Dear Members,

Welcome to the 2007-2008 season!

I hope that you have all seen the proposals announced by the EBU last June entitled the “Future Strategy for the EBU”. The aims of this initial phase are to strengthen the membership base and to restructure the financing of the EBU. Copies of the document were distributed to our affiliated clubs and your comments are sought during the extensive consultation stage.

My thanks, on your behalf, go to Stuart Strachan who is stepping down as our HIWCBA Secretary, a post he has held since 2002 I am very pleased to announce that Margaret Gale is the new Secretary for the County.

One development during the year has been the establishment of a “Charity of the Year”. In this inaugural year the Committee has selected the ‘Countess of Brecknock Hospice’ in Andover, which provides palliative care for terminal cancer sufferers. Two other Romsey events, probably the Yuletide and the Valentine mini-Swiss Teams competitions, will be added to the Ivan Chidwick Cup and the IBM Cup and will have raffles whose proceeds will also be contributed to the ‘Charity of the Year’.

Please consider entering the Cahalan Cup, which, now has 24-board regionalised matches in the early rounds, with seeded teams entering the event at a later stage. In addition, the County League programme would benefit from a higher entry to enable more regionalisation.

I thank all the members of your Committee and the many other volunteers who do a variety of vital tasks, which ensure the smooth and successful running of our Association.  I wish you all a very enjoyable season and look forward to your continuing support.

John Carter

Chairman HIWCBA