NORTH – WEST REGION
Present: Tony Cox (NW Regional Rep), Bill Green
(Red Rose MAG Branch Rep),
Ian Cook (NE MAG
Regional Rep) attended as NC observer.
Welcome
address: Tony C opened
the meeting by welcoming everybody, and invited Ian Cook to act as chair for
the event. We had been expecting Mike Card (Deputy NW Regional Rep) to attend
as Chairman, but we later learned that his trike had broken down en route.
Apologies: Lynda Pouncey, Regional Treasurer and
Billy Downs (outgoing L’pool & W Lancs Rep).
Minutes of
Last Meeting: the last
regional AGM was held at the same venue, 6th Nov 2005. Ian C invited everyone
to carefully inspect their copy of the minutes and bring up any errors,
omissions or inaccuracies.
No comments were
made and so the minutes were accepted as a true and fair account of last year’s
AGM.
Matters
arising: none reported.
Regional
Report, Tony Cox: the
region has had a busy year with Tony taking the MAG stall to several local
events including Thundersprint, the Haydock Park Motorbike Extravaganza, the
NABD Rally at
There was
considerable interest among I-o-M resident bikers in the return of MAG, but
no-one there seemed willing to take on the task of being a local rep and set up
a group on the island.
Particularly
interesting was our contact with the Thundersprint and
Having obtained
this generous concession, we need to ensure that the stall is fully manned over
the weekend, and Tony asked for people to consider volunteering closer to the
event.
Tony has noticed
that next year’s Thundersprint weekend clashes with the NABD rally; since these
are major NW bike events it is essential that we attend them both, but even
Tony Cox is unable to be in two places at once. Ian suggested that we bring
this to the attention of the NC and see if they can round up some support.
MAG has also
become involved with the RideSafeBackSafe initiative, a project designed to
increase rider safety and awareness and organised by the local transport
authorities and police forces. Bill Green and Tony have both attended RSBS
meetings and have voiced concern that the project is moving away from education
and into enforcement; the organisers also describe MAG and the BMF as being
their ‘partners’ in the scheme – which implies that we support unreservedly all
the RSBS activities (not so).
Another biker
education scheme is the Rider Improvement programme, offered to riders
convicted of traffic offences as an alternative to a hefty fine. Tony has
attended one of these courses and thinks it would be of benefit to all riders
to improve their roadcraft, not just those caught speeding.
General
observations about the NW region: in terms of membership, the NW is the second
largest MAG region but there is a lack of involvement; it seems that the other
regions do more work and get more support for local events.
We have about 870
members in the region, with roughly equal numbers joining and leaving each
month. MAG depends for its income on a few big events (Farmyard Party, Stormin’
the Castle) and if we could double the membership nationally, then the
subscriptions would make us self-sufficient. (This just means getting every
member to sign up one friend).
There was some
discussion about bike parking in Liverpool; the City Council has erected six
parking bays exclusively for bikes, but has also announced that motorbikes are not
allowed to use pay-and-display street parking (on the grounds that payment
cannot be proved or enforced). Ian C pointed out that national transport policy
guidelines recommend supporting PTWs to relieve congestion, and LCC appears to
be opposing this policy.
National
Committee issues: we are to confirm the appointment of a Campaigns Officer who
should help raise the profile of MAG and get us more involved with transport
policy. For financial reasons, MAG is not exhibiting at the NEC bike show this
year; the money saved has been used to buy advertising space in club magazines.
There was brief
discussion about the NEC and MCIA, with MAG not wanting to pay for full
corporate membership (or let them inspect our accounts) just to have a stall at
the NEC.
Mention was also
made of the current situation at the BMF (financial irregularities, apparently
– see bike press for lurid details) and Ian pointed out that MAG has a stand at
the annual BMF show. Although MAG and the BMF have different approaches to
riders’ rights we are both there to support the biking community and it would
not be to our advantage if the BMF were to fold.
