Western Region Committee Meeting

Minutes of 15th August 2004

Attendances: Eddie, NotAvon (& standing in on behalf of Bristol for this meeting after Stuart Mc’s resignation); Paul McCullough, Andrew Neal & Alan Jones from Mid Wilts; Paul, Regional Events; Bill Pugsley, Committee Chairman; Trace, Swindon Rep; Derwen, Regional NC Liaison; Kath, Treasurer; Geoff Mills - Observing; Anne, Admin.

Apologies: Sheila, Products; Andy M, IT; George, MP/MEP & Newsletter; Brian, Clubs; Robbie, FoD Rep.

AWOL: Andy, W&NS Rep; Spider (Stuart D), Webmaster.

2. Minutes of the last meeting

These were accepted with a couple of minor amendments.

3. Matters Arising

Wristbands Aíné had volunteered to get a quote for Regional Wristbands for events. Of the samples acquired, it was decided to go for the hardwearing paper/fibre type and to try and find a supplier of specialist computer stationery where these could be purchase on an A4 sheet and the PC then set up to type event/details/whatever.
ACTION: Aíné

It was decided to ask George if he would be willing to take care of any printing - should the wristbands be available in this format.

4. AROUND THE GROUPS

Mid Wilts

Bill read out a communication** from Paul, Andrew & Alan from mid-Wilts. Mid Wilts are ready to re-launch, with a new venue, two mail outs per year and events.
The Committee were delighted by this and it was great to see Chippenham members at the meeting. Their input to the meeting very valid.

ACTION: Derwen to obtain address/contact details for area members
Aíné will type up ** and circulate to the Regional Committee before next meeting for record purposes.

Bristol (courtesy of Ed)

1. Stuart McNamara had resigned due to personal circumstances. This was a great loss to Bristol as he was a good Rep. Andy Derrett, vice Rep, did not feel able to take on the full Reps job with his working commitments.
2. Recent BBQ, though not well supported, raised £70.
3. Sian, Bristol Treasurer, would be passing up monies to Region soon after the Bike Show.
4. A possible new venue for the Bristol Meeting is being explored, basically because of the locality of the present venue. Ed explained the issues and that it was hard to weigh up a possible new venue with the generosity of our present Landlady! Watch this space.
5. Local Transport Meetings - it is sadly very difficult to get to these as they are held during the day. Andy, who would attend on behalf of Bristol, is self employed and therefore loses a great deal of money to attend.

Paul McCullaugh is also self employed & covers his meetings losing income.

This led to the following suggestion from Geoff Mills:

"That Regional funds be used to recompense those attending these meetings who are losing income if self employed." [at this juncture a figure of £25 per half day was mention but nothing definitive agreed upon - Aíné hopes to continue this discussion within the Committee on email and get something ironed out well before the next meeting]

This suggestion was discussed with great enthusiasm, especially ploughing some funds back where, locally, members/briders can benefit from it, and went further "... To recompense anyone who is employed who might negotiate ‘time off without pay’ to attend meetings."

Plus "....To refund expenses for anyone who is unemployed who can attend meetings."

The discussion stressed the importance of attendance at these meetings. Geoff informed us that the Council would have to present its findings to Central Government by July 2005 and without representation from MAG, local riders would be at an extreme disadvantage.

Swindon

Trace reported this Group is doing well with meetings extremely well attended, rides out etc. [A success story].

Weston & North Somerset

1. This Group is planning to start a Regional Rally in September 2005, despite recent problems at the proposed venue. Watch this space for further news.
2. Beach Race - October.
   Suggestion was made to increase the parking space made available from last year.

Also that it be pointed out to the council the signposting for the motorcycle parking for that event. Last year several bikes were stolen from the ‘unofficial’ parking area.

There seemed some confusion as to who was actually liasing with the Council now Ian was not local Rep. Constant contact with the ‘respectives’ in the Council being paramount, especially in light of the fact that Ian’s personal contacts might be lost.

ACTION: Bill to address this at the next Weston meeting & to ensure ‘handing over of information’ from Ian Moore.

A ?? still hangs over whether Weston will be hosting the Beach Race in future years due to the alleged ‘methods of business’ used by some establishments in the Weston area.

Gloucester

1. Hired out marquee for private function - amount to be arranged.
2. Meetings well attended
3. Group is quietly expanding
4. Possible ROSPA meeting
5. Possible Xmas Party
6. Regular ride-outs
7. GCHQ had 192 employees commute on bikes during Nat Motorcycle week on Ride to work day

NotAvon

1. Regularly meeting in their nomadic state eating at various establishments.
2. Looking for a possible permanent venue.

5. REGIONAL OFFICERS REPORTS

Treasurer - Kath

Funds in Region stand at £3,956.00
A donation had recently been sent to MAG Central. Decision to hold onto our monies for possible new Marquee, Events and ploughing back into the Region for the benefit of local riders.
Old invoice for supply of SB’s couriered two years ago has been settled out of the Products funds - adjustments will be made later.

Walkie Talkies - ‘housebrick size but still functional and definitely not nickable’.
ACTION: Derwen to negotiate purchase price under £40.

National Treasurer - needs to know Group & Regional Account details.
ACTION: All Group Treasurer’s = Please supply Kath with spreadsheets or bank statements and she will liaise with the National Finance Officer.

