Chairman's Waffle Sept 2008

Chairman’s Waffle

 

Well everyone, it’s AGM time again. Time to bring up any issues or questions & to vote on your committee. This year Jane our treasurer is standing down so we’ll need a replacement or you’ll find we have no club. You don’t need to be a qualified accountant, just be fairly good with figures. We can’t exist without one so if you think you’d like a go then let us know asap.

I was very close to resigning this year also, I’ve been so peeved with the lack of interest from our members I just felt like giving up! The only thing keeping me here at the moment is not wanting to let Nige & Bob down. I’m determined to find out what you want from your club because it must be different to what we’re doing because we never see half of you! Remember, it’s you the members that make this club what it is.

The birthday bash was poorly attended but those that did come had a great time. The party cost the club a lot of money to put on for you & the £12 fee didn’t cover all the costs. The organising & running around kept us busy too. I started at 3:30 Friday afternoon, meeting the toilet man on site, then I rushed to meet Phil at the hire shop to pick up the geni & lights, then drop them of on site before rushing to pick up the marquee with Phil & Nige & taking that back to site. We spent about a couple of hours or so putting that up before I had to rush home again to pick up Caz & a borrowed camper & returning to site & finally sitting down & lighting the bbq around 10pm! Knackered!

Saturday was a bit rushed too with organising & picking things up, but the night was great, lots of scrumpy, lovely hog roast & a disco (even though nobody was dancing).

Sunday morning I left Nige & some helpers finish of the sections while I did the signing on. When that was done I could return to camp for some breakies, a bit of packing & take the camper home before returning & taking the marquee down. We managed to load the geni & the marquee into & on 4 vehicles to return that Sunday evening. I was pleased to get back to work Monday for a rest!

The treasure hunt seemed to go down well on the Party Saturday. Do you want another??

This weekend is my BIG comp in baby (de’cider trophy). I didn’t get half the modifications done that I’d hope to but she certainly looks a bit different now & I’m praying that I haven’t overlooked anything vital. I’ve got 2 days tinkering time now to get any last minute bits done before 2 days & 1 night of hard slog (for Paul! I’ll be in the comfy seat ha ha!).

Poor Caz has hardly seen me these last couple of months, as soon as I’ve been getting in I go strait out to work on baby & that includes most weekends too. I hope it will all be worth it, of course now I’ll have more spare time I could get rusty finished!

Our last committee meeting raised a few ideas & issues. We feel the club could do with a PR officer, someone to raise the profile of the club & to deal with getting the club known & into the magazines. This should help gain members (although active members would be even better) as well as the new website, this is up & running but needs content. If you have any, please do let us have it. Anyway, I digress.

It was also felt that some new members might need a bit of nurturing to make them feel welcome & to get them involved. Caz did a bit of this at the party weekend, collecting phone no.s from the girls so that they could get together at club nights & events to exchange gossip & tips on cooking & fluffy things! I guess??? What do they find to talk about?

The membership renewal form will now contain a questionnaire (tick boxes) to find out what you want from your club, it can’t just be a 10% insurance discount can it?!

It was felt that we could do a bit more green laning as a club, this will be looked into but we have some ideal candidates I think. (it’s no good hiding John!)

We’ve been keeping costs to you down for a long time now but with our costs increasing the trials now make us about 50p per driver! I know it’s hitting us all with fuel prices the way they are but a small increase may be needed to keep the club afloat.

The treasurer’s report was a bit dire & raised a few points too, but I’ll leave this one now for the AGM.

Anyway….. It’s not all doom & gloom. We’re committed to make this the best god dam Land Rover club in Dorset.

Andy (A L Services) lent us a 109 for a single vehicle trial at the party, what fun! I remembered how hard they were to drive, crap steering lock, crap brakes, crap articulation, oohhh joy! However anybody used to trial these is beyond me, I nearly put it on it’s roof just setting out a section with it! & that was in a relatively flat field! Very entertaining.

Andy also made us a trailer to do a bit of trailer driving with & also gave us a big box of prizes to dish out. Top man. Thanks too to Graham for delivering said vehicle.

I’ve probably missed some very important stuff but that’s all for now. Get out & use the club, you might enjoy yourself.

I’ll see you & the AGM if I survive this weekend.

Rog

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