DRAGONS RUNNING CLUB
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
SATURDAY 19TH FEBRUARY 2011
M I N U T E S

Present:                Jo Wood – Chair
                                Graham Orbell – Membership Secretary
                                Dave Lister – Treasurer
                                Andie Willbond – Social Committee
                                 Iain Denby – Race Secretary
                                Jane Haigh – Secretary

Report of Chair – Jo Wood

Jo Wood (JW) extended her thanks to all for attending.

JW confirmed that the club now had a Constitution in place and accessible on the website.

 JW thanked Graham Orbell (GO) for his contribution to the website and for keeping it up to date with information and photos and asked all members to continue to forward photos and information about races to (GO) to put on the website.

JW extended her thanks to Richard Wysoki for his contribution to the club’s very successful Harrogate Road race event and confirmed that the club would not be expected to stage a race this year.

JW also thanked Iain Denby for his communications regarding forthcoming race events.

The chair thanked Andie Willbond for her continued efforts with regard to club social events.

JW confirmed that she was encouraged by the number of beginners joining the club and it was intended to run another Beginners Group in March.

Report of the Membership Secretary – Graham Orbell

GO reported that we currently had 148 members (106 first claim, 8 second claim and 34 Kent members).  Janet Inglis asked if we would be charging a membership fee for second claims, GO confirmed that currently the majority do continue to pay a fee.

Report of Treasurer – Dave Lister

Dave Lister (DL) circulated the current accounts and explained that there was a deficit but that this was always going to be the case due to expenditure commitments.

Report of Social Committee – Andie Willbond

Andie Willbond (AW) confirmed that there had been 3 well attended social events during the year:

1. Summer social get together held at L A Fitness
2. Christmas Party at Yeadon Cricket Club
3. Brass Monkey annual event

AW asked all members to submit suggestions for possible fundraising events.

Election of Officers

All current officers were elected/seconded and agreed to continue in role.

Election of Ordinary Members of Committee

Current members to continue:

Ruth Milne (JW to consult)
Simon Peck
Celia Knight
John Bradbury
Janet Inglis
Gary Waite
Steve Howarth

Harrogate Road League – Election of Team Captains and Report of Race Organiser – Richard Wysoki

The chair thanked the current Team Captains for their efforts.

New team captains – Tim and Amanda Bellwood were proposed by Gary Waite and seconded.

RW confirmed that the first Harrogate Road League would be at Thirsk.  GO stated that there were several members of Bingley Harriers wishing to join the club in order to take part in the Harrogate Road League.  It was agreed that this association would be good  for the club and should be encouraged although they would be expected to pay a club membership fee.

Report of Race Secretary – Iain Denby

Iain Denby (ID) stated that information regarding the Leeds County Way Relay Race (Sunday 4th September) had been posted on the running club noticeboard and on the website.  The event over 64 miles, mainly off road, requires 6 pairs of runners each completing approximately a 10 mile section of the course. It is currently the intention of the club to submit one team entry and invites had been circulated to current members. Should anyone wish to run in this event they should contact Iain Denby, as soon as possible, in order that the club may consider the possibility of submitting more than one team.

ID will continue to update the noticeboard and submit information for the website concerning forthcoming events.

Virgin London Marathon – Addendum to Present Rules

JW wished to take views of the club members regarding the current rules for club places in the London Marathon.  It was agreed that the current rules suffice and that should a situation arise whereby these rules need to be reconsidered and special meeting would be convened.

The Constitution

JW confirmed that The Constitution is available for all to read on the club website.

Any Other Business

1. Members Subscriptions -  GO confirmed the club current membership fee as £6 (£5 to UK Athletics and £1 to the club).  GO stated that currently the club pays £50 UK Athletics affiliation and £40 for the website hosting fee per year.  It was proposed and agreed that the club membership fee be increased to £10.  Second claim members to pay £5 and a new Social membership fee of £5.  The club rules to be updated accordingly.

1. Social Fundraising – JW asked for suggestions on future fundraising events.

1. Coffee – L A Fitness were no longer providing coffee and, therefore, there would be additional costs in providing this.  Following discussion regarding the storage of coffee and biscuits John Wilson is to look into the provision of storage containers.

1. Club Vests – JW confirmed that she wished to move as quickly as possible to source and purchase suitable new running vests in time for use at the Harrogate Road League series.  Iain Denby is to liaise with Celia Knight regarding her research so far.

1. Information circulation – the meeting discussed how information should be circulated to members and it was agreed that the current use of notice boards and websites was sufficient for all members to be kept up to date with forthcoming events etc.

1. Second Claim Members – JW asked the new manager of LA Fitness if the second claim members to the running club would be able to use the facilities of L A Fitness.  The manager said that L A Fitness would be able to provide one day passes should they be required on one off occasions.

Meeting closed.