6. RAMS (Regional Affairs Meeting) - Report by Derwen

1. Southern MAG success with bike meeting and co-ordinating parking of large numbers of riders.
2. Beaulieu - good PR but bad siting for MAG stand
3. Humberbridge Toll and Tyne Tunnel - possible Demo if negotiations fail.
4. Farmyard Party successful - possible £50k donation to MAG Foundation.
5. 1st Yorkshire Pudding Rally - successful.
6. Trevor Baird - still enormous workload. Suggested Regional Points of Presence to help
7. Ian Moore, National Chairman, had tabled an Agenda Item entitled "Representation". Derwen was able to approach Regional Reps that he had been labeled as a "postman" for the Region. It had been alleged that the NC were not happy with the representation of Western Region at National level. As a result of the discussion it transpired that no one was unhappy with Western’s representation and a Vote of Confidence was given at the National Committee Meeting later in the afternoon.

BOARD MEETING

1. Pete Walker to be offered post of Fund Raising Manager for the Foundation for Premier Events.
   [It was questioned that this conflicted with what we were told PW’s role would be as per our Minutes of last meeting]
2. NFL, now MAG’s Commercial Manager doing jobs as directed from the Board.
3. Neil Liversidge still needs access to the NC List to feed back on matters which come under his current role . It was suggested that as NFL’s Employer (as a Contractor to MAG), the Board stress the terms of this NC access and the National Chairman confirmed that this would be done.
4. MAG Direct income - discussion on % discount offers for Advanced. Periodic reviews of insurance companies. Advantages only available to members through SB.

NATIONAL COMMITTEE (NC) MEETING

1. Foundation moving well:
1. MAG Foundation Theft Seminar 18th September Stratford - Regions allowed 5 places each - free (83 total) with 150 paying places being offered to Organisations and Police
2. Helmet Research
3. Rider Training
2. Streetbiker Survey correlation. Central to contact George Legg to see if he would like to undertake some of this.
3. MAIDs
4. MAG website - basically ‘shit’;.
   The company designing our website have failed to deliver & discussions with them re our payment etc.
   Website working group has been set up with our Andy M being part of that.
5. Survey is being done by Ian Mutch on StreetBiker distribution for print runs etc.
6. Ian Mutch's ‘Campaign for Real Justice’.
7. NC gave a Vote of Confidence in the way Western Region is represented at National Level.
8. One result from the survey in StreetBiker was that people wanted an A4 format [what many of us have been saying for years!!!***]
9. Trevor Baird’s Report to NC - at end of these Minutes for use with your Groups.
10. Government Advisory Group on Motorcycling: Final Report to Government is on the DoT website - Derwen recommends reading it.

7. WESTON BIKEFEST - Report back

Good turn out. Amount collected to be split between MAG and Freewheelers. Reported in local press.

8. BRISTOL BIKE SHOW - Saturday 21 August

Marshalls needed.
ACTION: Aíné to email out to Group Reps

Clifton Rugby Club, Cribbs Causeway is the after show party with Band, BBQ etc.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

1. Pink sheets for Reps are being re-drafted as these are a bit out-dated. Derwen to bring to Regional Committee Meeting for completion.
   ACTION: ALL REPS - GET YOUR MUGSHOTS DONE IN READINESS
2. Reps Training - next planned for South West/West/Southern area
3. Temp Membership cards & marshals bibs - Bill has a small supply. Gloucester hold a MAG Stand box full of goodies.
4. LIFE MEMBERSHIPS Once again, the subject of the Life Memberships & Ian Moore’s explanation of why the Board had taken the decision to increase the LF subscription was taken up. Paul feels very strongly about this as he joined as an LM at a time when MAG needed the money and felt financing a LM commitment would help out. Others, who feel just as strongly on this issue, joined as LMs because of their commitment to the Organisation’s aims and objectives and feel their commitment is being trivialised.

Derwen asked to bring to NC the suggestion that comparisons are made & possibility of LM monies being invested over a period of years to accumulate interest, as suggested at our previous Regional Meeting.
ACTION: Derwen

Welsh Motorcycle Shows

Paul asked if the meeting between Ian Moore, Derwen Hinds & Steve Bennett had taken place?

It has not. Derwen has asked Ian if he would allow anyone else to deputise with Derwen for this meeting & Ian wishes to attend in person.

The observation was made from several quarters that here we are 9 weeks down the line with this meeting still not having taken place. Builth Wells and Anglesey are billed as ‘MAG Premier Events’; most of the paying public assume these to be MAG events; many of the MAG members marshalling believe this is a MAG event and MAG has had no donation. There was a feeling within the Regional Committee that this could be interpreted as deception where MAG may end up with egg on its face and felt it imperative things were clarified asap.

Some WR members who were going to marshall at Anglesey were awaiting feedback from the MAG/WMS meeting before actually signing up as Marshalls and will not, now, be volunteering for marshalling duties.

Once again, Aíné pointed out that at a special NC/WMS meeting of last year (2003) it was agreed by both parties that WMS books would be audited by the MAG National Treasurer. This has not been adhered to.
ACTION: Derwen to progress this.
[post meeting note: since this meeting we have had sight of a Report by Pete Walker into the Contract with MAG/WMS and this, together with where MAG wishes to go in the future will be dealt with by the NC at the October meeting].

The meeting noted that Paul expects some answers to both the aforementioned items (LMs and WMS) by the next Regional Meeting.

Georges Expenses - Aíné expressed concern that George had not claimed any expenses for his telephone calls, internet provision etc., which had been agreed by Region. Bill to peruse this and come back with the ‘sums’.
ACTION: BILL

2005 REGIONAL - ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Weston had offered to host this. Details of venue etc., required by next meeting.
ACTION: BILL/GEORGE

Meeting closed at 16:46

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