Catterline Coastal Rowing Club

AGM 2024

13 March 2024 

ATTENDEES

Mark Campbell, Stephen Hall, Anna Conniff, Jen Stephen, Judith Crawford, Tom Young, Rob Plummer (Chair), Carol Littlewood, Janet Kyle, Gordon Bell, Jeremy Gaze, Leisa Gaze

APOLOGIES

Gen Leaper, Paul Conniff, Jules Anderson

AGENDA

Minutes

Minutes of 2023 AGM were not available

Captain’s Report

“The membership of the club grew in 2023, and seems well engaged. I have been encouraged by the new groups springing up such as the folk music group and the ramblers.

The weather in the first part of the season was a challenge with what seemed like continuous easterly winds and swells which meant several sessions and especially taster sessions were canceled.

But the sun did come out for Spirit’s 10th birthday party in June, when we were joined by Maggie from Gourdon, the new Forfar skiff and Admiral Redsocks from Collieston.

Both Spirit and the Little Bustard completed Monster the Loch. Castle to the Crane, Broughty Ferry, Six Harbours’, 5 miles from home, and Little Bustard retained the picnic basket at the Freshwater Sprints.

We did have a medical emergency this year. Fortunately the casualty was ok, but it was a scary experience. I think the crew did an excellent job, especially those with little experience. Although there were some minor issues that came to light, I think it highlighted that the club has developed its processes and can handle challenging circumstances in a safe way.

41 members signed up last year.

About 90 outings for Spirit, but only 13 for little Bustard.

Big thank you to our coxes. Stephen coxed a third of Spirit’s outings. Another 6 (Paul and Anna, Rob, June, Judith and Gordon) accounted for 55

A key focus for 2024 is to keep enhancing our skills, especially developing more crew leads. The more crew leads we have the more opportunities there will be to row.

Stephen and I have produced a short document that highlights the skills that a crew leads needs to develop. We are planning to run a programme this year which will be a combination of shore based learning and then mentoring of potential crew leads.

Thanks to everyone who has taken part in maintenance and especially those who turn up every week. And to those who provide biscuits.

Treasurer’s Report

Our current balance is £980.67

Our income last year was £1084.75, of which £147.25 was from the beginners course, the rest from club membership fees.

Our outgoings totalled £678.97, of which:

• £91.20 harbour fees
• £60 SCRA membership
• £358.71 insurance for Spirit and LB
• £223.06 sundries (primarily paint, wood, radio covers, new lettering etc.)

We received, and spent, £533.80 from St John's Hill Wind Farm on the PLBs.

An increase in charges for our bank account means we are now charged per transaction. To reduce costs, individual annual fees will be paid in to Anna’s account and then transferred in a single transaction to our bank account.

Election of Committee Members

• Jules Anderson stepped down from the committee.
• Janet Kyle (proposed Stephen Hall, seconded Judith Crawford) was elected nem. con.
• A vote of thanks to Jules for her diligent service to the club was proposed by Judith.

Training

Stephen and Rob outlined the plans for training this year.

• Beginners - last year’s beginners course was not as successful in recruiting new members as it has been in previous years, and there was a strong demand for taster and new rowers throughout the season. In order to try to handle this more effectively, we’ll be running beginner sessions throughout the year. Experienced rowers are encouraged to assist with this.
• Crew Leads - We have developed a syllabus for training coxes and crew leads, and will be starting training sessions early in the season. There will be some training sessions for those interested in becoming coxes and crew leads, followed by individual mentoring from experienced crew leads to get more people up standard to act as crew lead.

Events in 2024

• The calendar on the web site contains a list of potential events for this year, and there may be some expeditions planned.

AOCB

• The current whatsapp group will be “soft retired” and a new group created for those who continue to be members for 2024. The current will remain, but will no longer be used.