Minutes of Western Region Committee Meeting
10^th December 2006

Mayors Arms, Bristol

Present:

Robbie, (FoD Rep). George, (MEP/WRAG Editor/Events Co-ordinator). Bill Pugsley (W&NS Rep & Committee Chairman). Kath (Regional Treasurer). Trace (NC Liaison). Stuart D, (Webmaster). Andy Meredith (Communications Officer). Taff (mid Wilts. Paul, (mid Wilts Rep). Andy Kerr, (mid Wilts). Anne, (regional admin).

Apologies:

Di (Membership). Ed (NotAvon). Paul S (Events Officer)

October Minutes – Matters of Correctness

Trace had emailed his corrections and these will be made prior to publication etc.

Matters Arising

• Anne updated on the Regional Stand in that she had emailed Instant Pop- ups a week prior to the meeting and not yet received a reply. She will chase them for a quote. ACTION Anne
• Anne had written to Stephanie Fowler some 2/3 weeks prior to the meeting on the subject of exactly what Fowlers allowed MAG members in the way of discount and had received no reply. Anne to chase. ACTION Anne
• Public Liability Insurance (PLI) – Trace found a copy of the Policy in the 2005 NC Pack and also had 2 copies of details of cover.

Officers Reports

• Spider – nothing to report. Bimbling along.
• Andy M &ndash had spent many hours trying to get the MAG central server to run the same mailing lists as he holds on his IT for our Region but no go.
  There followed a IT discussion with Andy & Spider looking intelligent and the
• rest of us completely lost.
• Troll – fairly quiet at present with the 3rd DLD still ongoing.
• Di – Bill let us know that Di was sending out the relevant letters to lapsed members.
• Kath – Had only received Group accounts from Forest of Dean & NotAvon.
  Anne had spoken to the Bristol Treasurer and Sian would send accounts to Kath and that Bristol were passing up £1k. Anne reminded Group Reps that although they had Group Treasurers it was the Reps responsibility to ensure accounts were in order and passed onto the Regional Treasurer prior to the Regions Annual Group Meeting.
  W&NS, Glos and Mid Wilts Reps would action soonest. ACTION Bill/Paul M/Trace
• Regional Products – In response to the email, Denny had replied that she only took control of Glos Products and had no idea where the Regional Products were or the accounts for same.
  Bill to chase this up with Val. [Bill can you report back asap so that we know what is happening prior to our AGM because it will look very bad if accounts are not forthcoming and Officers don’t know what’s going on or where products or money are – thanks] ACTION Bill

Reps Reports

• Swindon – Fairly quiet recently.
  Good attendance at Mid Wilts Party.
• Glos MAG – Meetings quiet; a few weekend runs;
  Easter Rally happening;
  Trace is resigning as Glos MAG Rep.
• Mid-Wilts – AGM is early February. Observer = Andy Meredith.
  After Run Party made £135.00.
  Regular hard core attendees.
• Forest of Dean – First meeting of the month is now the Business Meeting.
  Group T shirts was discussed at last meeting.
  Still thinking of organising a Bike Show.
  Skittles evening raised £86 and as held the same night as the Jesters Party at Taunton for Krissie, Group decided to split 50/50 and Robbie passed me a cheque for the Stem Cell Appeal for £50 including an anonymous donation.
  18th December – Brain Boiler Quiz.
• Bristol – Turkey Trot Thursday night (14th), £6.50. Ticket only ring Clare.
  £1K being passed up to Region.
  Pushing for Manhole Cover to become National Campaign – Anne remembered this was adopted as a National Campaign at an AGC – possibly at Weston. Spider will contact Campaigns Officer. ACTION Spider.
  Mobile phones campaign is ongoing but slow progress.
• Weston & North Somerset – Xmas Meal 13th December.
  Start planning for the GWR.

NC Meeting Report

Observed by Andy Kibert, Editor of the Harley Davidson Magazine.

Financial Officer – Farmyard Party cheque had to be returned so MAP could reduce the amount they were paying to MAG because of expenses incurred paying for security training.

Yorkshire Region – Some groups are dying. Organising a Yorkshire Landmarks Run. Produced a Motorcycle Awareness Booklet which are distributing to Driving Schools as a trial and may later be rolled out by the Foundation nationally, dependent upon how things go in Yorkshire.

