CLWB SEICLO VELO TEIFI CYCLING CLUB

Notes of Velo Teifi Cycling Club meeting held 15th August 2008 at Cardigan Leisure Centre

Present
Carl Davies (Chairman)
Tom Wells (Treasurer)
Michelle Lewis (Secretary)
Colin Portsmouth                                                
Ian Hipkins 
Hywel Evans                                                      
Sheila Williams
Andrew Lindsay                                              
Dylan Evans                                                                                          
Cynan Davies                                                    
Allan Maguire

Apologies:

Meinir James, Huw Forster,  Neil Jones and Ioan Morris


Meetings Notes:

Generous Donation

1. Colin presented the club with donations of £35 from his family members, for which the Club expressed its gratitude.
                                                 
Action: Club Secretary to send letters of thanks.

Chairman’s words

2. Carl welcomed every one to the meeting including our two newest members Cynan and Allan.

3. Notes from previous meeting were reviewed and agreed on.  It was noted that  some actions reminded incomplete, however, by and large they had been overtaken by events.

4. One action related to the production of posters and examples were briefly shown; the posters have been distributed around area and the group were encouraged to think about possible future messages on the posters.

5. A quick review of the VTCC website was undertaken and the consensus was that it currently serve its purpose and would remain in its current format for the foreseeable future.  The Club was encouraged to submit any ideas for inclusions on the website.

6. In response to an action placed at the last meeting, Colin has begun compiling a list of local Charities the club might consider supporting in any future sponsored events.  The list is now with the Secretary for safe keeping and updates as required.


Treasurers update

7. Tom gave an informal brief from the July bank statement and indicated that the club currently held funds totalling £1548.38.  To be deducted are the monies due to the Newport Spring Festival, as per the agreed divvying-up after the jointly organised Sportif back in May this year. Ian Hipkins agreed to sort this out with Tom no later than September the 30th..

Action: Tom Wells/Ian Hipkins to finalise Sportif fund split by 30th September.

Action: Club Secretary to chase progress during September.


Items / Issues

Website

8. It was agreed that the web site was a suitable medium for delivering information (in conjunction with the Secretary’s mail-shots.  Andrew Lindsay commented that a forum would be a good addition, so members could contact each other.  Carl commented that his computer skills were not up to designing/implementing a forum yet, although he welcomed any help on offer! Some members mentioned that maybe we could get a email group together like a Yahoo-group. Tom and Michelle agreed to look into setting up an email group list or similar.

Action: Michelle and Tom to investigate Yahoo-group or similar set up.

9. It was agreed that we should try to get photos updated onto the website.  Tom agreed to look into the mechanics of enabling this. Sheila advised that group that she had a friend that might be able to help advise on this subject.

Action: Tom to investigate best way of uploading and displaying photos on the website.

Action: Sheila to seek advice (and advise Tom) on ways of doing same.

Poster reviews

10. Carl asked if anyone had any ideas or comments on the posters that were designed, it was agreed that the current messages were suitable.  Andrew and Ian took posters to display in/around Newcastle Emlyn and Newport.

Chairman’s Note: Extreme disappointment was expressed at the shoddy presentation of the VTCC posters in Cardigan’s premier bicycle store….  ;-)

Club kit design

11. Having decided on a competition to redesign our club kit, a healthy lot of designs were presented at the meeting; some 31 in all were pinned up for scrutiny and comment.  It was agreeed to score each design from 1 to 10, 10 being the most liked.  A top fice would be then taken forward, refined and re-presented to the group for acceptance or otherwise.

12. It was agreed to extend the design period for a couple of months (until the next VTCC meeting), thereby providing a second chance to submit more designs.

Sunday [Road] rides

13. It was commented that, since the start of the year, the Sunday rides were very well attended, with most members taking part over the summer in particular.  Michelle was cited as the main factor to the success of these rides and was congratulated for her efforts.

14. It was noted that always starting in Cardigan did tend to a similar direction being taken (Wayne is sick of Newport!).  It was agreed that the start locations would be varied over the coming months to allow new routes to be sought out and explored.  The group was reminded that the web site should be read carefully to ensure turning up at the right start locations!

Ladies [Road] rides

15. Newly introduced this summer was the ladies-only ride.  This initiative has proved popular, with more women (er, hem… Ladies, surely? – Chairman) joining up. The group was encouraged to spread the word to any would-be lady cyclists who might be interested.

Time Trials

16. It was agreed that time was running to organise TT’s this year and, with no one wishing to take on the organisation, it was agreed to leave it till next year when we will be looking for willing volunteers to organise them, possibly a series of events to be arranged.

