VOTES FOR CHANGE JUST FALL SHORT

Delegates at this year's annual conference in Blackpool voted against major changes to the Union's constitution.

A total of 1,398 delegates votes infavour or removing rule 12(e) which prevents women holding the Associate and Pass Cards, and were also in support of compulsory pass cards - however the 60% voting in favour of both motions were not enough to reach the two-thirds of the vote required to change the Union's rule book.

A motion limiting the rights of women holding the Pass Card to those clubs who agreed with the principle of equality was lost by the narrowest of margins - obtaining 66.2% as opposed to the 66.6% required.

A motion by Darfield Road Club which would have forced Executive members to resign their seats prior to running for different positions on the Union's executive also suffered the same fate of achieving the majority of votes cast, but not getting the magical two-thirds of the vote.

A tidying up motion referring to the FSA instead of the Registry in a number of rules was, however, passed unanimously.

Addresses by the Minister of Sport, Richard Caborn MP, Lords Brooks of Tremorfa - Secretary of the All-Party Parliamentary Gorup - and Geoff Hodson from the Federation Brewery, were all received with interest by those present.

Two clubs, Leatherhead & District in Surrey and Mill View Social in Sunderland, won £1,000 int he relaunched National Flyer Triple Chance game.

Delegates also heard the farewell Presidential address by Derek Dormer who steps down at the end of June. A standing ovation and the rendering of "For he's a jolly good fellow" concluded an emotion conference.

May 2003