3.1 JR - Completed questionnaires from the membership survey still being received. Diverse responses. Main likes - friendly people in AUK and quality of Arrivée. Dislikes - standard of route sheets. Not all replies have been read yet.
3.2 RS - Suggested a comprehensive report on the survey when all replies have been scrutenised .
3.3 SS - a full page of comments on the interim results of the survey are to appear in the next edition of Arrivée.
3.4 KB - AUK's donation to B. Burton memorial fund (£250) to go towards a memorial garden (with inscribed wrought iron arch) in Morley - Beryl's home town.
4.1 JL - Offer from publisher of review copy of book relating to the 'Green St. Green Cycling Club'. JR to review.
4.2 NS - Rec'd copy of latest issue of'Cyclo-tourisme' (magazine of
FFCT). Requested authority to send copy of Arrivée to the newly
appointed Rédactrice, JoéI Briot, in return for a regular copy of Cyclo-
tourisme.
NS to pursue.
4.3 DP - Rec'd letter from Mr. R Gates re. LEL. Content somewhat
dismissive of unspecified organisers/officials.
No action req'd.
5.1 Treasurer KB - AUK can become involved on the periphery of
litigation arising from incidents occuring during events. E.g. insurance
claim against Lancs County Council - rider hit pot-hole during Fleet
Moss event in 1991 - difficult to retain event details that long. KB
requested notice be placed in Arrivée - 'Please inform Treasurer
IMMEDIATELY of any incidents likely to involve insurance claims occuring
during events.'
JL to expedite.
5.2 Arrivée Editor SS - format of Arrivée to be changed experimentally
for the next issue from A5 to A4. Arrivée is getting too big for
existing 'A4 folded to A5' format. SS and Tim Wainwright have agreed an
editorial policy change - priority to be given to factual and
informative articles, rather than 'holiday story' articles. Request for
someone to write an article 'Beyond 200 km'.
DL volunteered.
5.3 Membership Secretary RS - members who pay renewal fees by standing
order have been informed that this facility is to be withdrawn,
forthwith. Caused too many problems with incorrect amounts being
collected. Continuation in the trend of increased membership. E.g in
period Nov-Dec 96 + Jan 97 :- 1480 renewals and 224 new members. Same
period last year :- 869 renewals and 62 new members. Implications? -
4000 members likely very soon.
Request for additional help - person with PC skills and ability to
respond to rapid changes in workload. Requested notice of such to appear
in Arrivée.
JL to expedite.
5.4 Validation Secretary BMaw - organisers still not taking advantage of
facility to retain 10% of medal value processed via their event(s).
JR - requested reiteration of this in 'Just a Minute' section of
Arrivée.
JL to expedite.
5.5 Permanents Secretary DP - A Directory of all permanent events is
currently being assembled. This will contain a 'pen portrait' of each
event.
JR - specified that any 'additional conditions' (as allowed for in
regulations) relating to the events must also be included.
JR - pointed out that although the current regulation wording on this
topic refers to 'additional regulations', this in fact is in error and
references should be to 'additional conditions'. Some discussion took
place regarding the method of publishing this directory.
DP to continue to expedite.
5.6 AAA Secretary DL - AAA events are flourishing with many new entrants
for the AAA challenge. Audax Ireland has now been disbanded by Eddie
Dunne.
DL - requested permission to explore possibility of establishing PROFS
in S.W. Eire.
5.7 LRM / ACP Correspondant. NS - attended the annual ACP dinner and prize-presentation in Paris. Performed PR duties and returned with Brevet 5000 medals for UK riders.
5.8 Press Secretary. BMor - the damaged publicity display boards have now been repaired by the manufacturer, at no cost.
Other section managers present - nothing to report.
JR - the AGM had turned out to be a very long-winded process, with multiple amendments to the proposal to introduce new trophies and awards.
FC - can a mechanism could be found for limiting such instances of multiple amendments?
JR - the only way is to introduce a 'guillotine' i.e. propose that 'the motion now be put'. This takes precedence over any motion under consideration and can be used to secure progress in difficult circumstances.
Item 6b. Cttee action as a result of 6a,
A very long discussion took place regarding the opposition expressed at the AGM to AUK (a non-competitive cycling organisation) running championships and awarding championship trophies.
JR - we should perhaps change the regulations relating to championships e.g. eliminate the word 'championship' and just say 'awards'; change 'won' to 'award' etc. but retain the championship awards.