Mountain Bike rides

17. All agreed that we really should start organising some club MTB rides and every other weekend was suggested.  It was stated that the club would be prepared to subsidise the cost of petrol for the cars/vans that will be used to get us there.

18. Tom mentions that the CTC bike-trailer maybe available to use for these rides. Steve Stokholm has the trailer with him. Some members present also volunteered the use of their vans.

19. It was agreed to have the next club MTB ride at Brechfa;  Coed y Brenin or Nant yr Arian at some point during the year.  September the 14th was agreed as a a suitable date for the trip to Bechfa and Carl would publish the details on the website.

Action: Carl to publish MTB trip date on website.

Action: Tom to advise on availability of CTC Trailer for use by VTCC.

Action: Michelle to mail-shot club members for interest in attendance.

Velodrome visit

20. Another trip the Velodrome in Newport, Gwent is to be arranged.   Likely to be in October, details will be posted on the website and emailed to all members to gauge interest.  It was also noted that an email from Tim Portsmouth had been received and would be included in the trip detail.

Newport vs. Velo teifi

21. The much re-arranged Mountain Bike Challenge - a race across the Preseli Mountains - will be organised for September 20th.  It is likely that the teams will comprise about 10 riders, with two women (ladies…! – Chairman) in each team.  An email would be sent to gauge interest in taking part.  The start/finish will be at, probably, Tafarn Zinc, Rosebush and would culminate with beer and munchies, which may be subsidised to some extent by the club.

Action: Michelle to mail-shot club members for interest in taking part.

Raising Money /Seeking grants

22. Some work had been undertaken to identify possible sources of funding to support the club.  One scheme was noted that would provide grants of up to £1000 for ‘projects’ that help stimulate participation in physical activities and the like.  This was going to be investigated further with a view to increasing our MTB activity initially. Carl agreed to speak to the grant-aid people and outline a plan of action in time for the next VTCC meeting.

Action: Carl to draft application for grant funding for club review at next VTCC meeting.

2009 France

23. The club plans to organise a trip to France next year to coincide with the Tour de France.  An overview of the likely format was given and is summarised here:
 - Week or so in July 2009;
 - MPV’s to be hired, ferry crossing from Portsmouth;
 - Cottage or Gite to be arranged;
 - Alps or Pyrennees to be base for trip;
 - Target cost per person for transport, fuel, accommodation and ferry crossings not to exceed £400.

An email would be issued in due course to all to gauge interest in being part of the trip.

Action : Michelle to issue email to gauge interest in a trip to France in July 2009.

AOB

24. Andrew put forward a suggestion from the Cardigan Round Table, via Huw Forster.  The Round Table would like to invite Velo Teifi to join in a fundraiser for Children in Need (November the 14th); the idea being the holding of an endurance ride through Cardigan town.  It was agreed that it was a great idea and Velo Teifi would, most likely provide riders to take part.  However, it was stated that it was unlikely that VT would be able to support the organising of such an event.  Andrew agreed to pass this information back to Huw.

25. Carl tabled a letter received from the Newcastle Emlyn branch of the NSPCC enquiring if VTCC would consider using them as one of VTCC’s charities.  It was agreed that this was indeed a worthy cosue and Carl would formally respond to the branch.

Action: Carl to respond the NCE NSPCC regarding supporting in the future.

26. Colin took the opportunity to thank everyone for the Birthday card sent to him on the occasion of his 75th birthday back in July.  Additionally, he thanked the club and for the comments on the web page, commenting that he felt he now had to live up to the ‘most experienced’ rider reference!

27. Ian reminded the group of the potential to organise an “CycleQuest” event in the future (orienteering on bikes).  It was agreed that no formal arrangements would be made at present, but that the VTCC vs Newport MTB challenge may be a suitable catalyst for such an event.  As such, interest could be gauged at that event.

Cyclo Sportif DVD

28. Members were given a viewing of the Preseli Teifi Cyclo Sportif DVD; a few comments were made! The DVD may be made available to purchase soon and the details would be published on the web site as well as a mail-shoyt being sent to all competitors (both CS and MTB competitors).  It was agrred that about £4 would be a reasonable charge for a copy.

Action: Ian Hipkins to speak to young Steven Spielberg about production to order and advise Tom/Carl in due course.
 
Membership fees

29. It was noted that there are still some members who have not paid their fees.  Hall of Shame here we come….

30. The meeting concluded at 8.30pm.


Michelle Lewis
Club Secretary
Velo Teifi Cycling Club