MORAY GROUP AMM
REGISTERED SCOTTISH CHARITY SC 033516
Draft Minutes of the Committee Meeting held at Leaside, St Catherine’s Place, Elgin IV30 1TN
on Monday 13 April 2015 at 19:30
Sederunt:
Vince Dobby (Chair), Billy Johnson, Bob Drysdale, Ian Jones,
Jim MacDonald and Sarah Henderson.
1. Apologies
These were received from John Laing and Peter Garrett.
2. Minutes of the previous Meeting
On the motion of Bob, seconded by Billy, the Minutes of the Meeting of 20 November 2014
were approved as a true and accurate record of that Meeting.
3. Matters Arising
Radios
In order to meet an imminent deadline, Billy submitted a bid to Diageo Community Fund for
£579.92 for radios to promote safe riding. The costs he supplied were as follows:
Bike-to-bike radios
Cobra MT600 £59.95 each x 3
= £179.95
Disposable earpieces
Cobra MT600 £9.99 Twin pack x 2 = £19.98
PC for classroom instruction Lenovo Z50 laptop (or equivalent) = £379.99
The bid was approved by the Fund, and it is likely that a cheque for the full amount will arrive
shortly. Members of Moray Group Committee, and Moray Group Riders with their bikes, will be
delighted to attend a photoshoot of the handover of the cheque at Inchgower Distillery,
Buckie. The date of this event will probably be Monday 13 July.
4. Treasurer – Bob Drysdale
Bob reported that on 10 March 2015 the balance stood at £2600.75.
One cheque for £22.50 has been sent to Moray Council for hirings on 20 November and 25
February. Notice has been given by the Council of an increase in the rate payable.
It was agreed that all new members’ details shall be forwarded to Bob.
Bob reported on recent problems with Chiswick regarding payments made by four new
Associates. Those making payment by credit/debit card were phoned by the IAM for their
security codes (which are purposely not requested on the Associate application form): one
Associate suspected a bogus call and contacted the Chairman, while another contacted the IAM
directly to query the request. Both received reassurance that the calls were genuine, the
payments were processed, and the documentation landed on the mat shortly thereafter. An
Associate joining halfway through the course also received his documentation on time.
Those making payment by cheque, however, did not receive their documents for an extended
period. Vince will make a formal complaint to the IAM about the serious delays regarding
reception of documentation by our Associates.
Bob, who has served faithfully in post for over two decades, was understandably deeply
embarrassed by a false accusation of misappropriation of funds levelled against him by IAM’s
Head Office in Chiswick - when it was Head Office itself which had mislaid a cheque. The
Chairman sent a stiff letter to the IAM, underlining their fault, and flagging our exemplary
Treasurer’s threat of resignation. The meeting was glad to hear that the matter was sorted out
swiftly thereafter by the IAM’s Jane Low.
5. Associates
Car section
Vince reported that three Advanced Driving Test passes have been achieved recently.
Congratulations were offered to the new full Members and to their Observers.
Six Associates have joined this year, and there are four Associates continuing from the
previous course.
Associate progress was discussed.
Motorcycle section
Ian reported that Mark Stephens passed his Advanced Riding Test. Congratulations were
offered to the three riders who passed the test in 2014.
Three new Associates have enrolled online, and at least five strong expressions of interest
have been received. The Observers have been working with Associates on theory side of the
course over the winter. It is hoped that, if riders enjoy the IAM course, they will spread the
word.
Two riders are waiting until the weather improves to take advantage of the IAM’s RideScotFree
assessed-riding initiative. The Observers will try to make a good enough run to get them
interested in progressing to the course.
With the support of Billy, Ian has been running a “five-week course”. Each session has lasted
an hour and 40 minutes. With a little adjustment, the course material is capable of being
covered in full within a four-week period. It was not possible to include a First Aid module this
time around (a skill that should be refreshed every year), but if it turns out to be possible to
arrange for one to be scheduled in the future, an invitation will be extended to the drivers to
join the riders for this.
Derek MacDonald has been approved as LO for the Motorcycle section.
Issues with the new disclaimer form, as included in the documentation pack, were discussed.
On the 1st Drive/Ride, the Associate will be asked to sign the disclaimer form, a copy will be
given to him/her, and the Group will hold the original on record for twelve months.
Ian has converted the IAM’s disclaimer document to a single side in Word format. He has
added a note to the effect that, should the Associate change his/her vehicle or bike within the
12-month period of Associateship, then fresh documentary proofs must be submitted by the
Associate before Observed Rides can continue. Ian also advised that Observers should check
whether younger riders are carrying A1 orA2 licences. Ian will email the document to Vince,
and it may be forwarded to Observers in due course. Vince will alert the IAM to Ian’s
suggestions.
