Committee Meeting held at Gloucester Boathouse

on Monday 22nd May 2006

 

Present: Mark Pollard (Chairman), Deirdre Squire, Rachael Britnell, Phil Cheeseman, Clive Pendry, Helen Russell, Zoe Mandeville and Stephen Rose.

 

Apologies: Gill Ragon, Brian Nelson and Rupert Charley.

 

Appointment of Treasurer

 

In accordance with the Constitution of the Club (rule 20), the Committee unanimously agreed to appoint Rachael Britnell to fill the vacant post of Treasurer until the next General Meeting of the Club.

 

Captain’s Report / Rowing Committee report

 

Deirdre reported that a new 80Kg coxless 4 had been ordered from Janousek’s. Rich Woods had negotiated a 10% discount, the cost will be £7500. Four sets of blades are to be bought by the Junior squad – the money coming from the balance in the old Junior account plus the surplus from the Easter training camp.

 

The Men’s squad did well at Wallingford but training has since been disrupted by holidays. The Ladies squad is making good progress.

 

The Club is very short of coxes. Sue Berry has been on a level 1 coxing course and is willing to run a similar course for coxes at the Club.

 

The Club needs to purchase some larger lifejackets for coaches to use.

 

The prop guard has been fitted to the launch. It was agreed that CLC should be encouraged to fit one to their launch.

 

The Junior squad, rowing as Gloucestershire Schools, did well at the Ball Cup. There were 4 individual wins and 4 second places. Overall, the squad came 2nd. Five crews were selected to represent WAGS in the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta.

 

There is to be a meeting with the University boat club on Friday 2nd June to discuss the future relationship between the clubs. Mark, Clive and Gill will represent the Club.

 

06040303: Deirdre to organise a ballot of members to decide which kit to adopt as the preferred racing strip. Done. The old kit (with diagonal stripes) was preferred.

 

Secretary’s Report

 

It was agreed that Martin and Gerry Jones could have a set of keys to the Club. (Post meeting note: these have been supplied and the deposit paid.)

 

Membership

 

05101705: Gill to produce notice of duties and get a copy to every member. Ongoing The draft notice was approved by the Committee. (Post meeting note: now done.)

05121207: Gill and Caz to develop a list of email addresses for Senior members. Ongoing. Almost complete.

 

Rachael asked for a list of members so that she could check that all subscriptions have been paid. Action 06052201 Rachael to draw up a list of all members who have paid to date and pass to Mark who will check for omissions.

 

Treasurer’s Report

 

Action 06052202 Mark will identify 2 members to act as auditors for last year’s accounts.

 

It was confirmed that the Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary will be signatories on the Club’s accounts with any one able to sign for the day-to-day accounts and any 2 to sign on the savings accounts.

 

The decision to put profits from the 200 Club and from the Bar to the new boathouse development was re-affirmed.

 

Rachael reported that the Curry night made £170 profit on food sales.

 

Safety

 

Clive reported that there had been 9 incidents (capsizes) in April (compared to 1 in the January-March period).

 

There had been a safety meeting at Wycliffe College sponsored by the ARA. There were a number of suggestions for improved risk assessments and risk management which the Club should consider. Action 06052203 Clive to organise a meeting of interested parties to discuss the recommendations from the ARA safety meeting.

 

Following the last meeting, Clive had issued some suggestions concerning safety rules for canoeists using the Club. He was still waiting for a response from Brockworth School. Action 06052204 Mark to ask Brockworth School for a response to Clive’s suggestions for a Canoeists Safety Policy.

 

The canal diversion has introduced new risks for crews where the canal narrows under the new bridge. Action 06052205 Clive to suggest revised navigation rules taking account of the new diversion.

 

The Risk Assessments for the Pub&Club, Regatta and LD Head have been updated following comments from BW.

 

Fund Raising

 

The Pub & Club training period is proceeding. Thanks were recorded for the work that John Squire had done to get the boats ready. Stephen reported that it appeared likely that the Red Cross would not be able to supply 1st Aid Cover for the event. It was felt that there were enough qualified 1st Aiders at the Club to provide sufficient cover for the event.

 

Futures

 

06040304: Stephen to start planning a presentation for members of the land purchase current proposals. Ongoing A start has been made

 

06040308 Stephen to present initial ideas for raising money for the new boathouse to the next Committee meeting. Ongoing A first draft was passed round at the meeting. Phil asked whether the Club would qualify for any of the £20M Olympic funding. Action 06052206 Stephen to check on qualifying rules for the £20m Olympic funding.

 

06040309 Stephen to write a summary of the land purchase negotiations for Gill to circulate to members. Done.

 

Mark reported that a group had met to discuss the future shape of the Club. Their discussions have been structured around the ARA Strategic Plan template. Their conclusions are being written up and will be circulated to the Committee for comment. As part of the process of drawing up a Strategic Plan, the Committee still has to approve the Junior Plan circulated earlier in the year. Action 06052207 Mark to circulate the notes on the future shape of the Club for comment.

 

The City Council was due to meet on the day of the Committee meeting to decide whether to build a major junction on the bypass to provide improved access for the Netheridge Farm site – it was later learnt that approval had been given. In early June a decision will be made on which of 2 competing schemes for developing the site is to be adopted. Both schemes include a site for the Club and once the decision has been made the Club will be able to enter final negotiations for purchasing land for development.

 

Premises

 

Phil is investigating the leaking roof which is making the weightroom wet. Phil is also investigating a replacement lock for the front door.

 

Regatta Committee

 

Stephen reported that one field that had previously been used for the Long Distance Head belongs to  BW but ownership of the other is not known. There is also a piece of common land that can be used but permission should be sought from the Parish Council (or similar body) out of courtesy. It was suggested that somebody should contact the Pirton bridgeman to find out who to contact for access to the fields and common land. Action 06052208 Stephen to ask Laurence to contact the Pirton bridgeman to find out who owns/controls access to the fields needed for parking at the LD Head.

 

06020606: Gill to discuss (Regatta) options with Ross. Done. Gill and Stephen met Ross Regatta Committee on 9th April. An outline agreement had been reached on running Gloucester Regatta at Ross and estimated costs were less than expected expenditure. Ross have still to confirm that their arrangements for First Aid (St John’s Ambulance) and safety boats can be extended to the Saturday. It was agreed to go ahead with this arrangement. Action 06052209 Stephen to check costs of using OARA for entries.

 

Publicity/website

 

Martin Jones had sent Stephen a draft publicity brochure on the day of the meeting. Action 06052210 Stephen to circulate Mr Jones’ publicity brochure for comment.

 

Deirdre and Mark are now able to update parts of the website.

 

AOB

 

06040310 Gill to check whether she has the spare part for the Cat trailer winch. Closed. She did not. A&D Marine have a winch for £92+VAT but it is too heavy. Action 06052211 Phil to find out whether the trailer business on Bristol Road have anything suitable.

 

Date of next Committee meeting: Monday 17th July 2006 at 7.45pm.