IYFR – GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held at the Mollington Banastre Hotel, Chester on the 17th March, 2007

Present:

Commodore Jenie Pressdee welcomed Immediate Past Commodore Christopher Bishop, Vice Commodore Michael Pooley, Rear Commodore Bob Burns (also Extension Officer), IVC Bryan Skinner, Annette Lewis, Treasurer, John Barnsley, Database Manager and Rodney Davis, Secretary and (from the Attendance Book) the following members of Fleets:

Broads: George & Mary Blake, Doreen Brown, Donald & Pamela Craik, Tony & Mavis Rushton, Chris Skinner, Ian & Pat Thomson, Betty Woodcock (also Fenland), Mavis Yates, Jeni Young; Clyde: Peter Ayre, Ann Lockhart, Eddie & Ilene Redman; East Coast: John Billingham (also Solent); East of Scotland: Dennis Hopper; Fenland: Nigel & Audrey Kember, Brian Lewis (also Suffolk), Jill Sallis; G.B.: Robert Jackson, Paul & Joan Quaile; Humber: John Carter, John & Pat May; Solent: Jane Bishop; Suffolk: Andrew Mitchell, Brian & Janet Slater; Sussex: Beryl Barnsley, John & Marilyn Blake, Nick & Sue Mason, John Pressdee, Reuben & Rosemary Skipper (also Solent); Thames: Ian Black, Jeanne Davis, Jan Fowler, Jackie Pooley, Tony & Barbara Slegg, Les Wilkinson, Peter Willson

Also present: International Rear Commodore Terry Stretton and Meryl Stretton, past International Commodore Ken Winter and Bente Winter and past International Commodore Ferit Biren.

  1. Welcome

Commodore Jenie Pressdee welcomed all present and particularly International Vice Commodore Bryan Skinner, International Rear Commodore Terry Stretton, and past International Commodores Ferit Biren, Ken Winter and Andrew Mitchell to the 60th Anniversary Annual General Meeting of IYFR.

  1. Apologies

Apologies for absence were received from Graham & Jean Allworth, Ernest & Norma Bennie, Chris Buckingham, Alan & Pat Dawe, Ian and Norma Hornsby, John Kernan, Pam Magrill, Humphrey Platts, Ted Purbrick, Geoff & Mollie Shaw, Phil Stanton and Robin Sudlow

  1. Minutes of Previous Meeting

The minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting held on the 11th March, 2006 were approved and were signed by the Commodore, subject to the addition of Reuben & Rosemary Skipper to the list of those present.

  1. Matters Arising

None.

  1. Correspondence

None.

  1. International Report

International Vice Commodore Bryan Skinner spoke to his report (copy in minute book). He reported in particular that he had been to Los Angeles to plan the post Convention Cruise in 2008. This will be based on standard first class cabins on the Queen Mary and will take place from the 19th – 23rd June. Further details will be circulated.

Bryan will be chartering new Fleets in Monaco and Poland this year and in November the Italian North west Fleet will be resurrected.

  1. Commodore’s Report

Commodore Jenie Pressdee reported that she had visited the Broads, Solent and Sussex Fleets and had invitations from the Clyde, East of Scotland and Fenland Fleets. A full copy of her report is in the minute book.

  1. Vice- Commodore’s Report

Vice- Commodore Michael Pooley confirmed the availability of a wide variety of clothing from Oceanworld. If members wish to purchase items at a Boat Show from an Oceanworld stand with the logo included, they need to request the company to take the necessary software with them [the reference is AG No. IYF 3181, Tel. No. 01983 291744].

  1. Secretary’s Report

Rodney Davis thanked Paul & Joan Quaile for organising a splendid outing earlier in the day, including the ferry trip across the Mersey.

  1. Treasurer’s Report

Adoption of Accounts for the year ended 30th June, 2006

Proposed by Annette Lewis and seconded by Janet Slater that the accounts be approved - agreed unanimously.

Annette thanked Paul Quaile for his work as Independent Financial Examiner.

Budget for 2006/2007

Annette tabled a revised budget for 2006/2007 which reflected the continuing non-publication of Rotafleet News. This budget shows a surplus of £1482.00. Annette proposed that, in the circumstances, it would be possible to produce a new edition of the Pink Book this year. This was agreed.

