Monday 26th January 2003

Contents:

• Present

• Apologies for Absence

• Accuracy of Previous Minutes

• Matters Arising

• Chairman's Report

• Treasurer's Report

• Election of Officers

• Any Other Business

• Date of Next Meeting

Richard Nash (Club Chairman) (RN), Bob Ratliffe (Club Treasurer) (BR), David Hartley (Club Secretary & Minute taker), Chris Starmer, Jan Starmer, Peter Tricker (PT), Mary Tricker, Les Basham, David West (DW), George Leggett (GL), Bernard Debney, Richard Denwood, Grayhame Fish (GF), Chris Gladwell, Colin Thomas, Maria Reynolds (MR), Ellen Broughton, Richard Fellingham (RF), Anne Fellingham, Chris Oliver (CO), Chris Chaplin (CC), Katy Nash, Jane Fellingham-Boyce, Stewart Green, Linda Steward, Roger Sparkes, Phil Rampley, Jim King, Gordon Slack, Nick Stephens, Heidi Bingham, Tamara Jordan, Susan Garrod, Tracey Lee (TL), Karen Goodwin, Mike Goodwin, Leslie Webb, Sue Seggar, & Richard Marsden.

Anne Fish, Gail Sparkes, Jenny Relf, Brian Buckle & Kirsty Denwood.

The minutes of the 16^th AGM were approved as an accurate record.

RN thanked Sue Leedham for writing the minutes of the 16^th AGM.

The planned visit by the French was cancelled.  RN reported that with the exception of informal contact, no communication has occurred since the cancellation.

RN proposed the following changes to the Club Rules to enable the club to become a community organisation and benefit from the advantages that come from being classed as such:

“Membership

a)      Membership of the Club shall be open to anyone interested in the sport on application regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or other beliefs.  However, limitation of membership according to available facilities is allowable on a non discriminatory basis. 

b)      The Club may have different classes of membership and subscription on a non discriminatory and fair basis. The Club will keep subscriptions at levels that will not pose a significant obstacle to people participating.

c)      The Club Committee may refuse membership, or remove it, only for good cause such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club or sport into disrepute.  Appeal against refusal or removal may be made to the members.”

The proposed changes to the club rules were approved.

“Introduction

Good turnout tonight and thank you all for coming.  If you have any questions, we shall take them in Any Other Business.

Members

For the 1^st time since the creation of the club back in 1986, the club has achieved a membership in excess of 100 members, being102 fully paid up members.  There are many reasons for the increase in membership, with the most notable being Peter Tricker’s beginners group over the summer.  A big thank you goes to Peter.

The winners of the club championships went to Andrew Green and Rachel Champion.  This is their year as both Andrew and Rachel have the clubs Marathon places along with Sue Garrod.  The male and female Striders of the Year, as voted by the members, were Peter Tricker and Tammy Jordan.

One more area of mention for the Members is worthy of note (with the idea given to me by Grayhame Fish ).  The male and female who has ran the most races, representing the Stowmarket Striders .  To my knowledge, 63 members ran in 59 local, national and international races.  The men who ran the most are:

            3^rd Bob Ratliffe with 18 races

            2^nd Grayhame Fish with 19 races

            1^st Richard Fellingham with 22 races

Of the ladies:

            2^nd equal was Anne Fellingham, Anne Fish & Tammy Jordan with 17 races

            1^st Ronel Van Der Merwe with 25 races.  That’s a race every other weekend!  This information has been picked up from the Stowmarket Striders race results website.

Club Races

The club put on 4 races through the year, being the Haughley Park XC, Joe Cox 10, Friday 5 and the Scenic 7.  A big thank you goes to the Chris Chaplin and Heidi Bingham for the hard work that goes into organising these events.  Also a thank you goes to the marshals and helpers, without whom we could not hold the races.

Club Nights

At this point, Peter Tricker deserves a third mention and congratulations for becoming a level 2 coach.  With Richard Fellingham , Chris Starmer, and now Peter, the club boasts 3 qualified coaches.  This is more than many local clubs and proves invaluable for the members running development.  Again a big thank you goes to them for their coaching time.

Club Championships saw a change in for mat to a Handicap race system.  The change in for mat saw a marked increase in participation and friendly competition.  Thank you to Chris Starmer for organising the Handicap Races.

Social Events

My thanks also goes to Karen Goodwin for organising the Striders Social calendar and events during 2003.  There was a pasta party, bike ride, summer BBQ, Going Ape, visit to the panto and for those who could make it, I believe everyone enjoyed the Christmas Party without exception.

Organising these events takes a lot of planning, and the committee are always open to ideas or help in organising additional events, for example - Richard & Anne Fellingham’s trip to Dovedale.

The Future

Richard Fellingham has been representing the Stowmarket Striders at the Suffolk Athletics Development Committee.  The aim of this committee is to promoted year-round athletics for the youth with coaching and club development programmes.  This should help provide guidelines in developing the club further.  

