AGM and DW 2001
AGM
The AGM of the Devizes to Westminster Organisation Ltd was held on the 28th July and made some far reaching changes to its Constitution and organisation.
To read the full text of the constitution:
What does it mean?
- Anyone can be a member of the organisation, just fill in a membership form and pay the annual subscription (currently £10).
- If you paid an entry fee for the race then the fee is waived for that year (race to race).
- Membership forms are avaiable in zipped or unzipped excel5.0/95 format. Click here to download.
- Members can vote at General Meetings of the organisation and attend other meetings if they wish.
- Members elect the three directors of the organisation and more importantly the core official posts. Members also agree what those core posts are.
If you have signed up for membership by September 1st you will receive written notification of the Extraordinary General meeting to be called at the end of September. Details of this will be published when available as this will also be combined with the follow-up open forum.
Following the AGM there was a meeting of a number of people who wish to influence the direction of DW and all of whom completed application forms for membership. (many were also able to pay their membership immediately!)
The people at the meeting were (as they sat around the table)
- Colin Mackinlay
- Paul Andrews
- Tom Armitstead
- Gil Rooke
- James Bryan
- Jerry Elsmore
- Andy Williamson
- Kris Manning
- Tamsin Phipps
- Peter Begent
- Steve Peake
- Brian Greenaway
- Allan Bennett
- Ian White
- Jan Oakes
- Ian Prestwich
- Janice Begent
- Sally Peake
These people have volunteered for the interim tasks of doing what needs to be done to organise next year's event and planning a structure to propose to you the members as soon as possible. There is nothing special about these people; others who were not there are already part of the interim planning teams and you can contribute too.
DW 2001
Will there be an event?
Yes
Says who?
We do, but more importantly you must.
What reassurances are there that it won't be cancelled?
There has been much discussion of how to minimise the likelihood of this. Details will be published as soon as possible but the broad picture is this:
- Junior Doubles
- In the event of extreme conditions a clear decision will be taken by the Race Organisation on Good Friday on whether to shorten the course by missing out the non-tidal Thames and restarting at Ham.
- Senior Doubles
- The rules already allow people to take part in the spirit of the original challenge - to complete the course in under 100 hours. It is our aim to encourage more boats to do this by providing campsite facilities at appropriate places along the course, probably close to or at the stages campsites.
- We will look at ways to ensure that those who paddle through non-stop do so in the safest way with enhanced safety cover. Education will be the key however not legislation. Record attempts are encouraged!
- Support and advice will be available for all entrants whether touring in 99.5 hours or aiming for 9.5!
That was the broad picture remember and much more will follow. No-one has a monopoly on either good ideas or common sense so if you have something to say - get in touch!
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