Minutes of meeting held 14/05/24
Present – Darren Haynes (Chairman), Dan Street (Road Race Secretary), Paget Cohen (Press Secretary and Club Rides Coordinator) and Neil Edwards (Time-Trial Secretary)
Apologies for absence – Graham Jeffs (Treasurer and President) and Gina Boakes (Women’s Representative and Members Secretary)
Minutes of Last Meeting (5th March 2024) – Accepted.
Officers Reports
- Chairman (DB) –
Newsletter has been reformatted by NE in html format so that it can be viewed on mobile phones as well as PCs/laptops. Feature on Peter Baker has been converted into a link as was considered too long to include; DH will post this on our Website as a News item.
News headlines to be promoted by DS on Instagram.
Aim is for future newsletters to be quarterly.
NE will devise the next edition.
Website redesign to be done by a friend/colleague of NE.
Discussion was had as to what to drop from or add to existing and what features should be given prominence.
It was agreed that the current Website is passive and should be more active in terms of making clear what the Club does and how people can get involved.
It was agreed that each Committee Member should compile their views on the matter ahead of an informal meeting to finalise our decision.
DS questioned whether the Website was the only online means to becoming a Club Member and what alternative methods could be created.
It was agreed that we need fresh, high quality photos of riders in our latest kit for the refresh. PC will contact Lawrence Watts to see if he can help, and others will ask around.
WhatsApp Community still to be created as PC didn’t have access to “LWCC TT” Group
DB added so PC will compose standard message announcing plan to close and recreate each Group within Community.
Committee Members to be added to Community first to test functionality.
Non-Volunteering Members issue was raised by NE who proposed for 2025 a two-tier membership system with those not willing to help out paying say £60 (=£5/month) to highlight the need for volunteers. Discussion was had as to alternatives and how any scheme might be enforced or administered. DB suggested putting it to the Membership, but framing the proposal on the basis that we may have to pay people from outside the Club to take on roles, e.g. marshalling.
Treasurer role on Committee has a successor lined up as NE has persuaded Graham Faultless to take on the post, subject to a meeting with GJ to explain the finer points.
- Secretary (PC took minutes) –
Post vacant – Nothing to report.
- Treasurer (GJ absent) –
GJ absent. Apologies sent, Nothing to report.
See above re potential successor in role.
- Time-Trial Secretary (NE) –
Circuit of Laughton is confirmed as going ahead tomorrow as volunteers were found for all tasks.
DS met with Sam Dix of trainSharp who agreed (in Jon Sharples’ absence) to open up the premises for use as HQ for our first Evening 10 on Monday 20th May. DS will check whether coffee will be available.
Discussion was had as to the plan if Evening 10s don’t attract many riders. It was agreed that it isn’t worth running if fewer riders than those needed to run the event = 5. We would run the first three Evening 10s and review the situation after Round 3.
Evening 10s to be promoted to trianSharp via their WhatsApp Group to which DS and NE are part of.
NE had a handover meeting with GJ (with PC) in attendance on 24th April 2024 when the hardcopy folder of TT documents was handed over and contents explained.
DB had updated our Website Course info to show East Hoathly Village Hall as HQ for GS87/10 (Boship) and trainSharp as HQ for GS88/10 (Broyle) Courses.
PC noted that the CTT Website showed GS87 (Boship) Course for all our Evening 10s. NE would investigate with GJ as to gaining access via CTT Club Account to amend this and any other changes.
- Road Race Secretary (DS) –
Still only Barry Mitchell and Joe Benians signed up for the trainSharp training offer as DS has been unable to find a suitable third candidate willing to commit.
DS will chase both for details of their progress as part of tier agreement to take up the offer.
NE suggested promotion to Preston Park Youth CC which DS will follow up.
It was noted that we are offering 20% off trainSharp training packages for existing members as part of Membership Benefits, but not everyone is paying full price due to tS pricing policies; DB to review and update that part of the Website and remove inconsistent information
Crit Races still only have half the number of volunteers required so far.
First Crit Race coincides with Roebuck Public House D-Day barbecue, but this shouldn’t affect race and those involved with Crits are encouraged to enjoy the hospitality.
Laughton Village Hall has been secured as HQ for all three Crits and has good parking (via access gate to south) and room for the race convoy to assemble off the road.
We are still reliant on enough AMS marshalls being available for each race to go ahead.
Instagram promotion has helped generate interest, including from Cat 2 racers, although races are to remain Cat 3 and Cat 4 while can still operate on that basis.
DH still has email addresses of those to race in previous years and will email invitations to them.
DS to chase Barry Mitchell on production of new, replacement signage.
- Press Secretary (PC) –
Nothing to report.
- Membership Secretary (GB absent) –
GB absent. Apologies sent. Reports 68 members in the week before the Committee Meeting, with 1 payment pending and 2 second-claim racing for other clubs. 8 female members, of whom 3 are honorary.
- Women’s Representative (GB absent) –
Nothing to report.
- Club Ride Coordinator (PC) –
Numbers on Club Rides are very healthy, such that enough to split into faster and slower groups. Arrival of warmer weather has seen everyone in Club Kit for the last two rides which is great to see.
Forge Rides are also very popular and well attended, as was Somerset Sportive.
Any Other Business
Nothing to report.
Date of next Committee Meeting of Tuesday 13th August (7pm at Alma Arms) agreed upon.