THE Guyana Volleyball Federation last Sunday held its Annual General Meeting on Sunday last, at the Albion Community Centre in Berbice where over 35 persons attended, representing the Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA) and the Demerara Volleyball Association (DVA).

Among the issues addressed and highlighted were the hosting of the Inter Guiana Games (IGG), hosting of volleyball among primary schools and volleyball festivals organised in collaboration with the Allied Arts Unit of the Ministry of Education with support (finance and equipment) provided by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB).
President of the Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF) Lennie Shuffler in his remarks spoke of the preparation of the Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) male and female teams done by the federation along with the hosting of a International Club Competition featuring teams from Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Roraima in Brazil and four local teams.
Shuffler also explained in detail decisions made, following his attendance at the FIVB World Congress in California, USA and a meeting he had with the president of the FIVA and CSV, Dr Ary Garcia, in Rio de Janeiro Brazil.
Shuffler elaborated on ways the Brazil Federation will assist the GVF while playing the role of a ‘Big Brother’ with the intention of reviving the ‘Bloc Development” Programme which was accepted by the FIVB since 2002.
The veteran volleyball administrator reminded members that the ‘bloc’ included Brazil, Suriname, French Guiana, Trinidad & Tobago and Venezuela and outlined his ‘Development through Activity’ Plan pinpointing opportunities and challenges facing the Federation.
Brief reports delivered by the presidents of the BVA & DVA highlighted achievements during the year 2012 and recommendations for the future.
All members present also participated in a ‘brain-storming’ session to plot the way forward for the next four years and several decisions were taken with regard to fund-raising and participation in more international competitions.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the opportunity was taken by Andrea Farias, an Executive member of the GVF and proprietor Kitano Travel Service, to present a pair of Tachikara Volleyball Antennas to assist in the raising of standard of officiating during competitions.
Farias said she was impressed with the number of competitions organised by the BVA in the past and, together with her husband, Commander John Farias of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard, who is also the Head of GVF’s Refereeing Commission, thought it wise to make the donation.
The BVA president Gregory Rambarran expressed thanks to the donors for the important piece of equipment and said it will be utilised fully in all competitions.