AGM 2000 Report

This year’s AGM took place on Saturday, 15th January 2000 at RAF Uxbridge. The Meeting kicked off at 7.30pm with an introduction and the Chairs address. In the Chairs Address Jackie talked about the changes made in the Club in 1999.
Wheelspin
The first and most obvious change was the new look Wheelspin. Jackie thanked all Club Members who had taken the time to contribute to the magazine and particularly thanked Louis for all his hard work in producing such an excellent magazine.
Jackie then went on to explain about the problems with printers and postage and assured everyone that the postage problem had been resolved and that the problems with printers would be rectified shortly.
Not Just ‘Owners’….
The next point covered was the Club name. The ‘Owners’ bit of the Club name has now been dropped so that we are now the ’London & Thames Valley VW Club’. The reason for this change is that we want to encourage members who are interested in VW’s and not give the impression that only ‘owners’ can join.
Club Charities
This year, the Club donated money to two very worthwhile charities, Basics London and the Anaphylactic Society (for more info see further on in Wheelspin). Dr Steven Vaughn Smith, representing Basics London, came to the AGM and was presented with a cheque for £300 (That was after running off for 40 minutes to assist at a road traffic accident!).
The representative from the Anaphylactic Society was unable to make the AGM so a cheque for £300 will be sent to them.
Stonor Park And The Slough Swapmeet Events
Finally, Jackie asked everyone to read carefully the letters to the Members regarding Stonor Park and the Slough Swapmeet. She then informed every one that the letter had gone out to all members of the Club with the January issue of Wheelspin and asked everyone to consider the issue carefully. Any questions that then arose would be answered at the end of the meeting. Jackie asked everyone to bear in mind that the Committee had given a lot of thought, time and discussion over the last year to try and resolve this issue for the good of the Club.
Y2K
Jackie then went on to talk about plans for Y2K.
At this point Louis officially unveiled the new Club logo and Fitz modelled the new T-Shirts, which are now available. There is new stationary, membership packs, and cards and lots of new merchandise for the Club Shop ready for this year’s VW season. Jackie again thanked Louis for his excellent design.
Club Rules
The Club Rules have not been updated or revised for some time and it is agreed that this would be done early in the year 2000.
Socials/Events
On the Social front, Jackie told of the Calendar of Events being organised. This will cover the whole year and will be published shortly to give everyone plenty of notice. Fiona expanded on this during the Social Secretary’s report. Jackie then warned everyone that one of the Committee’s ‘Millennium Resolutions’ was to encourage greater membership participation in the Club on all fronts!
Also on the social front, the Hard Core Campers and Barnstormerz are getting established and there are some great events lined up there. Mat and Fitz updated everyone further later on the meeting.
New Committee Members
Finally, for the Y2K, Jackie informed all of the criteria for becoming a Committee Member then asked for volunteers. The criteria being that
1) you must be a fully paid up member of the Club
2) you must be prepared to attend monthly meetings
3) you must be prepared to work!
Reports Of Officers
Our Treasurer, Max Morley, gave his report for the year. Max issued a detailed report of the Club’s finances for 1999, which of course is available to any member for examination. Max told the AGM that the Club had lost £2136, due to not filling all the available places on the Run to the Total Eclipse of the Sun. However, the Club has had a successful year financially and the current Balance of Cash including assets is £16,284.33.
However, as a result of the increasing cost of Wheelspin, postage and the day to day administration of the Club, it was agreed that there would be an increase in Membership fees. The fee for new members would increase as of the AGM but renewals will increase as of 1st March 2000. Although any increase is regrettable it was noted that the London & Thames Valley VW Club is still one of the cheapest VW Club’s to join! Membership as increased as follows:
New Members £15
Renewals £12.50
Overseas Members £25
The £1 voluntary contribution towards the Club Charity will still be gratefully received.
Gary Law, our Membership Secretary, gave his report for 1999. Gary told the meeting that we currently have 838 members, 256 of which are new members and 582 members have renewed their membership. Gary then explained that the number was down from last years AGM mainly as a result of work to the Membership Database to bring Members date of renewal in line with the date of joining. A further in depth explanation of this work can be found further on in Wheelspin explaining membership procedure and how the system works.
