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Minutes of Sefton Branch Meeting held on 16/11/2005

There were 14 present, with apologies from 6 members.

Chairman Announcements

There is a Channel 5 program on Friday 18th November on customising a Minor

Granada want 60 vehicles at Chester Court on Saturday 3rd December, as ‘static scene dressing’ in a documentary called See No Evil, which is about the Moors Murderers, Myra Hindley and Ian Brady. Nigel handed out an information sheet he had produced. Jim and Andrew indicated they should be able to attend.

Keith’s musical Quiz

We were all asked to split ourselves up into teams of 2, and give ourselves team names. The team names were as follows:- Tone Deaf, the XK Group, Not on Your Nelly, Mad Hatters, Grim Reapers, and Cruisers. Keith had put together a selection of tracks performed by the Shadows, which was their interpretation of tracks from original artists. Tracks (from memory) were from the 60’s, 70’s 80’s 90’s and the 50’s. Also there was a picture section, and musical questions.   At half time the buffet of sandwiches were brought in. Keith did all the marking, and points total ranged from 15 points, this being from Tone Deaf, which consisted of Peter Gannicliffe and I, to 78 points from the team called Cruisers, which consisted of Keith & Lyn from Lancashire. Their prize was a combined folding chair and cool bag.

Raffle

There were 10 prizes on offer including books on Minor Maintenance and Ferrari. Prizes were won by Shirley & John, Tony Seed, Les, Andrew, Roy, and 2 prizes going to bar staff. The prize for luckiest person of the night must go to Les, who having bought a strip of 5 tickets, managed to get drawn out 3 times. Magnanimously he put 2 back in. £17 was made from the raffle.

Next Meeting

This will be the Christmas meal, which will be held at Shorrocks Hill Country Club in Formby on Sunday 4th December.

Nigel produced these minutes, because Shirley was unable to attend due to illness.

Nigel’s Natter

Quiz comment

First of all, thank you to Keith for putting on the Musical Quiz, and also to those who provided the raffle prizes. I have to admit that never having got into buying music, although I can possible say I remember hearing that before, it is fairly unlikely I would be able to put a name to it. I see music as a background thing played by someone else on the radio, which is turned down when I can’t hear myself think.

Nigel

Resignation of Graham

Graham has decided to resign from his post Treasurer, and also from the committee, although he remains a member of the branch.

I now quote from Graham’s letter, ‘In respect of my position as Treasurer, and in the light of the hours I now work on Wednesday making it impossible for me to arrive at meetings earlier than 9.30pm, it seemed reasonable, sensible, even obligatory, for me to offer to stand down if another member could be found who is willing to take over the role on a more workman-like basis’.

Graham has diligently been our Treasurer since the inception of Sefton Branch in 1998. The role of treasurer tends to be taken for granted, and gets noticed for a fleeting moment at the AGM. Although the sums of money are not vast, they need to be accounted for. Graham balances the books every month, and woe betide you if you take longer than a month to pay in a cheque, particularly at the end of the financial year. When I became Chairman last year, I requested, to give more visibility, an annual profit and loss account, similar to the model used at Merseyside Branch. Graham quickly rose to the challenge, and the committee was able to use this to good effect.

Thank you very much for all your time and work Graham. We could not have managed with out you.

Nigel

Decisions taken at November committee meeting

The Survey form indicated that around 10 people would be willing to stand for the committee.

I had realised that for a number of years we had not been complying with the Branch Constitution, because the committee was too small. The Constitution calls for officers of Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, and a minimum of 4 other committee members.

Until now, all the functions of the branch have been carried out by committee members.

However, it has been decided not to continue this concept, but to introduce the concept of ‘Non Committee Post’ of Minutes Secretary and WEBSITE Designer, for Shirley and Jim respectively.
Shirley, because ‘her role’ as Minutes Secretary positively precludes her from engaging in debate, while, at the same time, trying to accurately record that debate in writing’ (Graham’s words). The latter, because Jim is doing an excellent job in designing the WEBSITE, but he expressed no interest in standing for the committee. The committee decides the appointments of non-committee posts.

Keith, in his role as Secretary, subsequent to the committee meeting, has had individual discussions with all the members, who on the survey form indicated they were willing to stand on the committee, both to confirm they were still willing to stand on the committee, and to see who were willing to be nominated for the post of Treasurer, (now that there is a vacancy,) or other posts. I am pleased to say that Tom Evans has agreed to be put forward for the post of Treasurer.

Regarding the posts of Secretary and Chairman, Keith and my self, respectively, have offered ourselves up for re-election in these posts. Any other branch member can be nominated for any of these defined posts. If there is more than one nomination for any of these posts, then there will be a ballot. Peter Gannicliffe being Life President is above the election process and will count the votes.

The following have expressed a desire to stand for the committee:
In alphabetical order, Phil Benson, Roy Brown, Janet Lamb, Mel Smallwood and Derek Swift.

I.e. there are 5 people after 4 posts. At the AGM, there will be a secret Ballot for committee members, with voting papers, and the votes will be counted by Peter Gannicliffe. Members present at the AGM will be able to vote for up to 4 candidates, using an X on the ballot paper. The 4 candidates with the highest number of votes will be elected.

