fleeces etc whatever the club chooses to list on there; £1 off every garment in exchange for our logo on the arm of garments brought.

“If anyone has any questions they are welcome to email me [email protected]”

Other points from the meeting – numerous League trophies won in 2019 still need returning to comps sec Phil King;

DBS renewals or applications in 2022 to be done via Zoom on February 12 or 26;

Big Bowls Weekend 2022 will be between May 27 and 29;

3 new Life Members will be inducted at the AGM on Monday 17^th January.

It promises to be a cracking December management committee meeting on Tuesday the 7th.

For besides the ordinary League business to be dealt with, the meeting should end on a real pre-Christmas high.

A team from Energize led by Chris Child will be attending to talk about improving Bowls Facilities (and they will be more than happy to talk to club officials about grants etc etc after the meeting)

Their slot on the agenda will be followed by a development and coaching update from SCGBA officer Pauline Wilson, who is eager to get even more clubs taking part in the second Big Bowls Weekend in 2022.

And potential League sponsor Local Print Pros will be represented by Steve Reeves to outline what deals they can also off toe member clubs in terms of clothing, sings, logos etc etc

So League officers are urging clubs to do their utmost to be represented on Tuesday – when all trophies won in 2019 should be returned to Phil King please

FULL AGENDA

1  Chairman’s remarks to open the meeting

2 Apologies & In Memoria

3 Minutes of the November Management Committee Meeting 

4 Matters arising

5 General Secretary’s report

6 Correspondence

7 Treasurer’s report 

8 Competition Secretary’s report – all trophies MUST be returned before / at this meeting

9 Fixture Secretary’s report 

10 Rule Change Proposals for 2022 AGM – see attached

11 Planning for 2022 and the League’s 90^th Anniversary

12 County matters – report from executive meeting on 15th November

SHORT BREAK

13 Bowls Facility Development – Chris Child & his Energize team

14 County Development & Coaching – Pauline Wilson

15 Any Other Business

16 President / chairman to close the meeting

DATE OF NEXT MEETING – 2022 AGM on Monday 17^th January at SJBC at 7pm

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Lectus nulla at volutpat diam. A cras semper auctor neque vitae tempus quam pellentesque nec. Nulla at volutpat diam ut venenatis tellus in metus vulputate. Consectetur adipiscing elit pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus. Ultrices mi tempus imperdiet nulla malesuada pellentesque. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit duis. Vitae aliquet nec ullamcorper sit amet risus nullam eget. Netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas maecenas pharetra convallis. Ante metus dictum at tempor commodo. Rhoncus mattis rhoncus urna neque viverra justo. Congue mauris rhoncus aenean vel elit scelerisque mauris.