Kyle Kayak Club
Annual General Meeting
4th October 2009
Present:
Kev Theaker, Jez Webb, Neil MacDonald, Connor Paschke, John Paschke, Jim Hyslop, Alan Gough, Lorna Sherwood, Bill McKinlay, Brian Alner, George Maskell, Gregor MacQuarrie, Maurice Cathcart,
Russell Cathcart, Joe Gladston, Jake Dippenaar, George McMillan.
Apologies: Bridget Oates, Lee Hazley
Chairman's Welcome
4.10pm Jeremy Webb welcomed all present. The minutes of the 2008 AGM were adopted with no corrections.
Review of Club Activities 2008-09
Jeremy Webb summarised the years activites
This has become popular both within the club and across the country. Evening paddles have continued all summer with participants every week.
The introductory course after the pool sessions was well attended. This was followed by a quiet spell as the water was low but trips have now picked up.
This has been a new aspect of the club this year but Russell and Graeme, with Frederico's coaching have been very successful
It has been a quiet year for training, some of which is down to changes in the BCU coaching qualifications. Safety courses have been popular, with the white water safety and rescue course being well attended. Sea kayak safety courses should be possible in the future.
The new boats have been well used. In particular the Topo Duo has been useful to introduce beginners to river paddling. Club branded fleeces and hoodies are now available to buy.
Treasurer's Report
Kev Theaker passed around copies of the previous years' accounts.
The lottery money was spent in the last year (but shows as a loss as capital entered accounts in the previous year). Some money was spent on coaching though the bill for the White Water Safety and Rescue course has yet to be received.
Income
- £2,806 - Membership and Pool Sessions
- £23.38 - Interest
Expenditure
- £6,710 - Capital
- £105 - Coaching/Courses
- £914.40 - Pool Hire
- £50.00 - SCA Membership
- £68.88 - Other
The closing balance is £4,149.29.
It was suggest some of this could/should be spent on coaching. Repair costs are low. No kit was sold last year though this should be reviewed this year. The Award for All report has been completed and the account closed. £650 remains in another account - this had been allocated to purchase the Topo Duo but has yet to be transferred.
The possibility of trying again for a National Lotto grant was discussed. Kev Theaker explained that it is a possibility but the money is getting harder to get without good reasoning targeted to their criteria and it was agreed that at present the club does not fit this.
Election of Officers and Committee Members
New Elections
- Bosun - Jeremy Webb wished to stand down. Jeremy proposed Neil MacDonald, Kev Theaker seconded. Neil accepted.
- Membership - Kev Theaker wished to stand down. Alan Gough proposed Lorna Sherwood, Kev Theaker seconded. Lorna accepted.
- Committee - Lee Hazley wished to stand down. Gregor MacQuarrie proposed Joe ??? Lorna Sherwood seconded. Joe accepted.
Previous/Current Positions
- Chairman - Jeremy Webb
- Finance - Kev Theaker
- Secretary - Bridget Oates
- Youth - Russell Cathcart
- Slalom - Maurice
- Committee - Gregor McQuarry
» Jeremy Webb to investigate necessity to change standing orders and/or constitution to add new roles.
Any Other Business
Gregor MacQuarry proposed to increase the differential between member and non-members. He suggested this to encourage people to become members and to highlight the benefits of being a member - access to the kit both in the pool and outside where you must be a member to use it, as well as insurance. Access to the website forum is also only available to members.
Kev Theaker confirmed there was no need from the financial position to increase the fees as there has been no increase in the charge for the pool.
The following prices were proposed:
Class Annual Fee Pool Charges
Member Non-Member
Juniors 
£10.00 £2.00 £5.00
Adults £20.00 £3.00 £6.00
Family £30.00 n/a n/a
A vote was made. The new prices were carried 9 votes to 7.
Jeremy Webb explained that it is currently too easy to access the boat store, leaving the club open to theft as well as it being difficult to know who has what. Jeremy proposed that
- all movements and use of kit go through the bosun, in advance
this information will be kept online, available to all members
- committee members to receive identity cards to be presented at the Citadel to allow access
- all commitee members have a key to the kit store and so can allow access when needed
Gregor MacQuarrie seconded this proposal.
» Jeremy Webb to speak to Neil MacDonald to set this up
» Committee members to add details to membership directory on website
» Jeremy Webb to give Citadel new mobile numbers for contact person (again)
- South Ayshire Local Access Forum
John Paschke expalined that he currently has a position on this forum but due to work commitments can no longer attend and wishes to stand down. He proposed someone take over this role to support the needs of river users in river access decisions. This person could also be the contact with the SCA access officers. The meetings are on a Wednesday evening roughly every 2 months.
There were no volunteers but the committee agreed to consider this further.
Alan Gough raised the point that the regular weekly river trips seemed to have stopped. All agreed it should be possible to post on the club forum mid-week if there were plans for the weekend.
It was generally agreed that people did not like to commit to a long period of running trips suitable for newer paddlers as the trips/level required didn't always match that which the organiser would usually choose. It was also agreed however that this kind of informal training is vital for the club and for new members.
Alan Gough agreed to try and put together a team of volunteers who could lead or assist in the occasional easy river trip, splitting the commitment between more people. Trips would be posted on the club forum.
Kev Theaker requested some assistance in collecting money / taking names at the pool sessions as there would be a number of weeks he can't be present, and he'd also like to spend more time in the pool. Lorna Sherwood agreed she could help with this.
Maurice Cathcart proposed that as there are two new members interested in slalom it might be a good time to invest in some club slalom boats as a lack of suitable boats was holding people back. He emphasised that slalom is particularly fun for junior members and it is also carried out in a controlled environment in which parents can be present. Good sturdy boats should cost about £725 each.
» Committee members agreed to discuss this at the next committee meeting.
AGM closed 5:45pm
