AGM 12th November, curry, and activities for next year.

[The Badger]

Matt (not regular matt, irregular matt) as the captain is suggesting that it may be I that accompany you to Passchendaele, rest assured you'll have plenty of notice as being a bit of a caving Hoare I'll need a couple of months...

 

[wallop]

Yeh that sounds good.
Ill try to get my other caving mate to come along!!
When did you have in mind?

 

[andymorgan]

I would be up for some trips into other parts of Swildons such as Blackhole series, Shatter series, North-west Stream passage etc

 

[Dani]

I'm coming, and for curry after.

[/quote]"...We may have a little job for you, Brian...".

My name's not Brian, although I might consider changing it to 'Mug'

 

[cap n chris]

trips into other parts of Swildons such as Blackhole series, Shatter series, North-west Stream passage etc

... all pleasant solo trips IMHO (mind you, I will admit to not doing the traverse across the top of Black Hole yet... need someone with wooden brain or missing eyes for that).

 

[The Badger]

Matt and Andy shall we say 7pm at the WCC (nice showers) on Tuesday 25th then?

 

[andymorgan]

It depends, I'm supposed to be going on trip with Chris C at some point next week, although I don't know what day. Is hould find out by the end of the weekend.
What trip are you planning on doing on Tuesday?

Is there a club meeting on Sunday night at the Galleries? may pop along as I haven't seen a few of you for a while.

 

[cap n chris]

No, the last club meeting at the pub on a Sunday night was last weekend - sorry! Mind you, there's usually SOMEONE at the pub of an evening....

 

[KenJ]

As an non member
I would love to come with you all on any Stoke Lane trips you do as long as you allow for my zimmer frame and possible steel tube.
Hope you have a good meeting and have fun with your caving
Ken J

 

[cap n chris]

Beware of the badger - it appears he's into "nice showers" - watch out he doesn't try and scramble around near your tunnels.

Seriously, though, the Wessex DO have nice showers - and you are allowed to use them without the company of other naked men.

 

[wallop]

Can't make tuesday as my wife is working nights.
Sorry!!!!

 

[wallop]

How did your trip go Matt!!!!

 

[The Badger]

The trip began in usual fashion - with a cup of tea.

Given a lack on enthusiam (no show from the CCC boys) we zipped down to 1 and back - just in time for a second cup of tea.

...an evening of tea, but no medals.

 

[andymorgan]

How did your trip go Matt!!!!

Aren't you Matt?

 

[andymorgan]

Given a lack on enthusiam (no show from the CCC boys)

Did you mean me? Sorry I'm working late at the moment usually to 10pm. In a couple of weeks i should be able to caving anytime of day or week, rather than just having a few cheeky trips at the weekend!

 

[The Badger]

Only a playfull poke, there'll be other occasions.

 

[cap n chris]

I've updated the club website but shall copy in the new bits below: to summarise, the club is looking for a new treasurer and Andy needs input/suggestions for the next Journal (i.e. trip list 2006).

Treasurer, Chris C, writes: "To the best of my knowledge the membership has not been informed that I am standing down as treasurer, and nominations for the post need to be considered. It is not a very onerous job; the financial affairs of the Club are very simple and the treasurer just needs to be methodical. It is my opinion that to maintain vitality and democracy committee members should change every few years; an ideal situation I know given the apathy endemic in all clubs.

I will not be able to attend the AGM. I apologise for this, but I regret the decision to change the original date which I could have attended, and to hold the meeting in the daytime when some members cannot attend. Therefore I urge all those who can attend to do so, otherwise decisions may be made with which the majority do not agree: you have to be present to have your say.

As I do not have a complete list of members' email addresses I would be
grateful if the word could be spread."

Also, Andy S writes: "Dear All, I hope as many of you as possible will make it to the AGM. It was changed to a Saturday event including a caving and a social element to try and encourage more participation. Of course whatever day you choose won't make everybody happy! One of the main items for discussion is our club events list for next year. We need you, the membership, to tell us the type of activities you would like us to provide. Are there any particular caves or trips you would like us to arrange? What do you feel about weekend events like the Gower? What do you feel about social events on the club calendar? If you are not coming to the AGM please tell me any ideas or suggestions that I can put forward on your behalf.

Who is coming for the curry? I need to know ASAP please!! Bring a
friend or partner by all means.

Yes, we do need a treasurer!"

 

[cap n chris]

My two-penn'orth:

Each year new people join the club and there are many novices/intermediate cavers in the ranks - highly experienced/specialist members already organise their own trips and frequently allow other capable cavers to tag along on them; club members will look at a trip list and decide from the description whether or not they feel they would like to join in with a trip and those trips which are/were well attended should, I believe, be repeated for the benefit of those who were unable to attend on the previous occasion or who have joined the club since and therefore were not around in the first place to enjoy the trip. From this it is quickly easy to see that many 2006 trips can simply be repeats of the popular 2005 trips; however, there will be gaps and also other club members who come forward and offer to organise a trip - this is most welcome and highly commendable.

Two trips per month is a good target and the club should aim for this in 2006.

Those who know me will be unsurprised to hear my views on social events; firstly making friends and finding common ground with people is undeniably a good thing. Discovering that you enjoy the company of someone during a caving trip and then spontaneously arranging to have a natter over a drink afterwards is also a good thing. Having an annual general get together (not a meal) is also good. Having regular non-caving social events in their own right and as a feature of the club calendar is unwise in my opinion and should be avoided.

 

[andymorgan]

Social get togethers are good for meeting other people to cave with. I'm always on the look out to meet people for caving as my usual caving partner isn't around when I am and vice versa. I know others are in the same situation. Not many people in the club have modern technology computers, telephones etc, so meeting up somewhere then arrranging trips at a later date would be great

 

[cap n chris]

Not many people in the club have ( ) telephones etc, so meeting up somewhere then arrranging trips at a later date would be great

Surely everyone has a phone!

The likelihood of people taking time out and driving to meet at a location only to engage in organising a caving trip rather than arranging the same thing via telephones/email is zero, unless there's another motivator i.e. a meal, a drink or somesuch. My contention is that the meal, drink (whatever) becomes the main reason for meeting (organising trips falls into the background) and, to make up the numbers, everyone is urged to bring friends/family/partners and... hey presto - it's no longer a caving club, it's an excuse to do anything other than caving where weight of numbers is the gauge for whether or not the event is considered "successful". Given that non-caving club members are urged to attend (see earlier thread by Sparrow on this topic) it is reasonable to believe that future social events are determined by their suitability for non-cavers and this subsequently crystallises the club in two - those who want to go caving and those who don't - the "don't" become the dominant group since they out-number the cavers and then there is a schism.

If the majority of the club membership does indeed want to make the club more based on social events then they'll need to have control of the reins to make things successful (i.e. regularly updating the website, booking places, writing cheques etc.) - and I'm quite relieved at the prospect, honestly, since it will give me the well overdue opportunity to take a break, stand down and do other stuff.