Hello All,
Well, it is a very long time since I last posted on this forum. I am posting now because I can see that some of you seem to have drawn the conclusion that there is a subversive hidden agenda for the forthcoming AGM, so let's see if I can calm matters for you.
Firstly, it is important for me to make it clear that I am an ordinary club member and not a committee member.
2006 has seen significant changes for the club on two key fronts.
The first and most significant concerns the magazine. This had thrived on the basis that sufficient copy had been received from the membership to assemble four issues a year up to the summer of 2006. Since last summer the committee has not received enough copy to fill one full issue.
The other is that we have not fielded enough cars at a number of competition events this year.
Now, I care about this club a lot. I have served my time as a committee member. I have co-edited the magazine with Paul. I have had a lot of fun shooting the breeze with my racing friends at the weekends and I don't want it all to fizzle out. If nothing positive is done now I think there is a better than even chance that this will be the inevitable outcome, is this really what we want to happen? I don't think so.
So, the club needs to be re-launched and re-vitalised with an "offer" that is different to the Enthusiasts' Club. At the moment I don't see any suggestions coming from other members, although I am still hopeful that some may come forward at the AGM.
Some of you are quite rightly concerned to ensure that the AGM is conducted in accordance with the Club Rules, so let me clarify.
Rule 22 states "The Annual General Meeting of the club shall be held in the month of October..." This is why the meeting is on the 28th. There isn't provision in the rules for a notice period for the AGM.
Rule 24 states "When members wish a matter to be discussed at a General Meeting, the text of such matters signed by at least two members shall be sent to the Secretary at least 14 days before the date of such meetings so that it may be included in the agenda.
A copy of the Agenda shall be made available to each member on the morning of the AGM."
Paul and I sent a signed proposal to the committee on the 6th October. It is a proposal for the eyes of those who are entitled to attend the AGM, so I trust you will all understand that I have no intention of publishing the details on an open forum. I will however confirm that it is a positive proposal to get the club back to strength. It is being put forward by two members who have contributed to the club's success in the past. You will be relieved to hear that our proposal is entirely in accord with the club's objectives in Rule 2. That is our simple and straight forward agenda.
If our proposal is voted through at the AGM there will need to be some changes to the Club Rules for it to work. If the membership present on the day do not vote for our proposal the rule changes won't be needed. Rule 28 states "Any alteration may be made to these rules provided that a) details of the proposed alteration or alterations are included in the notice of the General Meeting..." So, this is why you have received this information with your notice of the meeting.
We were concerned to stay within the MSA's definition of a club, so we have already checked their website to ensure we will still be compliant if the membership vote our proposals through.
Martin W is quite right when he says that I would not want my address given out over the net. We live in North Hampshire and the full adress is on your AGM notification letter. I hope to see you there if you can make it.
In the meantime I would like to respectfully suggest that this thread is used to see if there are any positive suggestions to turn the fortunes of the club around so that we can continue to enjoy and promote the GT40 and other similar cars together.
Andrew
(With apologies to John Bate, the avatur below describes my old car which is now his property, I will get round to changing it)
Well, it is a very long time since I last posted on this forum. I am posting now because I can see that some of you seem to have drawn the conclusion that there is a subversive hidden agenda for the forthcoming AGM, so let's see if I can calm matters for you.
Firstly, it is important for me to make it clear that I am an ordinary club member and not a committee member.
2006 has seen significant changes for the club on two key fronts.
The first and most significant concerns the magazine. This had thrived on the basis that sufficient copy had been received from the membership to assemble four issues a year up to the summer of 2006. Since last summer the committee has not received enough copy to fill one full issue.
The other is that we have not fielded enough cars at a number of competition events this year.
Now, I care about this club a lot. I have served my time as a committee member. I have co-edited the magazine with Paul. I have had a lot of fun shooting the breeze with my racing friends at the weekends and I don't want it all to fizzle out. If nothing positive is done now I think there is a better than even chance that this will be the inevitable outcome, is this really what we want to happen? I don't think so.
So, the club needs to be re-launched and re-vitalised with an "offer" that is different to the Enthusiasts' Club. At the moment I don't see any suggestions coming from other members, although I am still hopeful that some may come forward at the AGM.
Some of you are quite rightly concerned to ensure that the AGM is conducted in accordance with the Club Rules, so let me clarify.
Rule 22 states "The Annual General Meeting of the club shall be held in the month of October..." This is why the meeting is on the 28th. There isn't provision in the rules for a notice period for the AGM.
Rule 24 states "When members wish a matter to be discussed at a General Meeting, the text of such matters signed by at least two members shall be sent to the Secretary at least 14 days before the date of such meetings so that it may be included in the agenda.
A copy of the Agenda shall be made available to each member on the morning of the AGM."
Paul and I sent a signed proposal to the committee on the 6th October. It is a proposal for the eyes of those who are entitled to attend the AGM, so I trust you will all understand that I have no intention of publishing the details on an open forum. I will however confirm that it is a positive proposal to get the club back to strength. It is being put forward by two members who have contributed to the club's success in the past. You will be relieved to hear that our proposal is entirely in accord with the club's objectives in Rule 2. That is our simple and straight forward agenda.
If our proposal is voted through at the AGM there will need to be some changes to the Club Rules for it to work. If the membership present on the day do not vote for our proposal the rule changes won't be needed. Rule 28 states "Any alteration may be made to these rules provided that a) details of the proposed alteration or alterations are included in the notice of the General Meeting..." So, this is why you have received this information with your notice of the meeting.
We were concerned to stay within the MSA's definition of a club, so we have already checked their website to ensure we will still be compliant if the membership vote our proposals through.
Martin W is quite right when he says that I would not want my address given out over the net. We live in North Hampshire and the full adress is on your AGM notification letter. I hope to see you there if you can make it.
In the meantime I would like to respectfully suggest that this thread is used to see if there are any positive suggestions to turn the fortunes of the club around so that we can continue to enjoy and promote the GT40 and other similar cars together.
Andrew
(With apologies to John Bate, the avatur below describes my old car which is now his property, I will get round to changing it)
