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Notice Dated 28th February 2010
Important Notice to all Players and Members
Re: Club Status
A Chara,
This letter dated 28th February 2010 is to relay to all members the events of the last six weeks concerning the status of Hurling and Football within the club. It is intended to give all members all the facts of what has taken place and to eradicate any rumours or misinformation that members may have heard.
On December 24th 2009 a letter was received from members requesting an EGM for which the purpose would be to pass a motion to transfer underage hurling from the Volunteers club to St. Johns club
As the county board offices were closed for the Christmas period, the earliest they could be contacted was the beginning of January, at which time the club was informed that as far as the county board were concerned hurling and football were already divided into two clubs:
Although, with the approval of the county secretary the letter submitted would not under the guidelines for EGM submissions be deemed eligible it was understood that in effect what was being sought was already in place. At this point the county secretary was asked to forward a written submission stating that this was the case, it was agreed that this could be done.
After a number of weeks, upon seeking the whereabouts of the written confirmation regarding the club status from the county board in order to pass it on to all members, the club was informed that the county board were no longer willing to forward such a submission. The club then requested a meeting with the county chairperson and county secretary to clarify this and to discuss the matter further.
This meeting was not granted until early in February 2010, in attendance were:
From the volunteers: Ian Byrne (Chairperson), Frank Turner (Secretary)
From the county board: Ger Doyle (county Chairperson), Margaret Doyle (County Secretary), and Andrew Nolan (County Treasurer)
At this meeting documentary evidence was presented by the volunteers to enforce the belief of two separate clubs:
1. Initial registration letter (copy) for St. Johns Hurling Club (2006)
Note: This letter was constructed under the guidelines given to the club by the then county secretary, Michael Kinsella with regard to registering a new club.
2. Copies of ratified transfers to St. Johns Hurling Club from other clubs for year 2006
3. Copies of player registrations
4. Copies of league fixtures 2006
All of the above were dismissed by the county board representatives and although the registration letter was hand delivered to Wexford Park and to the then county secretary it was blankly denied that any such letter was received.
The county board representatives brought forward the argument that based on the fact that the clubs hold the same bank accounts, same premises and use the same jerseys that the clubs could be seen as one. Their main reasons for this belief centred on minutes from a meeting held in January 2006 where the attendees were:
From the Volunteers: Jim McCarthy (the then Chairperson), Rory Dwyer (the then Treasurer) and Bobby Cummins (the then Bord Na Nog Chairperson)
From the County Board: Sean Quirke (the then County Chairperson), Margaret Doyle or Michael Kinsella, Paddy Wickham, Pat Doyle and Joe O'Shaughnessy.
It should be noted that this meeting was not intended to be about the formation of the hurling club.
However the minutes from this meeting clearly stated that the volunteers were registering a hurling club in 2006. They stated that the county board would grant €1000 to aid this setup, and that one year derogation would be granted to the volunteers to allow transfers to be completed.
In order to clarify and corroborate the minutes the county board representatives agreed to speak to the other people present at the meeting in question for clarification and a decision on the club status would then be made on this basis.
It was then undertaken by Ger Doyle, County Chairperson that in the event that the decision would come back that the volunteers club would be taken as one club for both hurling and football that the club would get a one year derogation to allow for transfers to be sorted out.
On Monday 22nd February 2010 an email was received from the county secretary stating that they had spoken to the other people present at the meeting in 2006 and a decision had been made that the Volunteers would be one single club with regard to football and hurling at adult and under age grades. It was still assumed at this point that the club would still have a one year derogation to complete transfers as previously committed to by Ger Doyle, county chairperson.
It should be noted that it is now understood that none of the volunteers' representatives who were present at this meeting were contacted for clarification.
On Wednesday 24th February 2010 at the county championship draw during the ratification of transfers it was announced that the volunteers club is now one club for hurling and football and a vote was taken to give the volunteers an extension period to organise their transfers. Our club county board rep was not present at this meeting as he was not notified by text of this meeting which is normal procedure.
On Friday 26th February 2010 an email was received to all club secretaries attaching the ratified transfers and stating:
'Due to Volunteers now confirmed as one club for Hurling & Football they have been given a dispensation for a few days to allow players confirm their club allegiance for the future '
This is the only official notification that the club received on this and as of Friday 26th the club has still not been informed officially as to when the deadline is for transfer completion.
The club officers are extremely disappointed and somewhat confused by the fact that Ger Doyle, county chairperson has now reneged on the one year derogation, and it is understandable that some members are unhappy about the outcome.
The club officers are currently exploring what the options are with regard to appeals and complaint procedures in order to try to achieve a longer dispensation period so that any decision made concerning the club can actually be in the hands of its members.
If anyone wishes to make their complaint directly to the county board you can contact Ger Doyle, county chairperson on 0863873160 or email gerardfdoyle@yahoo.co.uk and Margaret Doyle on 053 9144808 (W)
086 8180612 or email wexfordgaa@eircom.net. Alternately feel free to contact Ian Byrne, Club Chairperson or Frank Turner, Club Secretary.
This letter will be posted on the club website www.volunteersgaa.com, in Pairc Charman and in Mannix place; any further correspondence will also be posted in these locations.
Yours in sport,
Ian Byrne Date: 28/02/10
Ian Byrne, Club Chairperson
Frank Turner Date:28/02/10
Frank Turner, Club Secretary