Secretary's report
The club did not fall apart after the requirement for mudguards was removed. Inevitably there were some grumbles. No organisation of several thousand individuals is going to be without dissent; but it was reassuring to see the civilised way in which the debate was resolved.
There are changes of a different kind at this AGM. Three key posts are being vacated by three influential and long-standing members: Rocco, Keith, and Ray have decided that they each have done their stint. We have nominations for all three positions. Indeed, it would be sad if a club of this size was unable easily to fill these vacancies.
A proposed new post of 'Recorder' reflects the continued march toward computerisation of the club's records. This is essential if AUK is to continue being run by a small number of volunteers.
With Dave standing down, we envisage the post of AAA secretary being allowed to lapse. The AAA award scheme will continue. Those of you who have cards should keep them as they may be needed to verify claims spanning several years.
Looming on the horizon is the spectre of accountability. British Cycling, and Cycling Time Trials are already on the way to risk-assessing all competitive events. The CTC is considering ways of doing the same for touring and leisure events. The AUK committee is looking at the best ways of implementing measures to ensure that our organisers and riders are properly protected. You will be kept informed.
More importantly, I wish you all a good year's cycling in 2003.
Ian Hennessey
Chairman Report
Treasurer's Report
The accounts (see Arrivee) reflect the increases in membership reported elsewhere. By and large we have managed to contain expenditure whilst I have made a reserve to our funds for the possible move to our own server computer in the coming year. As mentioned last year I have also reserved funds to build up for the LEL in 2005.
I am not recommending any major changes to our charges but the Committee did look at honoraria and agreed amounts as shown in my recommendations on the Agenda. Commuted membership and the advantages to officials (and possibly members in a year’s time) is an annual plea.
I have been ably assisted this year by Bill Carnaby who took on the task of analysing Organisers’ Returns . This was a behind the scenes change not noticeable unless of course you were one who got it wrong! My thanks to Bill and also to our organisers for their care in completing the return form. As always I will be happy to hear from any member wanting further amplification or clarification of the figures in the accounts. - ..and finally thank you all for your support over the years .
Keith Benton
Membership Secretary Report
Validation Sec Report
Permanents Secretary Report
AAA Secretary Report
Events Secretary Report
What a difference a year makes: up to late September we haven’t (yet) been DEFRAcated upon! The number of Organisers was 177; many thanks to all of you, and to the Helpers who make it all possible. Some Organisers are retiring, with many handing on to new ones, and my thanks to them for this. This year there have been many more requests for Organisers’ Packs (don’t know why - is there something special next year?).
Please get in touch with me if you fancy running some events. We now have a scheme for covering the Organisers of longer (above 200km) and new events against financial loss.
The figures for 2002 are:
Cat. ‘50’ 100+ *150+ 200+ *300+ 400+ 500+ 600+ 1000+ Totals BP 38 162 45 -- -- 1 -- -- -- 246 BR -- -- -- 93 20 10 1 4 -- 128 BRM -- -- -- 14 7 5 -- 5 1 32 Totals 38 162 45 107 27 16 1 9 1 406
* includes Arrows and Darts. As usual there’s been an increase in BPs, 200s have decreased a bit and hardly any change in 300+. Although the total is apparently less than last year all were run - no FaM. Events for next year are coming in faster than usual, with a noticeable increase in BRM: thanks to all concerned.
Peter Coulson
International Events Secretary Report
My main effort in my first year as AUK International Events Secretary has been devoted to making information about events abroad more readily accessible. There are an awful lot of rides out there... If you’re holidaying anywhere halfway likely, you’ll be able to ride an event, though you won’t necessarily be able to claim AUK points for it.
With Francis’ help, during the dark winter nights I set up a database of foreign events on the AUK website, picking out the longer rides as likely to be of greater interest to our members. The database is perforce selective, since there are too many events for any part-timer like me to keep track of. I’m hoping (quite hard) that updating this database will require less effort than setting it up did.
It’s hard for me to know whether this labour was justified. I’ve received relatively few direct queries from members, which may mean that lots of people have been finding the information they required from the website. Or, on the other hand, it could mean that few people have been riding abroad (the Central London CTC posse apart, of course)...
I noticed that Cyclo Passion, the French magazine with the most comprehensive listing of events for cyclosportifs and cyclotouristes, carried no information about rides in the UK. Time, I thought, for a gentle reminder that there are cyclists (and even tricyclists) doing silly things on this side of the Channel. At present it’s too soon to say whether my reminder will produce increased publicity for AUK events in Cyclo Passion.
Quite a few AUKs will be contemplating at least one foreign ride next year. I expect to find more French clubs organising their own BRM series as Paris-Brest-Paris qualifiers in 2003. If you’re planning to ride PBP, why not get into the spirit and ride a qualifying brevet in France?
Peter Marshall
ACP/RM Correspondant Report
With the approach of the 2003 Paris-Brest-Paris, the organisers Audax Club Parisien have been contacted and a timetable of qualifying rides and arrangements for the processing of AUK entries have been made. Many requests for information from new riders have been answered. And accommodation for those riding to Paris has been booked. The relationship between Les Randonneurs Mondiaux, ACP, AUK and other clubs is being formalised by the drafting of Regulations and Bylaws which will be discussed and adopted at the post PBP general meeting of LRM in Paris in 2003. Auk has had a considerable imput. Next year will be very busy!
Noel Simpson
Brevet Cards Production Secretary Report
Publication Secretary Report
No great innovations this year. Arrivee has expanded slightly, by reducing its white space, and the Handbook looks set to increase its pages. Contributors are now asked to provide some basic information and comment with their articles and this can take place as a standard filled-in form. Thanks to all our contributors and helpers, particularly Tim who produces the Spring and Summer editions, Francis who collates much of the Handbook info, Peter who provides the AUK Calendar data, the Membership team who provide the address data and Simon who is now putting together the Arrivée on-line page and a CD of archive articles.
Sheila Simpson
Press Secretary Report
System Manager Report
Its been a quiet year in general - very little to do in the way of replacing or upgrading hardware among committee members. With the current pace of change in the computer industry, such machines as are owned by AUK are little more than museum pieces, but with the modest demands we make of our gear, we get by. Twice this year, virus outbreaks which have afflicted the online community at large, have threatened to shut down the committee's email communications, and I fear this is a problem which will only get worse.
Web-based listings of Permanents, and of International Events, have been brought into line with the general Calendar format, so I hope people find these useful. I've put some effort into refining our web-based 'results service'. I'm aware that many people see this as encouraging 'competition', but my answer is that one of AUK's core functions is to record every successful ride ridden, and I see little point in doing this if those records are not then available for scrutiny. In recognition of the importance to us of 'recording', we're hoping that the AGM will approve a new 'Recorder' committee post for next year. If so, this should help the whole business of getting results visible on the web, run much more smoothly. This will be especially welcome in a PBP year. Thanks to the assistance of Terry Bateman, we are now also very close to having all previous results, back to 1988, archived on CD.
Francis Cooke