Minutes of the 45th Annual General Meeting of the KSSA
Chipstead Sailing Club on the 18th November 2006
Present: Martyn Styles, Commodore in the chair
Committee Members: -
Steve Restall, Jamie Blair, Elena Setterfield, Jon Rowe
Members and Guests: - There were 55 attendees/members.
1. Welcome by the Commodore
The meeting was opened by the Commodore who welcomed everybody and thanked Chipstead for hosting the training earlier in the day and for allowing the KSSA AGM to be held in their clubhouse. Martyn remarked that most of the sailing in 2005 had been a mixed set of events with varied weather conditions, making training and sailing exciting.
2. Apologies for Absence
Don Hall, Moya Large, John Hope, John Weavers, Charles Burnup, Jim Jeffery, John Martin, Tim Turnill, Mike & Marion Smailes, Dave Ellis, Dave Webb
3. Minutes of AGM Meeting 19th November 2005
The minutes of the 44th Annual General Meeting held at Chipstead Sailing Club on Saturday
19th November 2005 were approved.
4. Matters arising
There were no matters arising.
5. Commodores Report
The Commodore gave an outline report of the sailing during 2004. There had been much variety in the sailing by members of KSSA during the year.
· There had been 10 different events, with 35 days of sailing at 10 different venues. The KSSA Topper Team Racing event had been cancelled due to high winds and for the re-run cancelled due to a green algae growth. The commodore also thanked Whitstable Yacht Club for hosting the 6 Committee meetings during the year. Thanks also went the Minnis Bay Sailing Club who hosted the KSSA Annual Regatta in September.
· Turnouts have been average throughout the year. Numbers topped the 100 with 45 schools from 14 clubs around Kent. Numbers would have been greater but for the clashes with Zone and Class training. We need to encourage as many as we can to swell our numbers. The provision of a new leaflet was made known to the members with a quantity available to take away.
· Daniel Aldis was the winner of the Littlefield Trophy memorial race giving him the unenviable job of being the Race Officer for 2007 at the Sandwich Bay weekend. Another excellent weekend of training, racing and team bonding.
· Special thanks go to a number of helpers - Marion Smailes for her support as our First Aider. Jenny Catt, Fiona Blair and Judy Restall for on shore support on sailing days.
· The Commodore reminded all of the resources available to KSSA in a joint initiative with Downs SC.
· Martyn thanked all the committee members for their input during the year. Thanks also go to Katie Restall and Sam Rowe for their input on the Committee and hoped that new young members would join the committee for 2006.
· Jon Rowe and Tim Turnill have masterminded the promotion of KSSA and produced a number of promotional goods. Martyn asked the members what they would lie to see as corporate clothing for KSSA. A clear vote agreed with the proposed Ties & Scarves along with polo shirts.
· Martyn floated the possible Youth Sailing Seminar, which would be a day ashore discussing the many aspects of sailing and competitive racing. If this was a wish of the members please let the committee know so that plans and a programme could be formalised.
· Congratulations to Mike & Marion Smailes who were awarded the Chairman’s Cup for 2006. There continuous support both at sailing events and in other areas has been invaluable.
· Thanks to Mike Smailes for his work as Principal for KSSA to maintain our position as RTC within the RYA system.
· Martyn offered sincere thanks to: -
Sericol for their help in printing
Our Web Master Frank Catt for the Website
Kent Schools Sports Council
Kent Sports Development Unit
RYA
NSSA – providing us with three events.
· Martyn reminded all present of the Memorial awards – Ernie Large and Nesham Driver. This year we had received two applications from which awards were made to Chloe Martin for assistance with higher level coaching and Tim Ellis for assistance with senior instructor training. Martyn urged all the members of KSSA to put forward applications for 2007.
There are many needs for 2007 –
· KSSA is for all the young in Kent and the promotion of the work of KSSA is a brief for us all. Please encourage new youngsters to join.
· Is the programme of sailing and training what you want?
Let your committee know.
6. Annual Sailing Reports
Steve Restall commented that the year had seen a change in sailors attending both KSSA events but more importantly the NSSA events. The future will bring more young sailors through. Steve expanded on the scope of NSSA with the provision of good sailing opportunities at clubs not normally visited, the opportunity to meet, make new acquaintances and enjoy participating for the County.
