››AGM 2008

MINUTES OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING INTERNATIONAL AUSTER CLUB SATURDAY 21st JUNE 2008 Sywell Airport

Committee Members present: Messrs. P. Gill., T.Rumble, T. Jarvis, R.Clapham & J.Sime

Apologies from Mr. A Hitchman.

Mr. P. Gill took the chair and Mrs. I. Jenkins took the Minutes.

Mr. Gill as Chairman welcomed all present to the AGM. Formal good wishes to be sent to Mr. Hitchman.

1.Sales Secretary's Report:

Sales for the last year have been steady. Several problems arose – slow in getting out of stock lines, and the weather affected attendance at air shows, thus sales were not very good.

April 2007-008 we sold £246-05 of items. Suggested at end of meeting all old stock is sold off at reduced prices.

2.Treasurer's Report:

Mr. Gill said that he has done most of the treasurer's work this year with the permission of the current treasurer.

We are quite an affluent club - £10,173.63 in the kitty. We are not in the business of making a profit, therefore we are looking for ways of using the money in hand for the benefit of Club members..

We have changed banks – now have a Treasurer.s account and a high interest savings account. The cheque account will hold the sum of £500. and the balance will be in the high interest account. Our account is with the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Subscriptions: September/October will end the three years subscriptions payments. scheme. Direct debits will not work through this bank, but we can use standing orders.

The question is what amount of the money in hand is for the future years subscriptions, which can now only be for one year. We would like to use standing orders. Problem re joining in August , pay up to this date and then start the year again. September/October will end the three years subscription scheme – this will be honoured until the scheme expires Ian Pawson has been asked to look into this. All standing orders will come into effect on January 1..

Club sales - £227. Club expenses £1375. Mags. And postage £4197.

3.Membership Secretary's Report:

The past twelve months has seen a decline in the Club membership. A small number of new members have joined. We need more young people as members.

The introduction of the Paypal has been a huge success through the website – especially for overseas members.

Membership U.K. - 243
Overseas - 117
Total - 360

Current paid-up members U.K. - 178
“ “ “ Overseas - 64
Total - 242

Money banked from April 2007 to 2008 £5090.91, £71. from Ross Clapham, a total amount of subscriptions in cheque form of £5019,66 – the odd amount because two members thought they owed 12.5 and 13.5 months. These did not include Paypal. 17th June (this week) banked a further £1079.55, of which £51,55 sales, subscriptions £1028.

It is important we try to get new younger members for the Club – with the exception of four magazines there is not a lot for them.

The amount banked on the 17th June are not included in the Treasurer's report.

A query was raised as to whether these figures will be printed in the magazine. The vote taken was against putting the accounts in the magazine.

4.Secretary's Report:

We need a set of Club rules which can be put on the website. This matter has already been discussed by the Committee.

Insurance – There is a possibility of the Club being sued if accidents occur whilst an invitation event is taking place. Under the LAA (ex PFA) we are known as the Auster Group and as such are covered by third party insurance to £2 million pounds during an event, aircraft cover £1.5 million. We were sponsored for five events now we will be sponsored for ten events. This cover from the LAA is for fly-ins nominated by the Secretary.

Magazine - Have talked with members who are delighted with the magazine. Terry Rumble and his firm previously sent out the magazine = this will now be done by the printers, which will be a considerable saving in cost. The renewal date will now be on the address label showing the expiry date of membership. We are working on Emails to send out the three months expiry date.

LAA – Discussions have been taking place for some years re the permit which has now been agreed at: 2 seater aeroplane £250. and 4 seater aeroplane £350.

Bryn Andrews – Fly-in co-ordinator – has handed in his resignation , A goblet will be given to him as thanks for all work in this post. A new fly-in co-ordinator is now required. Ross Clapham - Sales – has resigned – a goblet has been given to him for his services.

Re-election of committee members:

Mr. Rumble has indicated that if a replacement membership secretary is available to take over then he will act as sales secretary. Mr. Stoddart proposed that those members of the committee who wished to continue in their positions be re-elected The proposition was seconded by Mr. O'Gorman.

The secretary proposed Mark Rumble as fly-in co-ordinator and this was seconded by Ross Clapham.

Rectification of the club rules:

Mr. Stoddart said the new rules should be printed in the magazine as not everybody has Email. Insertions in the magazine are not acceptable due to the printing methods. Mr. Sime indicated that we need to know just who are the committee members.

Thanks to Mr. Pawson for his work on the website etc. Mr. Stoddart proposed a vote of thanks to him.

New sales items - Pens in various colours, mugs , badges, flashes, polo shirts.

Fly-ins – more regional fly-ins suggested.

Trophies – Various items have been presented to the Club – Richard Webber was presented with a trophy. The Auster Cup given to the person who has put the most effort into the club - Al. Mathie.

LAA Altimeter trophy for the best Auster, will be awarded at the next LAA Rally. Porteous Cup – awarded at the Great Vintage Flying week-end. Fly-in at Rearsby 2010 to celebrate the 70th Anniversary – we shall need help of the main committee with the running of this event.

5. Any Other Business:

Mr. Jenkins reported from the Heritage Group committee that Mr. Pawson is getting overloaded with Auster business.

Mr. Bolton discussed recruitment of youngsters into the Auster club, and mentioned the A.T.C. Perhaps we should contact the Army Air Corps and Helicopter pilots. Also there was an Army Air Corps show at Middle Wallop on the 20th July. Other suggestions for recruiting young people into the club - give flights to young people and possibly arrange competitions – contact the editor of Flypast – LAA young flyers week-end.

A logo for Auster members should be sent free of charge.

Mr. Jenkins asked when the Auster year would start and finish - nothing has been decided at present, but January 1st would be a good time to commence.

Auster Fly-in at Popham on July 20th. Wickenby Fly-in

The meeting closed at 5.p.m.