BOWLS ENGLAND Launch message from the Chair of the Board David Mitchell-Gears We have been talking about the unification of our sport for more than a decade and on the 1st of January 2008 the EWBA and the EBA merged to become BOWLS ENGLAND - a Company Limited by Guarantee and wholly owned by the 35 Counties. Your elected Council representing the 35 Counties (Ladies and Men) is established and the first AGM will be held on the 23rd February 2008. The results of the election for the Board of Directors will not be known until early in January 2008       Chair - David Mitchell-Gears (3 Years) – elected unopposed Vice Chair (3 Years) – Ruth Howes Directors / Committee Chairs. Howard Pryse   2 Years David Tucker   2 Years Margaret Docherty   2 Years Bobbie Pothecary   1 Year Peter Arnold   1 Year Jeff Applegate   1 Year Each Director will be appointed to Chair a Committee. The Committees are as follows; International performance Finance Policy & Management Development Competitions Member Services A great deal of work has been carried out on behalf of the membership to establish a working organisation and to ensure a smooth transfer of activities to Bowls England. The team of staff appointed to date is as follows:   Worthing HQ based Specialist role Chief Executive Tony Allcock MBE   Office Manager Penny Maguire Finance / National Championships IT Manager & Office Co-ordinator Gary Jack Hardware Management / Software Applications PA To Chief Executive Liz Rahman Bowls England Unification Assistant Administrator Barbara Bruce Civil Liability Insurance Competitions Administrator Jan Smyth Competitions Assistant Administrator Sue Dickson Merchandise Assistant Administrator Moira Drost Accounts / Competitions Leamington Spa based   Assistant Administrator Gwen Sabin Presidents Matches   The intention is that staff will be multi-tasking, but some individuals are focused upon specialist areas (as shown above). At this stage I would like to place on record my thanks to all the members of the Shadow Board and their Committees for the hard work undertaken to date and in anticipation that it will continue into the future. Bowlers tend to forget that all these workers are unpaid and carry out work on behalf of the Sport just for the love of it. Thanks are also recorded to our loyal staff, under the Leadership of Chief Executive Tony Allcock MBE, who have worked so hard in the past year for both the EWBA / EBA in addition to Bowls England. Their efforts have been much appreciated. David Mitchell Gears Chair of the Board 1st January 2008     Introduction by the Chief Executive Tony Allcock MBE   On to the re-badged English Bowling Association Site   On to the English Womens Bowling Association Site