Hi Michael, it's Norm here, your friendly (?) chairman
I remember you at Stoneleigh, and thought you must be a real fan to have come all the way over here!
The situation with the club funds wasn't something I was worried about personally, but a lot of members thought we should do something with the money to benefit all in the club, and that's why we had two years of free membership for everyone and also the free calendar. I don't know how much we have right now, but I've asked our Treasurer for that figure. We have to keep some money in reserve for the usual things - website costs, marquee rental for the AGM, and the like, and some to replace club property, such as the laptops used by the Webmaster and the Treasurer, if they break. So there's probably not as much spare money as we think!
I wasn't aware we sent overseas members free calendars. I've only been a club member for 4 years and the committee has been completely replaced by new people in that time, so I think that's a new one to all of us! We'll discuss it at the next AGM...hopefully in 2021
We did make the decision, however, that we wouldn't be sponsoring anyone in competition, or any other personal endeavours. The only things we would look to subsidize would be those things that would benefit all members equally. So, for example, no club money was spent on the Yorkshire Weekend or Northern Drive-Out. Those were all paid for by the members who attended. Any costs arising from holding the AGM, however, were paid by the club (but not anyone's expenses, such as fuel). The same might happen if the club organised, or attended, a track day, or an event such as the Silverstone Classic, or had a stand at a classic car show, or similar. That is to say, something that was done for the CLUB, and not individuals.
It's difficult to know what we can do to give our overseas friends extra value from being club members. Because you're spread so far apart, it's not easy for you to meet up, and those of us here in the UK would find it difficult to organize an event overseas - and even if we did, how many overseas members would attend, if any? We don't even get a lot of UK members attending events....I think there were 46 people at the last AGM, and about 25 at each of the Yorkshire and Northern ones (and those two included members' partners!). Anyway, it's still something we need to think about, so hopefully we'll come up with something.
That doesn't mean any other members can't put suggestions forward, or organise something themselves - let us know what you think of and we'll try and support you! At the end of the day, this club belongs to the members, and it relies on the members to support it and keep it together. That includes those who pay to come on events such as Silverstone, Yorkshire, the AGM, etc, and I'd like to thank those who do - especially you too Michael, for travelling all the way from Germany to attend the AGM! (I'll have a word with Boris to let you in after Brexit, haha!) So come on, everyone - if we get a 2021 that's more like "normal", let's see some more of you at events and, maybe, even organising a few, and let's make the SEC great again! (a bit Donald Trump there, but I'm not averse to using other people's ideas and slogans)
Cheers!
Norm
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks