Peak Riders Chapter - minutes of meeting held on 26th October ...

<strong>Peak</strong> <strong>Riders</strong> <strong>Chapter</strong> - <strong>minutes</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>meeting</strong> <strong>held</strong> on 26 th October 2006
Present:
<strong>Chapter</strong> director – Richard Smith
Apologies – Jill Hutchinson, Andy Twigg, Tony McGowan
Minutes taken by Lynda Morton in Jill’s absence.
RS - Only one primary <strong>of</strong>ficer in attendance. No <strong>minutes</strong> available from last <strong>meeting</strong>, so unable to discuss
matters arising.
Assume nominations for primary <strong>of</strong>ficer positions was discussed.
RS – Last <strong>meeting</strong> as chapter director. Announced two <strong>meeting</strong>s ago that it was time he handed over to
new blood. Apparently, Patrick has had only three nominations for primary <strong>of</strong>ficer positions so far:
<strong>Chapter</strong> director -
Assistant director -
Andy Twigg
Ady Westwood
Ian Bennett
No one else has been nominated, and Tony and Jill have agreed to continue as treasurer and secretary
respectively.
If only one person is nominated for one position, and the dealership has no objections, that person gets
the position.
If there are more than one nominations, voting papers will be posted out to all the members and returned
to the dealership for counting.
We shall be informed at the next chapter <strong>meeting</strong> who has been elected.
Duncan Batty – When Patrick announced the election and the closing date for nominations, there were no
<strong>minutes</strong> available on the website , so he asked Patrick what the process <strong>of</strong> the election would be.
DB – Has been personally contacted by an interested party about the role <strong>of</strong> the assistant director, but that
person’s name is not on the list.
Is there to be a democratic process, or is the shop taking over the chapter?
If there is to be a postal ballot, why weren’t the <strong>Chapter</strong> members notified by post <strong>of</strong> the nomination process?
The process is flawed and should obviously be started again.
RS – Has also been approached about one <strong>of</strong> the positions by a long standing <strong>Chapter</strong> member, but that
person’s name is also not on the list.
RS - talked to Andy Twigg about it, and said the process should be started at the last <strong>meeting</strong>. Andy told
him Patrick had it all in hand.
DB – Patrick is not a member <strong>of</strong> HOG and is not in the club.
RS - The elections should be finalised in November to be in place for the December <strong>meeting</strong>. They used to
be <strong>held</strong> in February, but were moved back so that the necessary HOG paperwork could be completed.

DB – The shop should have had at least one representative here to answer these questions, and it was
unfair that Richard had had to face them.
RS – Can do nothing other than to let Patrick know DB’s comments.
RS – Primary <strong>of</strong>ficer positions will be filled, but he doesn’t know about the other positions. Are the existing
<strong>of</strong>ficers staying in their current positions?
Chris Robbins - Gordon Hartley said he would be standing for the position <strong>of</strong> treasurer.
RS – T McG has told Patrick he’s prepared to continue as treasurer.
Dennis Dobson – GH only said he’d stand if T McG didn’t.
Bit <strong>of</strong> a heated debate followed about whether or not Gordon wanted to stand.
RS – Won’t know till November <strong>meeting</strong>.
DB – Please raise with Patrick whether the flawed electoral process will continue, and notify the members
by post.
RS – This will be Patrick’s choice, and nothing has been forthcoming to RS.
The only other thing the dealership wanted mentioning was that the Xmas dinner would be <strong>held</strong> here at
The Black-a-Moor, on Thursday 30 th November.
RS – Doesn’t know what’s on the menu – heated debate followed about whether DD had given a menu to
RS, and whether or not it was on the shop notice board.
RS – Please don’t ring him with your food orders.
RS – Has had an e-mail from Marjorie Wragg, asking what dates in 2007 the <strong>Chapter</strong>s are holding their
rallies.
RS – Has e-mails from other <strong>Chapter</strong> directors giving the dates <strong>of</strong> their events.
Cider Rally – 4 th to 7 th May 2007. Normally this event is booked up by Xmas. Dave England has <strong>of</strong>fered to
liaise with Tina Holden on behalf <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Chapter</strong>.
RS – Read a list <strong>of</strong> the rallies out. Quite boring, but no mention <strong>of</strong> Americana, as it’s not a HOG rally.
Monte Gordo not happening next year, and it might be the last time European Bike Week is <strong>held</strong> at Faaker
See.
Royce asked about the Leatherbritches rally, and whether it would be <strong>held</strong> at The Palace Hotel, Buxton.
RS – Don’t know what arrangements are being made.
Mrs Timms was rebuked at this point for heckling and interrupting, and had to stand in the naughty corner.
LM – Mentioned the Sunday lunch ride next Sunday, which has traditionally been a joint event with <strong>Peak</strong>
<strong>Riders</strong>. Leaving St Leger at 10.15 for a 60 mile Mystery Tour, returning to the new pub opposite the shop
for lunch at 2.30.
St Leger members in attendance producing a valid membership card, are having £3.00 <strong>of</strong>f the cost <strong>of</strong> their
lunches subsidised by the <strong>Chapter</strong>, and Richard agreed to match this amount for <strong>Peak</strong> <strong>Riders</strong> members
attending, as last year.

