A significant part of this meeting was devoted to planning for the ABF Council mid-term meeting on 29th October. The MC looks forward to seeing all Councillors there!

ANC Review

The MC has reviewed the final recommendations of the ANC review, and in the interests of certainty has decided on the following arrangements for the Hobart ANC in 2018:

• the ANC teams will have the qualifying stage shortened by one day, running from the Sunday to the Wednesday. The 2^nd and 3^rd placed teams will play a repechage final on the Thursday morning while the leading team (and non-qualifiers) sit out. The winner of the repechage will play the top qualifying team in the final on Thursday afternoon and Friday.
• The Interstate Pairs will be reintroduced, starting on Thursday afternoon and finishing on Friday The IS Pairs will be open to all team members who did not qualify for the final, including losers of the repechage. They do not have to necessarily have to play in the same partnerships. It is also open to any pair whose home clubs are in the same state. Team members do not pay an entry fee, but non-team members will pay a fee. It will be one field, with category prizes for Open, Women’s and Seniors.
• There will be a single stage Youth Butler, to be played on Monday and Tuesday, alongside Stage 1 of the Seniors and Women’s Butler.
• There will be no Restricted Teams this year, as some states were hesitant with the concept.

The Tournament Committee will now work on event details.

Succession Planning

 The Succession Planning Committee comprising Bruce Neill, David Morgan, Julia Hoffman and Therese Tully has developed a Committee Charter and project plans which will be presented to Council in October.

The role of this committee is defined as:

• to ensure appropriate procedures are in place for the future succession of the ABF President and other key ABF positions
• to assist Council to identify potential replacements, and
• to help candidates define and acquire the skills and personal development they will need to undertake their new roles.

A search to find potential candidates for the President’s position will start shortly. The ABF will write to all States, Territories and Councillors seeking names of potential candidates and information will be placed on the web-site and in the next Newsletter.

Tournament Organisers Workshop

Plans are in place for this workshop which will take place just prior to the Spring Nationals in October. The aim is to share knowledge and experience to help avoid “reinventing the wheel”, and make all our tournaments as enjoyable as possible.

Management Liability and Professional Indemnity

TBIB has been able to arrange a reduction in the cost of this policy which is being renewed. The treasurer will be in touch with States and Territories about the allocation of costs.

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The Management Committee welcomes feedback and suggestions on these or other subjects. The next MC meeting is Sunday 29^th October in Sydney, following the ABF Council Mid-term meeting.

ABF Management Committee:
Bruce Neill (President), Allison Stralow (Secretary), Roy Nixon (Treasurer),
Dallas Cooper (MC Member), Kim Frazer (MC Member).
Russel Harms (General Counsel), Jane Rasmussen (Executive Secretary).