Dear All
Well, it looked like the ‘next ride’ just wasn’t going to happen – but David saved the day. For which many thanks.
Jim and Alex are looking at possibilities for a joint ride with London Clarion early in the New Year.
The Christmas Social
Angela writes:
I have booked Stanmer House in Stanmer Park for the Xmas Social on Saturday 13th December at 12.30pm to eat for 1pm. It would be really helpful if people could let me know asap if they are able to come, as Stanmer House need me in the next couple of weeks to secure the booking by putting a deposit for the meal of £10 per person, which I am happy to do. The menu for the 13th is not yet available on their website so I apologise for the fact that people will need to decide whether or not they are coming without being able to see what food is available until nearer the date booked. However, the lady that I spoke to said that the menu would include the full Xmas dinner and vegetarian options. The current Stanmer House website will give people an idea of the prices and the sort of food that is served. If you need to contact me about any of this, please feel free to phone me on 07866 439444.
But don’t let’s have a neverendum!
In the last newsletter I asked for views on two issues So far I have heard from Sikka, Mick Adam, Jenny, Leon, Fred, and Jim with the following results (NB to anticipate charges of innumeracy I must make it clear that not everyone gave a view on both issues).
1. New Year Brunch Ride to Carats Café.
Have it on 1 January 1 2nd January 5
2. Timing of AGM
I obviously didn’t explain this clearly enough. I wasn’t asking for a view on whether the local subs should suspended for 2014 leaving the overall 2015 rate at the new £8, nor as one respondent suggested doubling it so that we all pay £10 I would never suggest deciding an issue like that by email. One needs to hear the arguments on both side and have an opportunity of debating them.
What I was asking was what people thought about having the AGM earlier rather than later in the New Year. One of the very few powers I have as secretary – and I don’t want any more, thank you very much – is calling meetings – most years just the AGM.
I want to call the 2015 early in January to get a definite decision on the local subscription so that Julian knows whether to ask people to send £8 or £9 (or indeed £10!) It will, I think, make his task a lot easier if this is decided earlier rather than later – which is my sole motive in making this suggestion.
So, I could just go ahead and pick an early January date and call the meeting, but I am bearing in mind that at this year’s AGM there was a definite feeling – indeed a resolution – in favour of having future AGM’s as late as possible and I don’t want to go against this without both explanation and consent. Which is why I’m asking for your agreement. So far I have 3 in favour of my proposal for an earlier AGM.
Seven responses out of forty-odd is not a very good steer on either issue, so I’m extending this consultation for a fortnight until the next newsletter. So please, if you haven’t already done so, let me know your view on both issues.
But I shall assume that a “no reply” means “I’ll leave it to you and the others” and go ahead accordingly.
“History section”
As you will know unless you’ve joined us only recently, since early in 2008 I have been ending these newsletters with extracts from the Clarion in the mid-1890s which have enabled us to follow the beginnings and early evolution of the Clarion cycling clubs, locally and nationally. I have done this to date by copying from microfilm, which is quite time-consuming.
But at last I’ve discovered a way in which I can cut-and paste the orginal material. I’ve checked that this seems to work OK by sending myself a “dummy” version of this newsletter with a “pasted” extract. If this casues any problem please let me know and I’ll return to my fortnightly copy-typing sessions.
So far we’ve followed developments on a more or less week-by-week basis but from now on I am going to be a little bit more selective and move on just a bi .t more quickly.
Ian