27th January 2003

Contents:

• The formalities (Present, Apologies, Accuacy and Matters Arising)  

• Chairman's report

• Treasurer's report

• Strider of the year (2002)

• Election of Officers

• Any Other Business

Present

Chris Starmer, Heidi Bingham, Karen Goodwin , Tracey Lee, Katy Nash , David Hartley, Ian Leedham, Ellen Broughton, Olwyn Clayden , Anne Fellingham, Jane Fellingham-Boyce, Anne Fish, Susan Garrod, Sue Leedham, Jean Lynch-Aird, Denise Naughton, Maria Reynolds, Sue Seggar, Jan Starmer, Linda Steward, Mary Tricker, Lesley Webb, Les Basham, Chris Chaplin , Richard Fellingham , Jim King, Phillip Rampley, Bob Ratliffe, Gordon Slack, Colin Thomas, Peter Tricker, David West.

Apologies for absence

Chris Gladwell , Brian Buckle, Grayhame Fish, Joe Naughton, Kirsty and Richard Denwood.

Accuracy of minutes of 15th Annual General Meeting

The Minutes of the 15^th AGM were accepted as an accurate and true record.

Minutes matters arising

There were no matters arising.

Chairman's report

"The year ended with 84 members, with club nights attracting around 40 runners on a regular basis.   Thanks to Richard Fellingham for all his efforts during the year, and any feed back about training nights would be welcome.   We now have another level 1 coach, Peter Tricker, who will be assisting Richard and myself.

The race calendar was back to normal after the foot and mouth problems of 2001.

The club staged 4 races through out the year: -

• Joe Cox 10

• Friday 5

• Scenic 7

• Haughley Cross Country

Thanks must go to Chris Chaplin our Race Director, everyone who helped on race days, Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre and our sponsors.

This years relays were disappointing due to poor support and last minute cancellations, although a big thank you must go to Grayhame Fish for all his hard efforts on the telephone.  The best turnout was at the Jaffa Challenge although we did not beat them we are getting closer.

The club championships were won by Ro Thurston and Nick Stephens.

The London Marathon places went to Ro Thurston and Karen Goodwin .   Thanks yet again to Phil Rampley for arranging the transport.

Congratulations to Richard and Kirsty Denwood and Andrew and Heidi Bingham on their new arrivals, and we look forward to the safe arrival of a little Nash.

Once again the club has had a very busy social calendar including trips to France and Derbyshire, the usual bar-b-cue and pasta party and ending with a very successful Christmas barn dance.   Thanks to Katy Nash for organizing these events.

Finally I would like to thank the out going committee for all their help and support during the year, and wish the incoming new committee every success."

Chris Starmer
Chairman

Treasurer's report and adopting accounts

"2002 was a very successful year financially for the Stowmarket Striders Running Club.  This is mainly due to profits achieved on our race events.  With the hard work of our Race Director and the outgoing Committee, the club races have grown successfully thus providing the club with £1700 out of the £1800 surplus income achieved in 2002.  This takes into account £530 of expenditure incurred and reported in 2001.   

The bank position of the club is very healthy.  These surplus funds have been allocated to be put back in to the club.  A new race finish banner has been ordered at a cost of approximately £650 and new race signs may also be necessary to comply with recent Suffolk County Athletics Association Rules and Regulations.  

With this in mind the outgoing Treasurer recommends that membership fees remains at £12 for 2003, with an additional late payment fine of £3 for those members paying after the 31^st March.  New members joining from the 1^st August will be charged £6.  As discussed at previous AGMs it is also my recommendation that the club pays for team entry fees for relay events such as Mutford and Ekiden.  

Kirsty Denwood has kindly agreed to audit the 2002 Stowmarket Striders accounts."

Richard Nash
Treasurer

A four-page statement of the Club accounts was distributed.  Chris Chaplin proposed these to be passed as true and accurate, seconded by Phil Rampley therefore the accounts were agreed and accepted by all members.

Strider of the Year

Ellen Broughton awarded Female Strider of the Year.
Grayhame Fish awarded Male Strider of the Year.  WELL DONE TO BOTH!!!!!

Matters arising

Chris Chaplin thanked everyone for participating in the races over the past year and urged all to keep up the good work, he also stated that even if you could not run a particular race, marshals are always needed!

Election of Officers  

The following Officers were duly elected:

Any Other Business

LONDON MARATHON

There was concern and much discussion about the rules and criteria for Member’s to apply for the Club places in the London Marathon.  

David Hartley asked if the five rules were prioritised and was answered by Chris Chaplin who stated that the rules were in place mainly to stop people joining the Club for instance three months before the Marathon and expecting to be awarded a Club place.

It was proposed by Chris Starmer that the wording of Rule 3 i.e. “Have never competed in the London Marathon”, be changed to “Priority given to those who have never competed in the London Marathon”, this was considered by all members present and generally agreed to be a good idea. 

Gordon Slack proposed there should be a clause 6 on the conditions of awarding Club places that if none of the applicants for the Marathon met all the criteria then perhaps the rules should be applied as best they could, in the order that they are currently in. This was seconded by Anne Fish and so carried.

COMMUNITY AMATEUR SPORTS CLUB

Richard Nash proposed changes to the Club rules so that the Club becomes a Community Amateur Sports Club for Inland Revenue purposes i.e. tax can be reclaimed from members subscriptions and club investments.  Lesley Webb seconded and so was carried unanimously.

FRENCH VISIT JULY 2003

Richard Fellingham asked the Club members present to consider making available from Club funds a sum of up to £1,000 so Club members can reciprocate the entertainment that they received when they visited France last year.  It was decided that a sub-committee should be formed and then report back to the main committee on their findings and then an extra-ordinary meeting will be called for this to be discussed.  Everyone agreed this to be a reasonable solution for the time being.

WINTER RUNNING AROUND THE TOWN

Ian Leedham suggested that in view of the recent behavior of some of the town’s night population perhaps on a Thursday night when coming back through the town centre, it would be better if we could all meet in the Regal Theatre car park and then run through the town altogether – “safety in numbers!”.  Richard Fellingham agreed that this would be a good idea.

SUMMER RUNS  

Ian Leedham also mentioned that perhaps in the summer we could consider starting our runs at an earlier time of 7pm .  Richard Fellingham said he would mention this at the next two Club meetings to see what members felt about this.

THANKS

Flowers were then presented to Katy Nash in thanks and recognition for all her hard work over the past year.

Gordon Slack thanked the outgoing Committee, Jim at Haughley Park and all those who have worked so hard for the Club over the year.

Date of the next Annual General Meeting

26^th January 2004 at 7.30pm at the Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre.

Meeting closed at 8.55pm .