Club Minutes

Latest Minutes

Present:

Babs Drinkwater (BabD), Barry Drinkwater (BD), Iain Atkinson (IA), Jack Sanderson Baillie (JSB), Neil Irwin (NI) & Rebecca Wagstaff (RW) 

1. Standing Items

1.1. Approve Minutes of Previous Meeting

The minutes of the previous meeting held 31st August 2023 were approved..

1.2. Membership & Budget Status Update from the Treasurer

The Membership and Budget status was presented by BD. 

The closing balance for the Club account on the 18th January was £3258.48.

Recent expenditure includes: 

• £532 AGM Room & Meal for 45. 

• £74.00 BC Affiliation.

Upcoming expenditure includes:

• £23.98 for domain renewal with 123-reg (renewal by 17/03/24).

Current membership stands at 147.

2. Business Arising

2.1. Ouch Pouch Status

RW confirmed a message had been put on the RL group enquiring if anyone needed any top ups. No requests were received for any top ups however, a member had asked for an ouch pouch. RW added that a good addition to the pouch would be some antihistamine cream for insect bites which would cost in the region of £50 for all RLs.

It was noted during committee discussion that for longer rides, the ouch pouches were less practical due to them taking up a bottle cage.

2.2. AGM Prep

ACTIONED - All AGM prep was actioned prior to the AGM on 15/11/23. The AGM was well attended with 45 members present on the evening.

2.3. Consider Next Season’s Routes 

Moved to 3.6.

2.4. Mid-week Start Time Adjustment for September

ACTIONED – the start times were brought forward for the remaining mid-week rides

2.5. Circuit Arrangements for Winter

ACTIONED – circuit sessions are back up and running and will continue so long as there is a demand from the membership.

2.6. Winter Kit Order

CANCELLED – a winter order did not go-ahead due to lack of demand.

3. New Business

3.1. Amend Constitution with AGM Approved Change

A proposal was presented and passed by members at the AGM to waive membership fees for elected posts. The Constitution will now be amended on the Club’s website to action this change. NI agreed to countersign with IA.

ACTION: IA – Amend Constitution.

3.2. Social Fund Suggestions

RW had recruited DL & ES at the AGM to help with this (for further details refer to AGM Minutes). RW has created a draft and will contact the above to discuss.

ACTION: RW – Continue work on proposal.

3.3. CRCC Involvement with Silloth Cycling Festival

This item arose from membership discussion at the AGM. The Committee agreed that a sportive would be too difficult to organise but that members could perhaps help out with marshalling etc on the day. The event will be held sometime in June and the Club will advertise on FB & the Club app nearer the time. JSB agreed to liaise with NW.

ACTION: JSB – Liaise with NW.

3.4. Managing Rides – cancellations etc

The Committee recognises that administration forms a significant part of managing the Club rides. It was suggested that perhaps someone could be recruited to a new post to help out with this whilst JSB concentrates on creating the routes. The Committee agreed this was a good idea and would reach out to the membership for a volunteer. The post holder will also have their subs paid in line with Committee members.   

ACTION: BD – FB post to advertise new role.

3.5. First Aid Courses

The Club provides official first aid training for any member who is prepared to be a ride leader. In previous years this training has been arranged via one of SH’s contacts. NI agreed to liaise with SH and determine any demand for courses with the RLs.

ACTION: NI – Liaise with SH and RLs requiring training 

3.6. Club Rides Review

This item generated a lot of discussion. 

Concerns were raised throughout the season about the pace of some rides stretching the boundaries of their respective colour categories. This has been an ongoing issue with Blue rides for some time but had also crept into the green group last season. RW pointed out that the latter had resulted in some long standing green riders no longer attending green rides because they were now too quick or too hilly. IA stated that the lack of RLs for green rides hadn’t helped and had resulted in some riders within the group becoming unofficial RLs. It was also noted that there are now some riders in the green group who, due to health issues, have dropped down from blue but are strong riders and this had inevitably affected the pace of green. 

Another issue raised included some riders being dropped or left by the group due to mechanicals. It was recognised that ideally every group should have a leader and a back marker but unfortunately due to a lack of RLs this usually wasn’t possible. It was acknowledged however that group management overall could be better.

A number of solutions to the above were discussed including paced rides and a recruitment drive for green RLs or asking RLs from other groups to occasionally help out with green rides. It was also suggested that a RL social may help by getting the RLs together to discuss how the groups could be better managed and perhaps recruit some more RLs. RW also asked if IA could supply a list of members so that she could target lapsed green riders to try and get them back out again.

Finally, JSB mentioned a potential new route for mid-week rides taking in Mungrisedale although it would require a separate, shorter and less hilly route for green riders.

ACTIONS:  JSB – Engage with RLs re: social/recruitment drive.

  IA – Supply RW with a list of members.

  RW – Contact lapsed green riders.

3.7. Socials

The Committee agreed to discuss this item at a later meeting.

3.8. Club Kit

The Club still has some stock at MC’s shop however, with MC no longer being on the Committee, the Club would need to look at how we manage and order kit going forward. BabD agreed to discuss with MC and the Committee agreed to carry this item forward to the next meeting’s agenda.

ACTION: BabD - Speak to MC

3.9. Any Other Business

No further items were raised.

4. Ending Items

4.1. Actions Reviewed

Actions were reviewed and agreed.

4.2. Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on the 15th February 19:00hrs @The Near Boot.