6. LO Assessor and NO applications
Vince is already an LO Assessor. John Laing will be encouraged to consider going forward for
qualification too. The IAM desires that Observers shall take the NO test, rather than the LO
test, first. National Observer tests may be scheduled here in May. Moray Group will probably
field two NO driver candidates (Peter Garrett and John Bromehead) and two rider candidates.
Ian will make contact with Chief Examiner Mike Kinghorn to see what arrangements can be put
in place for rider candidates.
7. DTE use and users
Bob, Vince and Derek already have access to the DTE.
present.
No further users will be added at
8. Advertising
Facebook
Ian has been sent a link to the web page, but he needs to contact Rodney in order to acquire
access permissions. Thereafter, Ian’s wife will facilitate web page access. Although Rodney is
out of the country quite a lot, he is willing to help Moray Group with major builds.
Website
Thanks were offered to Webmaster Alan for maintaining the website on behalf of Moray Group.
When he has received feedback from the current Associates, Vince will post the next course
details. Ian too will get on site.
Places
The Easi-Up will have to be used at venues, as Neil Warden has not yet confirmed the booking
of the MDU.
Forres Theme Day 3 May
To date, no reply has been received from the organisers to Vince’s letter about the
unacceptability of last year’s pitch and his request for the use of the one allocated to Moray
Group in previous years.
Elgin MaraFun 7 June
Were the Group to take a stall at this event, significant paperwork would be involved, and the
cost of a stall would be above the group’s usual ceiling. The Group has fielded a stall at this
event in previous years, but the records show that there were not many takers.
Keith Rrrrallye 14 June
The Rrrrallye is aimed at young drivers and the promotion of road safety. Buckie & Keith Police
will be present to promote the antisocial driving initiative. Moray Group will make a donation in
order to hold a stall in the Sports Hall of Keith Grammar School.
Hopeman Gala 18 July
An invitation to hold a stall at the Gala has been received. No information is available as yet,
but it is likely to run throughout that week. Thanks will be offered for the invitation, which will
be explored further.
Posters and leaflets were perceived as a waste of money, at least as far as recruitment is
concerned. Ian will devise a variation on the existing poster to circulate to the bike shops.
One Associate was gained from the advertisement inserted in the P&J. It was reported to be as
expensive to insert an advertisement in the free local magazine as it is in the local
newspapers.
It may be possible to have a publicity table in Forres Tesco before the September course. Peter
will make enquiries about the availability of similar opportunities in Elgin B&Q and Decora.
It was agreed that the focus meantime shall be on publicity outlets in the Lossiemouth &
Kinloss area, including events such as Families’ Days. Billy will try to find out more about
potential outlets in Lossiemouth.
9. Moray Group 50th Anniversary 2015
Moray Group of Advanced Motorists was established in 1965, eleven years after the formation
of the IAM. After discussion about the form that these celebrations might take, Vince agreed to
make enquiries about holding a Dinner at Forres Golf Club.
10. March 2015 NRG
Elliot Beattie’s notes on the NRG Meeting of 7 March 2015 were examined and discussed.
It was seen as positive that that NRG has become more useful over the years, and that Gill
MacGregor wishes to become involved. Concern was expressed that:
(a) three meetings of the NRG were held at the astronomical average cost of £6216:00
per meeting;
(b) while 90% of Groups now have two NOs, 22 Groups have none, and the remaining
Groups have indicated that they do not wish to participate in the scheme;
(c) it was recommended that officer-bearers should serve no more than three years in
any one Group role, and
(d) a definition of the post of Group Ambassador was added to the list of office-bearers.
The meeting saw all members of Moray Group as Group Ambassadors in a sense, because all
such duties are already being covered by members rather than by an individual.
Billy to acquire the slide deck, and Vince will circulate it to our Observers and the Webmaster.
11. Attendance at external meetings - Spring Forum / National Conference
Spring Forum
No delegates were sent from Moray Group to the Spring Forum on 11 April.
National Conference
Vice-Chair Peter will be the drivers’ delegate to National Conference / vehicles in Birmingham
on Saturday 10 October.
The motorcycle section may wish to send one or more delegate to National Conference /
motorcycles on Sunday 11 October.
The claiming of expenses was discussed. Both Moray Group sections will liaise over delegation
arrangements.
12. A.O.C.B.
Meeting at Leaside
Thanks were offered to Jim for his ever-generous hospitality.
13. The date of the next Meeting was set as Monday 22 June at 19:30.
The venue will be ‘Leaside’.
The Meeting closed at 21:18.