Tony Hough – There will be a treasure hunt from the shop on 19 th November at 10 am sharp, and this can
be done on bikes or in cars.
John White asked about the electoral process.
RS – If Harleyworld want to they can get rid <strong>of</strong> any <strong>of</strong>ficer the members elect.
They approve the nominations.
The <strong>Chapter</strong> director should be a long standing Harley rider, which AT is.
LM – Asked AT what ideas he had to improve the <strong>Chapter</strong>, but has had no replies.
RS – The closing date was yesterday, but not everyone here knew that, so perhaps some interested parties
have not been nominated for the positions.
RS – Had suggested to Patrick that the information was posted out to all the members, but that didn’t happen.
Although this had not been done in the past, the process was always a democratic one, and he hoped the
shop would learn from their mistakes next year.
JW – If there is a next year!
RS – Although the <strong>Chapter</strong> is small in number, there are always lots <strong>of</strong> <strong>Peak</strong> <strong>Riders</strong> attending events.
All <strong>Chapter</strong>s have members who are dissatisfied, and we should all act in the best interests <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Chapter</strong>.
RS – Doesn’t feel the shop have done anything underhand.
DD – There is an opportunity for anyone in this room to stand. AT announced he was standing at the last
<strong>meeting</strong>.
Pearl Green – The dealership could simply do what they did last year and move our elected <strong>of</strong>ficers and
replace them with shop employees.
Gill Timms asked what point there was in standing for positions, when the dealership could remove the
elected <strong>of</strong>ficers anyway.
RS – Pleaded for volunteers for the vacant positions – doesn’t want to see the end <strong>of</strong> <strong>Peak</strong> riders. There
have been errors <strong>of</strong> judgement about how the process <strong>of</strong> elections are carried out, but if Harleyworld
closes, where will we all go?
DB – Wished Patrick or Andy had been here. The point is not about personalities, but the democratic process.
Nothing personal.
RS – Hoped everyone would come to the November <strong>meeting</strong>, and we’ll find out then who is in which position.
Andy Coe – Shouldn’t we let Ian Bennett speak about why he thinks he’s the most suitable candidate for
assistant director?
IB – Talked about his efforts as a road captain, and the rides he’s organised.
Will look at what can be done to improve the membership, and contact ex-members to find out why they’ve
left the <strong>Chapter</strong>.

Can see no evidence that it’s AT’s fault the membership has dropped.
DB – There is more going on this year, therefore the membership should increase.
The activities <strong>of</strong> people like Dennis and Chris should help to attract new members.
CR – AT has lots <strong>of</strong> plans for the future, and quite a few ideas to move the <strong>Chapter</strong> forward.
LM – AT doesn’t need to answer my questions, because he knows he’ll be the new <strong>Chapter</strong> director anyway.
Nothing personal, as Andy is a really nice bloke, but I just don’t like the way the shop imposes their
staff on the primary <strong>of</strong>ficer positions.
RS – Will raise these matters with the dealership.
Heated debate followed about comments made on the website anonymously.
GT – If they can’t identify themselves, don’t dignify them with a reply.
AC – Can alter website so that members can’t post anonymously. Will advise Chris on this if required.
The <strong>meeting</strong> ended with everyone thanking Richard for all his efforts as <strong>Chapter</strong> director, and agreeing to
meet at the Xmas dinner in November.