JL - pointed out that this was purely cosmetic and did not address the underlying issue. BMor - we should not be obsessed with championships and should make greater recognition of those who attain SR status for the first time. Several others agreed.
FC - many members resent the disproportionate amount of club resources which is devoted to championships, which are only ever of concern to a tiny minority of club members.
DL / BMaw - if the existing points championship were abolished and replaced with an award for the 'challenge' of reaching 100 points (say) this might find favour with the members.
JL - unlike a championship where there is one winner(and by implication many losers) the 100 points challenge would be accessible to many more members.
KB - it must not be forgotten that our 'Team Arrow' events are effectively run as time trials i.e. they are inherently competitive.
JR - drew the discussion to a close and asked if committee was in favour of of taking a lead on this issue.
Unanimous show of hands in favour.
JR - asked that a statement be prepared for insertion in Arrivée summarising the committee's position on this matter.
JL - read a quickly prepared draught statement - "Committee has given
serious consideration to the concerns of members regarding the running
of competitive awards within AUK, and is determined to take a lead in
this matter. Committee has discussed several ideas, including placing
more emphasis on first-time SR's and replacing the competitive
individual championship with a level-based award formulated, perhaps, on
reaching a total of 100 points. Committee invites the membership to
share in this debate."
Publication - JL to expedite.
RS - presented a detailed analysis of features relating to Wortley Hall which could lead to an improved situation for next year's re-union; this having been the choice of venue for 1998, made by the AGM. He apologised for the lack of a 'name and address' field on the 1997 booking form.
A discussion took place regarding the suitability of Wortley Hall as venue for the Annual Dinner and re-union.
PC - criticised the standard of the meal, relative to its cost.
Various other criticisms were made, including the cost of multi-bedded
accommodation which had little to offer over YHA accommodation.
RS - argued that we could improve acceptability to non-cycling partners by publicising the availablity of country walks at Wortley.
SS - contact Tim Wainwright re. any required publicity in the next two issues of Arrivée.
JR - said that the costs at Wortley for 1998 were only provisional and may well rise above 1997 levels. We have put down a deposit for 1998.
KB - confirmed a £100 deposit made to Wortley Hall in respect of 1998 re-union.
RS - said that in conjunction with KB a venus at Loughborough was under investigation and may be possible for 1998 if it became clear that the costs at Wortley would be unacceptable. No specific action to be taken at this stage. RS/KB to continue to monitor the situation.
JL - read a letter from a member (Patrick Wadsworth) indicating that he had found certain regulations, relating to events, confusing. This, in turn, did not make the applicability of permanent events to an SR award clear. Other instances where the wording of regulations was in direct conflict with the accepted interpretation were highlighted by JL (e.g. reg. 73). Also cases of typographical errors (e.g rag. 113) masking the meaning. In other cases the same term was described using different wording in different regs. E.g. reg. 101 has 'tourist standard' whereas reg.l04 has 'tourist level'. This had prompted an in-depth look at the wording of the regulations and JL had found more instances of poor wording and other anomalies.
JR - clearly this issue must receive attention and suggested the setting
up of a small working party. Membership to be Chair - JR, Secretary - JL
and two co-opted participants from the general membership. Mr. Wadsworth
was to be invited to be one of these.
JL to expedite.
11.1 - JR - asked committee to consider giving recipients of
championship awards a commemorative medal to be kept in perpetuity.
It was pointed out that memorial porcelain mugs were currently given and
it was decided to continue the practice of giving porcelain mugs, rather
than medals. Mugs were not available for issue at the 1996 prize
presentation but would be issued at later date.
11.2 - KB - displayed several new designs for badges (standard distances and Roughstuff).
11.3 - FC - displayed an A4 sheet containing several designs for a club
badge or'pin'. This to be circulated with the minutes.
JL to expedite.
11.4 - BMor - this is to be my last year as an AUK committee member. Due to increased committments with the CTC I will not be standing for re- election at the next AGM. An announcement to be made in Arrivée. JL - to expedite.
11.5 - SS - It has already been agreed that the existing individual championship trophy be given to Steve Abraham to keep for good (see earlier minutes). We should acquire a suitable new trophy, and attach all previous recipients' names including that of Graham Cutting, the first recipient.
11.6 - JR - already has a suitable trophy.
The pricing of the proposed AUK pins would have to be £2 - some doubt as to viability at this price.
Preliminary steps for the AGM at Wortley Hall - form to be included in next Arrivee.
