Minutes of HCC Virtual Committee Meeting held online at 7.30pm on Monday 16th November 2020

Committee Present: Paul Morgan (PM), Chairman Dale Clarke (DC), Trips and Events Officer
Alison Hardy (AH), Secretary Ben Hardy (BH), Development Officer Lesley March (LM), Finance Officer
Neil Smith (NS), Equipment Officer
Apologies: Liz Owen (LO), Membership Secretary Mike Dallaway
Others Present: Richard Matthews Carolyn Peacock
Jonathan Pope Martin Stretton

Minutes: These having been previously circulated for 12th October 2020, and added as draft to the website, were accepted as a true record.

Club Admin (AH):

  • BC correspondence – since the last meeting updates have been shared over Facebook with members such as BC Lockdown Updates 04/11/20, BC Webinars and BC Paddlepoints Moderators.
  • Western Power Grant Application – AH forwarded Salim Sidat’s original Letter to Alberto Coasta MP but then need to formally apply for the grant aid. AH submitted this but was not confident HCC met all the criteria.
  • AGM 2021 – Discussed likelihood of a virtual AGM and the different platforms that could be used to host this. DC suggested possible Webinar software where many people can “watch” and then type to interact and comment. Action: Agreed to review AGM plans at the next meeting.

Chairman (PM):

  • EM update – 9/11/20 Virtual EM meeting EM Paddlers on FB anyone can join. Key topics covered:
    • Webinars for club members EM Paddlers kit, finances etc.
    • There’s a new separate part of British Canoeing “Paddles Up” Training for England although it’s not called Canoe England like it Welsh and Scottish counterparts.
    • People starting out can check out Go Paddling for trip ideas and information etc.
  • MIND Fundraiser Event Stanton – planned for 4pm – 8pm 05/12/20, stalls and a raffle. HCC have donated two raffle prizes, each being a SUP coaching session with kit for two. Thanks to Kat Smith and PM for offering to coach these. Event has been shared on our Facebook pages and further stall holders are encouraged to contact Stanton Lakes for further information.
  • BC Virtual Awards – Two HCC Members through to the final voting stages for the Top 3 Nominations in their categories, NS for The Engagement Award and Olivia More for the Digital Virtual Award. Good luck to both nominees. Results to be announced at a Virtual Awards Ceremony later this year.

Finance (LM):

  • Bank Balance – balance £8841.40 as at 24/10/20, of this approximately £2.6K to reimburse Mike Dallaway, DC and PM. LM needs Bank Account details to reimburse Mike. Action: AH to ask MD
  • Kit purchases – NS has receipts for more fixings/screws £5.79, Velcro for hip pads £6.80, hip pads £32.94 with postage.
  • Dee Trip – DC explained this was paid as 3 different group bookings.

Equipment (NS):

  • Theft from HCC Container – on Thursday after the last Committee meeting. Bolt cutters cut through a gate to take a boat – Canoe Venturer Prospecter 15. Theft reported to both Police and Insurance. Insurance Brokers are unable to say if and how premiums may increase as result of a claim as still too far from renewal date. After the break in, a working party replaced and reinforced the damaged gate with the spare metal from the roof cladding. The working party also took photographs of all kit SUPs, Kayaks and Canoes. Each canoe has been branded on the gunnels with HCC’s logo melted in to deter theft.

Urgent need to get a power supply to the containers to increase security. Amazing offers of help received:

  • Martin Walker (Electrician) who has kindly donated MES Systems CCTV camera and alarm.
  • Paul Hunter (Builder) has kindly donated 2 tons sand. This will be used in the trench under and over the cable. He has also offered to provide a mini digger for the work as well as sub-base to use between the containers.

With consent of the Landlord, the plan is to run a new cable approx. 160m across the road from campsite’s electrical bunker to the container on the opposite side of the road to avoid existing cables which run near to the hedgerow. Our meter point will be either in the bunker or container.

Former member Steve Lewis who keeps his caravan at nearby farm observed that thieves seem to have approached through adjacent fields from the direction of Leicester Road, Sapcote – evidenced by grass flattened and barbed wire fences cut to access the Lake. The fence owner had to repair the fence. Also, the hedge near the locked back gate appears to have been cut back to about half its previous size and would benefit from being reinforced.

  • Coracle – thanks to former member, Tom Holden for the repair which is now complete.
  • Explorer Award Course – security needs to be a priority so unfortunately a course date has not been set yet.

Events and Trips (DC):

  • Trips and Events – No trips possible until the end of the current lockdown due early December but propose:
    • Leamington 05/12/20 Neil Smith
    • Snareston, Ashby Canal 19/12/20 Richard Matthews – Christmas Paddle
    • Cardiff WW Trip in December Dale Clark.
  • Trips Reports – AH has not yet received Trip Reports for The Dee, Matlock, Loughborough Loop or the Halloween Paddle. Action: Trip Leaders to ask if anyone willing to do a write up to forward to AH for the website?

Club Development (BH):

  • Course Update – Course Provider, Dave Beecroft would like to arrange to visit the Lake to see available kit and venue. Hoped to arrange for last weekend but was unable to go ahead as planned. Dave to confirm prices/dates (most likely Jan 2021 onwards) to BH who will then contact those who were interested. Only kit we may not have is a Racing kayak unless a member would be willing to loan one. PM offered to meet Dave during the week if he had advanced notice.

Membership (LO): Post meeting update from LO:

  • Paid Membership renewals – membership remains static at 135. A membership refund was made, and a partial one to a different member is to be arranged, following the discussion at the previous meeting.
  • The Member’s Facebook Group – LO retitled this to clarify the Group after a small number of former members asked to join the group but had not renewed their membership.

AOB:

  • Touring Leader – when courses change in the New Year NS is looking at doing this as well as it is comparable to WW Leader.
  • Use of canoe trailer – John Dow may be able to allow HCC to borrow a Scout Group trailer. It has been used to transport kayaks, not sure about carrying canoes. HCC hoped to sources a trailer to move canoes for future canoe trips.
  • Fundraising Fun Day – Former member had suggested a possible fun day for invited guests, such as Member’s families and colleagues, to help offset costs of increasing the Security. HCC had previously hoped to combine with Pete Lewin’s Newfoundland Dogs Group. Potentially limited entry and charge a small entry fee.
  • BC Affiliation – due shortly Action: AH/LO
  • Award Certificates – AH queries raised by a small number of members who don’t appear to have received their certificates by email yet. Action: AH chasing with BC and Go Paddling
  • Al Randall – almost £4,600 raised to date and still plans to rearrange the Paddle for Al. A number of HCC members hope to take part.

Meeting closed 8.30pm

Next meeting and Location: Virtual Full Committee Meeting 7.30pm Monday 7th December 2020 Skype.