Our Editor, Louis Henwood then gave a report on Wheelspin. He thanked everyone for their contributions but asked that members keep sending letters and articles in. Louis also asked for a volunteer amongst the membership, who would be willing to help out with finding content for Wheelspin (any offers? ~ if so, please contact Louis, he is still looking for help!)
The PRO report was delivered by Matthew Sanchez. Mat told the meeting that it had been quiet on the PRO front for 1999. However, with the launch of the new logo, a major publicity drive was on the cards for the early part of Y2K. Mat went on to say that the Committee were working towards a fresh new image for the Millennium.
The Social Secretary’s report was given by Fiona Hedges. Fiona expanded on the Calendar of Events for Y2K. She talked of maintaining traditional Club events, such as The Camden Cruise and Go Karting, as well as introducing plans for new events, such as an inter-VW Club Bowling Competition, a London to Southend Cruise (currently being organised by Hannah and Alex), picnics and other monthly socials. Fiona is keen to expand on the Social front and asked for any suggestions from members of venues or events.
James Fitzpatrick then told of plans for Camping events for Y2K. Fitz told the meeting about how everyone had got on so well on the Eclipse run that the Hard Core Campers had come into being. He did stress that the name ‘Hard Core Campers’ may possibly be changed if anyone could come up with a better one! Fitz told of plans for a weekend in the New Forest meeting up with the Hampshire Club, a weekend away to Henley, as well as the Cornwall Cruise and possibly a trip to Holland.
Our RAC Secretary is Alex Tinniswood. Alex told us that the Club had earned £673.54 from RAC commission for 1999. He apologised to any member who may have had problems with RAC cover at the beginning of the year but was pleased to say that most of the blame was with the RAC’s computer ‘glitches’ rather than with the Club.
Finally, Del Bicknell announced the web address for the Clubs new Website. He explained that it is a website that will evolve and change monthly in order to keep visitors re visiting. The Website has many facilities and Del has asked for content i.e. Pictures of members and their VW’s, story’s, adverts, advice and helpful hints, etc…(Del will expand on this in a later edition of Wheelspin and include a bit of technical chat for those who are interested. Meanwhile, for those who have access to the WWW, here is the address
www.ltv-vwc.org.uk
And don’t forget to sign the guest book when you visit!
At this point a break was taken to allow for much needed refreshment!
Election Of Officers & Committee Members
The second half of the meeting began at 8.30pm with the Election of Officers. Thanks go to Steve Joshua who, at a previous meeting had informed the Committee of his resignation as Social Secretary – thanks Steve for all your hard work in 1999 and in previous years! Also to Paula Rowe who has resigned as a Committee Member. Neither Steve nor Paula were able to attend the AGM. Steve would like to continue his work Club and this will be confirmed at a future meeting.
Details of the Y2K Committee can be found at the front of Wheelspin and a further introduction of all the new members will be made shortly. We are pleased to announce that the Club now has the full compliment of Committee members and our first Committee Meeting will be on Tuesday, 8th February 2000 at The Load of Hay, Villier Street, Uxbridge. (That meeting may well have taken place by the time you read this but if you would like to come along to any meetings, they are, wherever possible, on the first Tuesday of each month, in the Load of Hay. For confirmation, further details or directions, please phone the Club Hotline).
Any Other Business
Only two items of AOB! The London & Thames Valley Barnstormerz. Matthew Sanchez told the meeting that Barnstormerz was the name given to those Club members who enjoy performance VW’s and those interested in racing. They plan to represent the Club at a forthcoming Sprint organised by the Harrow Car Club in March as well as other VW events. If anyone is interested, contact Matt Sanchez (you will find his details in the front cover of Wheelspin).
Club Member Terry McDonnell announced that she was now in exclusive possession of Beetle fabric, which she would sell exclusively through the Club Shop, the proceeds of which she would donate 10% commission to the Club. Terry makes high quality hand made Clothes, mainly for children but she says nothing is impossible! Terry will attend VW Events throughout the season and ask that anyone who is interested, call her on
0181 575 3060 for further info.
The meeting closed at 8.55pm. Everyone retired to the Bar and the Party began…