Subscription for 2007/2008

Annette proposed and Nigel Kember seconded that the subscription for 2007/2008 remain unchanged at £15.00. This was agreed.

Other Matters

Annette advised that a new form of invoice for annual dues has been devised. This will include the names of all known members of the relevant Fleet.

Tony Slegg pointed out that the accounts which had been approved were 9 months out of date and requested that the Bridge give consideration to advancing the date on which they are submitted for approval.

  1. Appointment of Independent Financial Examiner

It was agreed that Paul Quaile be re-appointed as Independent Financial Examiner.

  1. Rotafleet News Editors

Commodore Jenie advised that an editor had not yet been found for Rotafleet News. However, she and John Barnsley planned to produce a Newsletter and it was pointed out that the pressing need was for some-one to obtain and assemble the news rather than be primarily responsible for the actual production of the magazine.

  1. Extension Officer’s report

Bob Burns noted that new Fleets were being formed abroad and would very much like to establish a new GB&I Fleet. In an endeavour to form a Welsh Fleet, he would shortly be sending letters to all Clubs in District 1180 and possibly clubs in the Manchester area as well. He also reported that Nigel Kember had spoken to him about the Inland Waterways Festival that is being held in St. Ives in August. This could be an ideal opportunity to develop the plans for a narrow boat Fleet. (Copy report in minute book).

  1. Public Relations

Michael Pooley produced a final draft leaflet. 2,250 copies will need to be printed so that they could be circulated by the RIBI Secretary to Club Secretaries. It was agreed that 3000 copies be printed at a price of £617.88. All members will be also provided with a copy which could be used to generate enquiries.

Michael also referred to a communication recently received from the President of the International Caravanning Fellowship of Rotarians, Derek Sanders, advising that he had recently written to the President of RIBI regarding the better promotion of Fellowships by RIBI and asking for the support of IYFR for two specific proposals, viz:

  • The establishment of a proper chaired meeting for Fellowship representatives and members at RIBI Conferences
  • A requirement that one page of Rotary Today be dedicated to Fellowships and their contacts in RIBI, together with a short article from one of the Fellowships.

It was agreed that this approach to RIBI should be supported.

It was also hoped that news and photographs from the week-end’s events could be used to promote IYFR both in Rotary publications and in the local press. Some photographs could also be put on the web-site.

  1. Database Manager

John Barnsley advised that he was continuing to understudy Clint Collier as International Database Manager. It was confirmed that the new Pink Book can be produced from the IYFR Database. John reminded members that they can amend their own details on the database.

  1. Regalia

Annette advised the meeting about the new coasters that are available for purchase.

  1. Amendment to the IYFR – GB&I Rules

It was proposed by Rodney Davis and seconded by Brian Slater that the Rules be amended to provide that any member of the International Bridge who was a member of a GB&I Fleet should ex officio be a member of the GB&I Bridge. This was approved. It was confirmed that any such person would be a full voting member.

  1. Executive Committee and Fellowship week-end, St. Helier: 2nd – 4th November, 2007

The Pomme D’Or Hotel in St. Helier has been booked. Rodney will circulate details earlier than usual to enable members to take advantage of any discounted flights that might be available.

  1. Future Venues for Fellowship Week-ends

Rodney advised that a letter had been received from a Fleet member requesting that every other Fellowship meeting should be held in London. He mentioned that the Bridge had advised the member concerned that there were a number of reasons for not having such an arrangement and that members generally seemed to favour visits to various parts of the country. This view was supported. However, this did not rule out a meeting occasionally in the London area, as had happened in Maidenhead recently.

It was agreed that the 2008 AGM be held at the Park Farm Hotel, Hethersett near Norwich, from the 7th – 9th March, 2008.

  1. The Plate

The whereabouts of the Plate are uncertain. Brian & Janet Slater will make enquiries as it may well be in the possession of the Suffolk Fleet.

  1. Any Other Business

John Billingham mentioned that Derek Thomerson’s wife, Celia, was very ill. Best wishes were to be conveyed to them.

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(Commodore)

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(Date)