Chairman’s Report

This year’s Branch Annual General Meeting is coming up on Sunday 19 June at 1.00 pm at the clubrooms. You will remember that at our last AGM, it was decided to bring the time forward as it is also an Old Cars, Bikes and Coffee Day, therefore members may like to stay on, bring a picnic lunch and go straight into the hall for the meeting. I will not be standing this year as Chairman (although as Past Chairman I will be part of the committee for another year) and a couple of branch committee members have also indicated they won’t be seeking re-election. (Our branch rules state that “the position of Chairman shall be open to any member of the Committee and any person who has served at least one full term on the Branch Committee.”) Elsewhere you will find a nomination form for the committee positions. Please give serious thought to accepting nomination or putting another member’s name forward. It is a tangible way to give something back to the branch and it is essential for the smooth running of the branch that these positions are filled. (Of course, all the branch committee positions are elected annually and all current members must seek nomination for the coming year.) Recently, some of our branch runs/rallies have been starting at the clubrooms and I have been so proud of our grounds. In 2015, an initial draft plan for tree planting at Cutler Park was presented to the branch committee following the AGM and the exercise went into full steam ahead under a small team. Since then, with the help of Mike Foster, the ground maintenance team, and numerous other like-minded members who have expertise in plants and trees, the trees and grounds are in tip—top condition. The trees are maturing into fine specimens and really form a beautiful backdrop to the rest of our well-maintained grounds. (I am so looking forward to seeing the Oak Avenue in years to come, when it will be such a striking feature.)

Last month a second defibrillator was purchased to “live” at the Parts Shed. The Parts Shed “beavers” are in the process of building a suitable case for it. The branch committee felt it was common sense to take one with any rally/run – a case of if you have one handy, it wouldn’t be needed! The fact that our branch has one available has been notified to an app recording where these are, it is important that when it is not at the clubrooms, there is still one on the property. (When it is taken away, a notice is left at our front door notifying where the other one is elsewhere on our grounds.) In the near future, an instruction session will be held for anyone interested in learning how to use them correctly, although full instructions are included with them. Happy autumn motoring. Leigh

25, 35, 50, 60 - YEAR BADGES

(To be presented at the Branch Awards’ Dinner Sat 10 September 2022) If you are eligible for these badges, please contact Leigh Craythorne, telephone 342 9110 or email craythornes@actrix.co.nz for the appropriate form. Applications (for continuous membership) are made on a form available from me, either at a Noggin or give me a telephone call (342 9110) and I will post it to you. (You may choose to email me ) Applicants for a 60 or 70-year badge must have been presented with a 50-year commemorative badge for a 60-year badge and a 60–year commemorative badge for a 70-year award. Please attend to this and contact me as the badges have to be approved by the branch committee before being processed (at least 3 months before the presentation) via National Office and forwarded to us - delay may mean a wait until next year’s Awards’ Dinner for presentation. Members do not have to have been in the same branch for 25, 35, 50, 60, 70 years – it is recognition for continuous membership of the Club. Leigh Craythorne Please note - contact me please - do not contact National Office.