A question came
up about the cancelled GP event (exclusive MAG campsite). Apparently, a local
resident had objected at the last minute leaving us unable to go ahead with the
event. The GP this year also clashed with the Heart of England rally and Brum
Demo.
Next year’s
events have been planned to ensure this doesn’t happen again, and if the GP
camping works out, then the idea may be extended to WSB races.
Regional
Accounts: a set of
accounts for the past 12 months was sent by Lynda and included with the agenda
and minutes.
Graeme K
(auditor) observed that the accounts actually ran from November ’05 to November
’06, and said that it would be better practice for a specific date to be
assigned for the presentation of accounts. This would avoid any confusion over
fundraising events (eg Smoke on the Water) which took place in November.
After discussion,
it was proposed that:
The current set
of regional accounts are reworked to run from November 2005 to September 2006,
and
We adopt in
future a financial accounting year running from October 1st to September 30th
(Prop G
Kenyon, Sec T Cox: 10 for, 1 abstention)
It was noticed that
the last four entries in the accounts were just interest payments, and Tony
explained that the proceeds from Smoke on the Water and the Blackpool MAG rally
would be paid into the regional account.
As is normal, we
would then arrange to donate the bulk of the account to MAG central for the
fighting fund.
Tony suggested
that two thousand pounds would be an appropriate amount, which would leave us
with about the same balance as at present.
(Prop T Cox,
Sec P Mossman: carried unanimously)
Election of Officers: as with last year’s AGM, there had been
no nominations for the committee posts and the present incumbents had all
agreed to stay on if required; the complete list of office nominations, with
proposers and seconders had been provided in the agenda and had not drawn any
comments or objections. The Regional Committee was thus re-elected en bloc:
POST OFFICER PROP SEC
Regional Rep Tony
Cox M Card L Pouncey
Assistant RR Mike
Card T Cox T Norris
Secretary Tim
Norris M Card L Pouncey
Treasurer Lynda
Pouncey M Card T Cox
Auditors Graeme
Kenyon, Mike Card T Norris T Cox
Webmaster Chris
McDonald B Green M Card
(Carried
unanimously)
Regional
Activities: future
planned activities for NW MAG include:
Red Rose MAG
Charity Run,
Red Rose MAG have
also revived the traditional Fred Hill Run in February, and are planning to
hold the event again next year – date to be confirmed.
G-Mex Bike Show,
5th – 7th Jan 2007
There is some
uncertainty over the Rawtenstall bike Show next year.
During a
discussion about holding events, Ian pointed out that Rock Nights are the
easiest way to raise money for MAG – find a pub with field, a cheap band, and
free camping.
We also discussed
the recent Bike Awareness day in Darlington, where about 150 bikes turned up to
make the case for PTWs – congestion relief etc. This helped raise the profile
of MAG and received good local press coverage.
Any Other
Business:
Liverpool & W
Lancs MAG: Thomas mentioned that the departure of Billy Downs has left the
group without a leader. The members enjoy turning up for meetings but nobody is
willing to take over as branch rep (although Thomas has offered to coordinate
e-mail messages from Tony and other members).
Tony proposed a
vote of thanks to the absent Billy for his tireless efforts in setting up and
running the weekend’s events at Smoke on the Water.
Ian suggested
that a vice-rep should be appointed to work alongside each Branch Rep, ready to
take over in this kind of situation. Meanwhile, Thomas and Billy can share the
Rep’s job without having full commitment.
Website: Chris
McDonald is keen to get more material for the MAG NW site so that it looks
up-to-date. Ian mentioned that the web is main contact point for potential
members.
Regional
Meetings: Tony explained the arrangements for holding our meetings on Tuesday
nights at the
Ian and Paul M
both suggested that we try rotating the meeting venue around all the branches.
We agreed to look into this, with the Charles Napier at
Bill Green
proposed a vote of thanks to Tony for all his sterling work during the year,
and the meeting closed at 1.05 pm.