Our AGM Observer -is to be Ian Mutch but he will need reminding at frequent intervals!

Club Affiliation – A working party has been set up!!

Campaigns Manager – gave 2 presentations to the NC. One on business planning and a second on campaign strategy and each Region is to be provided with a booklet “How to win campaigns.”

The Road Distribution – we are now being asked to get back all those Dealers on side who we were told NOT to give copies to for distribution and ask them if they will take copies into their premises!

Two Motions were put forward -1) Try to achieve recognition by MCIA of MAG UK and 2) Try to achieve recognition by MCIA for ACEM. Both were defeated by the NC.

Guest Speakers -Pete Walker on running/planning events. Licensing etc.
PLI differing in various counties.

Angie – Came to NC to report that there was no money to be made in National products. WR Committee question why it is necessary to make money as the idea of ‘regalia/products’ is to get the organisation out there and advertised.

Training Weekends – Neil Stevenson has booked the North Training Weekend.
The Southern version is scheduled for 16-18 March in Oxford area and requires numbers.

Foundation – Gift Aid has been set up.
MAG Foundation may organise a ‘stand alone event’.
The hitherto proposed Road Hazard alert website is now not ongoing. Yellow cards to be used as usual with a copy going to MAG Foundation as well.

Public Affairs Report – Trace is emailing Trevor’s Report to me.

3^rd DL Directive – Has been passed through the Transport Committee who were aware of the issues raised by the motorcycling lobby but the Bill was voted through with no amendments.

Crash Barriers – New Guidelines are going to relevant Engineers and Councils with full information on motorcycle friendly Armco.

DTRLights – discussion was utter chaos!

MAG Energy – A working party had been set up to find ways to attract younger members to MAG. They had come up with:
Up to 7 MAG Juniors £3.50
8-15 MAG Youth £10
16-25 Full MAG Membership with reduction
Students Reduced subscription.
Several Logo’s were shown to NC – one of which was a wheelie rider and this was general condemned by WR Region Committee as not the correct image.
Also, WR Committee questioned the feasibility of the fees etc., as above.

Motion to NC – to cease our membership of FEMA was rejected.

FEMA – NC voted to reduce fees MAG pays to FEMA to fall in line with membership figures.

Voting within FEMA – proposed changes not going down very well in some quarters.

Annual Awards – were discussed.

BikeSafe – 3 x 3 stand has been booked by Trace. Neil Stevenson wants to bring a 6 x 3 National Stand and half be worked as Foundation and half as MAG by Glos MAG. Trace to go back to Glos MAG to see what they prefer.

Public Liability Insurance (PLI) – Trace had enquired regarding the annual premium cost to MAG for their umbrella insurance = £13220. Income = Groups £1753 = 39 policies. Clubs £9298 = 45 policies.

Regional Proposal to AGC – The wording of a proposal on the issue of local groups having to pay for cover if they are putting on a MAG stand at an event was discussed. WR Committee feel very strongly that it is not a fair strategy.

Regional Annual Group Meeting

Food & refreshments being provided by W&NS Group.
Admin all under way via Anne.
Already copied the Standing Orders for Proposal to AGM.
Agenda ongoing.
Concern expressed over the non receipt by the Regional Treasurer of Group Accounts. FoD and NotAvon had produced theirs and complied. ACTION Group Reps.
Sian, Bristol Treasurer, had told Anne on previous Saturday that although her accounts couldn’t be signed off until the Group AGM in late January, she promised to send unsigned copy to Regional Treasurer and Bristol were handing up £1k.
It was reiterated that the responsibility for ensuring the Group Treasurer provided these was that of the Group Rep. ACTION Group Reps

Easter Rally Update

Nich and Bev from Glos MAG had decided to put on a Rally at Easter. It would be called the Ded Duk.
Help required as in past years from Region.
This would not be a Regional Event but a Glos MAG Event.

AOB

Trolls document ‘dissecting’ the Regional Membership Figures from the labels was an enormous help in determining whether there was an need for an additional Group in the Region. Andy identified a possibility for the Warminster area.
Taff to speak to his contact in Southern Region regarding the Warminster area.

Meeting closed at 5.20.

Next Meeting is the Regional AGM in January at Hewish.

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