IWA Branch Annual General Meetings

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meetings of the Kent & East Sussex, Oxfordshire and Guildford and Reading Branches of the Inland Waterways Association will be held as follows:

The Kent & East Sussex Branch AGM will take place on Thursday 29th February 2024: 7.30 for 8.00pm: Room 2, Christchurch URC, High Street, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 1SG

The Oxfordshire Branch AGM: Details to be announced soon. Please check the IWA website.

The Guildford & Reading Branch AGM will take place on Monday 11th March 202 4: 6.30 for 7pm: Dapdune Wharf Tea Rooms, Guildford

The Agenda for the branch meetings will be based on the standard format set out in IWA Byelaws as follows:

Agenda

1 Apologies for Absence

2 Approval (following amendments if necessary) of the Minutes of the Branch AGM held the previous year

3 Matters arising from the Minutes (and not under other Agenda items)

4 Branch Chairman’s Report

5 Branch Treasurer’s Report and Accounts

6 Election of members of the Committee (Nomination no longer necessary). Simply contact the Chairman to apply to join the Branch Committee or do so at the AGM

7 Any item for discussion of which the Branch Chairman has been notified in writing at least 6 weeks prior to the date of the relevant AGM Cover

Welcome to the Autumn edition of Cargoes. I hope the changeable summer and autumn weather has not impeded your plans too much.

As Editor of Cargoes I am responsible for getting this magazine on your doorsteps or on to ISSUU. I am a Volunteer, Secretary of my local branch and a member of our Sales Team. So, I am well aware that IWA is in urgent need of more of you, our members, to offer your time in any way you can.

The waterways, rivers, canals, towpaths, etc will all feel the impact of the reduction in Government funding. It has been proved that being on or near the water is beneficial to our health, mentally and physically. While I appreciate that many members of society are suffering from the lack of money, they are also the people who need our help to be able to continue to enjoy the waterways. IWA have joined CRT, EA and many other organisations to encourage the Government to increase its funding. You can help by contacting your MP and asking them to lobby Government.

Many of the articles in Cargoes are written by volunteers or by staff members in their own time, thank you all for your contributions. Thank you to each and every one of you. I hope everyone enjoys reading them.

Chris Jones Editor

Guildford & Reading Branch Branch Chairman

We had a very successful day at the River Wey Festival thanks to the efforts of Chris and John Jones and John Gunner. Mike Lewis took part in the boat parade with his unique boat. The London group from the IWA Waterways Recovery Group joined us to celebrate a belated 50th anniversary of their formation which should have taken place during Covid restrictions. Their help in erecting and packing up the gazebo was invaluable and their photos of work on branch waterways showed IWA/WRG in action.

I attended the National AGM which was held in Stourport. The national Chairman Les Etheridge, gave an address on the campaign for funding for all waterways. I sensed that the audience wanted to ask more about the recent issues with staff turnover but did not. The treasurer presented a summary of the accounts which underlined the loss of income, a theme common to nearly all charities.

In the afternoon I enjoyed a bracing trip on a stretch of the River Severn which I have paddled many times. The crew were expert in handling their huge, by canoe standards, craft in challenging flow and wind conditions, You will see the branch AGM advertised elsewhere and in the meantime please continue to support your local waterways in any way that you can.

Verna Smith (acting Chair)

Sales & Publicity Stand

After a good day at Reading Water Fest the Sales team had a very successful day at the River Wey Festival. Over 6,000 people attended both events and our stand raised over £180 for local waterways charities. At Guildford we were joined by the Waterways Recovery Group (WRG) who also had a good day with several people interested in joining camps. Our next, and last, outing for this year will be supporting the IWA Oxford Branch with the Banbury Canal Festival.

Next year we are planning to attend the Reading Water Fest and Wey River Festival again, and also support IWA Oxford with any of their events. More events may be added if we can get the volunteers to help with them.

We are really in need of additional help at these events and hope more of you will put yourselves forward. Please contact Ben Scott (benboattrain@gmail.com) or any of the Sales Team if you can help at any of the events, our email address is chris.jones@waterways.org.uk.

The Sales Team

Future Events

2024

Mon 11th Mar, 6.30pm for 7pm start: G&R Branch AGM. By kind permission of NT at Dapdune Wharf, Guildford. Followed by our Speaker, Mark Rudall. Subject: “Steampower, the Waterways and Fossil Fuels ” .

Sat 8th June: Reading Water Fest

Sept – Date to be advised: Wey River Festival. National Trust, Dapdune Wharf, Guildford

Sept / Oct - Date to be advised: Banbury Canal Festival: Supporting IWA Oxford Branch