With the club being larger than in previous years, there are regularly approxi mat ely 50 members turning up for a Tuesday night speed training session.  For the winter months, the numbers can prove difficult at times to handle.  In answer to this, the committee are looking to convince the Mid-Suffolk district council and various sport authorities to purchase an all-weather running track behind the leisure centre.  This will take months to prepare and to talk to the various authorities, however, our realistic chances for success is limited with running tracks already in Bury & Ipswich.  Any assistance in this project would be gratefully received.

The Finale

Finally, I would like to thank the outgoing committee for their help and support during 2003 and wish the incoming committee every success.”

“2003 was a satisfactory year for the Stowmarket Striders Running Club.  Our surplus of income over expenditure was relatively flat, but we had major costs in the purchase of the new race start/finish banner of £530 and website upgrade software of £94. 

Overall we may made a healthy profit from our club races with a slight overspend at the Scenic 7.  A deliberate decision was made at committee level to purchase higher profile mementos to boost the profile of our races.  Hence the umbrellas instead of t-shirts.

We had a great social programme last year thanks to Karen’s hard work.  A slight overspend was considered acceptable to cover the summer barbeque and Christmas party.

The financial position of the club remains very healthy and membership has risen substantially, so the outgoing Treasurer recommends that membership fees remains at £12 for 2004, with an additional late payment charge of £3 for those paying after 31^st March.  New members joining from 1^st August to be charged £6.  As discussed at previous AGMs it is also by recommendation that the club pays for team entry for relay events such as Mutford and Ekiden.” 

The un-audited accounts were presented at the AGM and will be available from the Treasurer.

First meeting of new Committee is 2^nd Monday of February ( 09/02/04 ) at RN’s house.

Club Kit

GF asked if Ian Leedham was to continue looking after the Club Kit.  RN would ask Ian and took the opportunity of thanking Ian for his work.

Race Event Helpers Wanted

CC asked if people could consider becoming an assistant or to shadow those who help organise the club races.  Helpers are required to cover anyone’s role on race day who maybe unavailable.

French Runners Exchange

RF asked if the club was going to invite the French over this year.  RN informed the club that during 2003 communication had been difficult and that the French had declined the invitation.  RN informed the club that the committee had esti mat ed the cost of entertaining the exchange at £500.  BR said that committee had discussed the invite at length, but felt the question should be put to the club.  CO said the club should extend the hand of friendship.  GF said that RN should send an invite.  But DW and GL said that the money should be used to benefit the club membership.  RN confirmed that when club members were in Fran ce they did not have to pay anything, the cost was between the club, the twinning association and the hosts.  RN informed the club that Stowmarket Twining association had not been helpful.

VOTE:  Should the club invite the French over again.  18 For: 11 Against - Vote carried.

VOTE:  Should the club contribute to entertaining the French visitors:  15 For: 11 Against - Vote carried.

CC proposed an EGM is called following the French accepting the invite to discuss funding.  RN confirmed committee’s commitment to get back to the club. 

Nationwide Account

BR agreed with RF that money from the Nationwide Account (Joe Cox donation) should have been used to buy the start/finish line.

Running as a Group

MR reported that she noticed a runner alone one club night and requested that people start ensuring there are not those slower runners left alone at the back.  CS responded saying this very rarely happens and was likely a one-off.  CC proposed that on Thursday nights the runners set off together.  SG recommended that the onerous task of running at the back should not be the coaches alone and this task should be encouraged for all members.  Committee are to ponder this suggestion at the next meeting.

Club Coaches

PT suggested that as there are now 3 no. level 2 coaches in the club, it was a good opportunity for one or two others to set up a beginner’s course.  RN suggested that perhaps a lady would consider it.  CC said that the club would probably pay training costs.

Running Achievement Awards

CO suggested the club set up a standard system, based on age related time benchmarks for race distances.  CO claimed this system focuses the runner.  Committee are to discuss and to appoint an administrator.

Club Championships

RF raised the problem of the club championships occurring on Tuesdays, which are occasionally recuperation days for those who raced on the previous Sunday.  RF continued that the championships in their current form do not promote race going, and discriminate against those who cannot attend all championship nights.  CC reported on the members he witnessed racing each other for the finishing line.  TL said that she has noticed an improvement and enjoyed the 5k handicap.  PT said that more people entered the championship than previous years. 

VOTE:  That the 2004 club championships will be of the same for mat as the 2003 championships:  Vote Carried.  Committee are to look at the rules, but 2004 for mat is to remain similar to 2003.

Members Directory

A member’s directory was proposed by Les Basham so that members can contact each other.  The Club Secretary is to set this up and get written permission from each member.

Monthly Committee Minutes

RF proposed that the monthly committee minutes are to be made available to the membership.  Committee are to discuss.

Subscriptions Due

CC reminded members that the 2004 membership fees are now due.  BR requested that all cheques or cash should be enclosed in an envelope which should have the purpose of the money written on the outside.

31^st January 2005