Steve provided a summary of the Major events within the NSSA programme. Kent sailed well at the Match Racing at Oxford finishing 2nd. The team scored well at the Championships as well as the Regatta at Bassenthwaite. From an entry of 200 boats in the Laser Radial fleet Chloe Martin was top Lady (She was also awarded a position on the Sceptre trip).
This year a new trophy – The Winchester Club Trophy, was awarded as with the mandate to a Kent sailor who sailed well and provided the best effort. This year it was awarded at the main prize giving to Mark Thomas. Despite a reduced team we were second in the Team Prize. Unlike last year we were not successful in the Mount Haes Trophy race.
2007 will see the NSSA regatta at Plymouth from the Mountbatten Centre and the May Championship will be at Farmoor, Oxford.
Match racing will feature again in 2007 at Farmoor in First Class 8 racing cruisers. This year’s team sailed well and we look forward to producing a good team.
The Topper Team Racing event at Bartley SC saw over 200 races sailed in the weekend. KSSA provided two teams, one from King’s School Canterbury. The Kent team finished third.
Thanks went to the Team Captains and to the many adult helpers without whose support the team could not have been managed so successfully.
Steve announced that he would be standing down from the position of Team Manager and handing over to Debbie Thomas. He wished her well for 2007. Steve also thanked his wife, Judy and daughter, Katie for their help as well as all the other helpers who have assisted in transporting, coaching and generally looking after the Kent teams whilst away.
Martyn thanked Steve for his 15 years as Team Manager and wished him and his family the best for 2007.
(A copy of the report can be found on the KSSA website http://www.kssa.co.uk)
7. Treasurers Report
A Report was handed out but with the Treasurer being unable to attend there was not a full explanation of the accounts. From the report it is evident that the expenditure had been managed to give a break even position without hitting reserves.
Martyn Noted that approximately £1000 had been spent on the promotion of KSSA. This had been approved by the committee.
The subscription for 2007 would not be increased. There would, however, be a review of event fees.
The accounts have been examined by our auditor and agreed as a true representation of the accounts.
8. Election of Commodore
Martyn Styles was proposed as Commodore and elected
9. Election of Flag Officers and Committee
The following were elected: -
Vice Commodore: Tim Turnill. Rear Commodore: not appointed
Hon Treasurer: Frank Catt. Sailing Secretary: Not Appointed. Hon. Secretary: Jamie Blair.
Committee nominated at the meeting: Mike Smailes, Elena Setterfield, Dave Ellis, John Rowe, Anna Irvin,
Committee members to be approached not at the meeting: Those 2006 committee members who were not at the meeting would be approached.
Team Manager: Deborah Thomas
Co-opted member: John Weavers
Young Members representatives: Paul Turnill
Event support Team: Keith Macey
10. Election of Vice Presidents
Jack Aisher, Don Hall, Moya Large, Charles Burnup and Jim Jeffery will all be asked to continue as Vice Presidents.
The members were asked to ratify the election of a new Vice President – Derek Crouch. Derek has been an enthusiastic member and helper of KSSA for many years. Derek was elected.
11. 2007 Sailing Programme
In order to maintain a level of continuity the committee wished to provide a programme which was inspired by the needs from the membership and would be based around that of previous years and include: -
14th April Spring Training (with Topper Class) Bewl valley Sailing Club
21st April Opening Splash Wilsonian SC
19th May Topper Team Racing Redoubt
7/8th July Coastal Training/Regatta Sandwich Bay
15th September Topper Team Racing Training Dover
22nd September KSSA Autumn Regatta Bough Beech
6th October Winter Training 1 Downs
27th October Winter Training 2 Blue Circle
18th November Winter Training 3 Chipstead SC
NSSA Events
26/27th May Championships Farmoor SC, Oxford
22-27th July Regatta Mountbatten Centre, Plymouth
12. Any Other Business
· Martyn reminded all members of the RYA Zone event to be held at Bewl on the 29/30th September. The stepping stone to Zone training under the RYA and possible entry to the National Youth Squads.
· SE Zone Junior qualifiers were being introduced – use RYA website to get more information
· There will be a new High Performance Manager for the SE in 2007. No name at this time.
· See Jo Wicken for information on Topper Training event at Bewl in April.
· Elena asked all to thank Martyn for all his time and input to this event and KSSA.
The meeting was closed at 17.05 with Martyn giving special award to Chipstead for allowing use of their clubhouse and facilities. He also wishing everybody a safe journey home, a good Christmas and let’s use 2007 to raise the enjoyment, participation and performance and make it an even better year than 2006.