Nigel

MMOC Area & Branch Liaison Meeting 26th December 2005 – A Personal Recollection.

There are 56 active branches, 6 contact addresses, 8 registers and 10 areas.
There are 2 new branches, Isle of Man, and Bridlington & Wolds.
One branch has had its contact details dropped from Minor Matters because one of its officers is not a paid up member of the MMOC.
The wording of the branch constitution is going to be reviewed, and it is anticipated that a revised draft copy will be sent to Branches for comment at the end of January. I raised some points relating to concept of Life President, and that the requirement that all members of the Branch must be members of the MMOC after 2 visits was unreasonable. Afterwards I raised the point that we had non-committee positions.

New postage rates are going to be introduced where postage rates will be based on size rather than just weight. I.e. an A4 sized envelope can be more expensive to send than a smaller sized envelope. Something to think about when sending out rally application forms.

Minor Matters will be re launched at the Jan/Feb edition. Static things like Branch contact details, and MMOC committee members will be in a ‘Year book’. This has been circulated for comment around 25 members, selected for their journalistic experience. Contents of ‘Year book’ should also be on website. Comment was made that more frequent updates on the website were necessary. On the events front, Minor Matters will concentrate on being more forward looking. There is going to be an editorial meeting in January, where Rally review and Branch News will be discussed. Possibly look back at events on an annual basis at the end of the year.
Items for Rally Preview needs to be fresh for each issue. When submitting information, if using email, send to David Harvey (with attachments) and copy as backup to Rosie Hamilton (with attachment in body of note, i.e.. no attachment.) Photos 300dpi and for size of publication (don’t fully understand).

MMOC AGM 26th December 2005 – A Personal Recollection.

Membership has dropped by 116.

Branch rebates should be dealt with in 7 days.

There were qualifications on the accounts because part of the audit trail for spare parts has been lost. When physically checking the presence of the spare parts, information is recorded on paper, and then transcribed onto a computer spreadsheet. The auditors have complained that the original pieces of paper have been thrown away, so the ‘audit trail’ is broken. In my view, this is no big deal.

The accounts presented at the AGM are for the finical year ending 31st December 2004, and are being presented to Members 11 months later. I suggested that it might be better if the AGM was in the spring, just before the Rally season starts, so information was still fairly fresh. Ian Philip Benn agreed that information was coming back later than he would expect from his own business. Ray Newell indicated that some information on the finical report only arrived just in time for the printing deadline for the Nov/Dec Minor Matters. For other reasons, the auditors are being changed.

The problem with the spares audit trail will still be in the 2005 accounts. However if the problem is still in the 2006 accounts, Ray Newell announced that he will tender his resignation as a Director in 2007.

It was agreed that the remuneration of officers can be increased by 3%, making, Secretary £5266, Treasurer £2498 (not taken), Editor £2060, Assistant Secretary £803, Deputy Editor £803.

Membership fees remain unchanged.

The question was asked, there have been complaints of poor workmanship of some companies that advertise in Minor Matters. Would these companies still be allowed to advertise in Minor Matters? Ray Newell indicated that he kept a file containing complaints about specific companies. However, only when a county Court Judgment is made against a company, is advertising refused by Minor Matters. It is suggested that where there is a complaint about a company, that an independent assessor is used like, ‘Classic Assessments, Bryan Page’. Advertising is also refused for petrol lead additives, which have not passed the FBHVC tests.

These are my personal recollections of the AGM, and in no way constitute any thing like an official record.

Nigel
Future Events

Sunday 4th December Branch Christmas Meal. Shorrocks Hill Country Club, Formby. 1.30pm for 2pm

Wednesday 18th January 2006. Sefton Branch AGM. Blue Bell, Barton. 8pm.

Wednesday 15th February. Branch Meeting. Blue Bell, Barton. 8pm.

Wednesday 15th March, Concourse, Myth and Reality, presented by Ian Dale and Jeff Johnson. Blue Bell, Barton. 8pm.
…………………………………………………………………………………………          FROM THE SECRETARY

As I write this, we have just held the first of the events listed above – the Christmas Meal – thank oyu so much to every one for supporting us – I think you’ll all agree that Shorrocks Hill did us proud yet again, and I am sure we will want to return there again next year – watch this space!
Whilst mentioning the Christmas meal, I must also wish Derek a speedy recovery – unfortunately Derek and his partner were unable to be present as Derek had suffered a heart attack the weekend before – I understand he is now back home and we wish him all the best. Also, Phil and Shirley were unable to attend due to Shirley’s illness and I trust that she also is well on the road to recovery.
Nigel has already made mention of Graham’s impending resignation. I would like to add my personal thanks to Graham as a founder member of the branch, and for his contribution as Treasurer since we first started. However, I am delighted to say that Tom has indicated his willingness to take over the reins, indeed we have a number of members who have indicated that they would like to join the committee. Obviously all this will take place at the AGM – next meeting – and I would ask that if there is anyone else wishing to join the committee who has not already indicated so, that they let me know at the latest by Wednesday 11th January – one week before the AGM.

Finally. on behalf of the Chairman and committee, may I take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.