Some discussion on the delays at the printers' of the Spring Arrivee. Sheila to discuss it with the printer.
Some discussion on the system of 'temporary membership' to cover uninsured riders
Some discussion on the issue of support vehicles - conclusion, AUK accepts that support vehicles may be used and may even follow the route, but can only meet riders at controls.
Some discussion on the timing of Arrivee deadlines, and the long lead time of 2 months between deadline and publication. A later deadline for certain specific pre-arranged items will be tried.
Some discussion on riders riding too fast at the start of events.
Some discussion on the rising trend of late cancellation of events by organisers.
Ray Smith reported 258 new members during the first part of 1997, compared with 117 in the same period in 1996.
Bernard Mawson reported level of Validations 20% up on previous year.
Some discussion of Bry Ferguson's plans for eventual retirement from Brevet Card Production.
Dave Lewis proposed a '9x' AAA award - accepted.
Duncan Peet showed that Permanents represet about 5% of all rides of 200km and over.
With Brian Morris (not present) retiring from his duties, some discussion of future distribution of CW waymarking signs - Bry to handle this and 'what is AUK' leaflets.
Calendar to be made available to anyone, for a price to be decided.
Membership Secretary snowed under - discussions on ways of splitting the membership to be handled by 2 or more membership secretaries.
Regulations overhaul.
Sub-committee reported that it was difficult to proceed withou straying
from their brief of making small adjustments to remove anomalies and
ambiguities.
After much discussion, sub-committee agreed to produce a draft based on
just one section of the regulations, for committee perusal.
Membership card to be abandoned, in favour of membership number labelled directly onto Handbook cover.
Next Committee Meeting 3rd September at Wortley.
E-L T-shirts displayed for approval. £5 to riders, free to helpers.
1998 Reunions - 7th February, Ridgeway, and 14th February, Youlgreave.
Ray proposed 'Organisers' Weekend' possibly at Loughborough. 'Conference' for organisers, with seminars and discussion groups for mutual support and education. Subsidised by AUK. Ray asked to make enquiries and cost the project on a provisional basis.
The 'competitiveness' issue raised over recent meetings was felt to be no longer a live issue.
End. --------------------------------- Committee Meeting, Autumn 1997 --------------------------------- Your committee last met at Stratford YH, on 3rd September 1997. This meeting continued for four hours (excluding lunch break), and a number of important matters were discussed. A full version of the minutes wilt be available, once the next meeting has approved these as a true record. Please send a 26p stamp, plus a stamped addressed envelope, to Bry Ferguson if you wish to have a copy. Committee members and delegates present - 9.
Apologies for absence - 4.
The UK Events Secretary, Peter Coulson, reported that a number of events (some 8, or so) had been cancelled lately. He wished to remind organisers that cancellation should only be considered as a last resort.
Peter also reported that the next year's Southern reunion had been rearranged and would now take place on the 31st January at Ridgeway YH. The fate of the Northern reunion for next year, is still in the balance. Youlgreave YH may be closed for renovation during the early part of next year. Watch this space for further details.
The Systems Manager, Francis Cooke, reports that the process continues, of keeping our IT equipment up to date. A new, high resolution, laser printer is now aiding the production of Arrivée and equipment released from this task is cascading down through the organisation. Some of our rather ancient Atari computers are about to be given a good home by Ben Steven, subject to tough negotiations on price between Ben and treasurer Keith Benton.
Ray Smith is pleased with the outcome of his recent recruitment campaign, which he undertook in order to obtain additional assistance with the mammoth task of keeping track of our near 3000 members. Ray now has David Palfreyman (Manchester) and Tony Longhurst (Sussex) to help him. Ray is also being a glutton for punishment and is currently compiling a report based on the EL questionnaires which have been returned to him.
Committee has responded to the concems expressed at last year's AGM regarding the continuance of the practice of running championships within AUK. See the AGM agenda for details of the committee proposal on this matter.
Bob (banana) Thomas, from the Isle of Wight has suggested that a 2000 km randonnée be run during the year 2000 as a celebration of the millennium. During the ride, participants would visit all the countries of the United Kingdom. Committee felt that this was a very ambitious project which may be better handled by the CTC. Perhaps this idea could still come to fruition, but as a Permanent rather than as a calendar event? What are your ideas on how we should celebrate the millennium (if at all, that is)? Please write in and let us know your thoughts on this subject. ---------------------------------------