AGM News - Subscriptions rise for 2009

CPA membership is rising to £204 per annum (£17 per month).

Members will be receiving letters in the coming week requesting an update to their CPA subscriptions to £17 per month.

The club has not increased subs in previous years for fear of loosing membership as a result. However as a part of the recent financial revue and a unanimous decision at the AGM, the subscriptions are increasing to £204 per year (£17 per month by standing order).

Members are encouraged to update their bank details as soon as possible.

The additional funds will go towards the ongoing costs of maintaining the boats, as well as paying towards the pool and lecture hall. If you want to discuss the increase with the committee please email committee@cpanet.co.uk

The full minutes of the AGM are as follows:

Caversham Park Aquanauts

Annual General Meeting 18th November 2008

Present:

Martin Taplin, Kate Ross, Mike Harrison, Ian Andrews, James Horgan, Thomas Graham, Peter Gore, Ian Dimond, Robin Cawsey, Peter Schroeder, Andy Hepburn, Steve McSpirit, Dave Jerram, Glyn Fox, Steve Howes, Steve Arris, Paul Hopcraft.

Apologies:

Chiara Lavini, Anthony Dixon.

Chairman’s opening: (Glyn Fox)

Minutes of last years meeting read through and agreed as an accurate record.

Diving Officers Report: (Dave Jerram)

There have been more new memberships in 2008 than there were in 2007. The financial losses the club experienced in 2007 appear to have been reduced in 2008. There has been more fund raising this year, thanks expressed to Martin Taplin and Glyn Fox in particular.

Despite the weather, there has been more diving than in the previous year.

Thanks were given to Linda and Peter Schroeder and Kate Ross and Mike Harrison for organising social events during the year.

Andy Hepburn was thanked for the excellent training he has continued to provide.

Diving:

The club has dived from hard boats at Plymouth (twice) and West Bay from the RIB out of Portland on numerous occasions and on a liveaboard out of Sharm el Sheikh.

There were 34 “opportunities” to go diving during the year.

Looking forward to 2009 there are plans to dive in Narvik in Norway, The Isle of Wight for a weekend, Cornwall aboard “Furious” and to use hard boat shuttles out of Weymouth, Swanage and Pool. This is addition to the club RIB’s

Incidents:

Theft of the Tornado

Trailer servicing problems

Divers getting stuck in Egypt (Collapse of Exel Airways)

The diving officer discovering he had a PFO

Two divers surfaced with very low air in Plymouth

There was one out-of-air incident

One diver sustained a cut to his hand after handling wreckage at Portland.

What is needed for 2009?

More instructors and assistants

Training development above Dive Leader

An increased number of dives

Self motivated members

Continued financial control

Improved communications, more use of the group e-mail system

The Diving Officer thanked those who had helped to organise dives in 2008

Training Officers Report: (Steve Howes)

Thanks given to Andy Hepburn and Dave Jerram for providing in-house training.

External training started well this year with 10 divers taking the O2 Admin course. Unfortunately after that external training went down hill, this appears to have been due to problems from within the SAA region. It is hoped that next year will be better with new courses and new members.

Previously the club had covered the cost of those who booked courses and then where unable to attend, this practise has now stopped.

Steve then spoke about how people could advance towards Open Water Instructor via Assistant and Club Instructor. Those who already train at work may be eligible for a x-over to Assistant instructor. More details could be provided by Steve for those who were interested.

Treasurer’s Report: (Steve Howes)

This year’s financial report was distributed and explained.

Reading BSAC run their club as a charity and there may be financial advantages to this. Steve will approach their Treasurer and see if this would be a viable option for CPA

This winter the Tornado will be stored at Dave Jerram’s house, this is likely to save the club somewhere in the region of £450

Equipment Officers Report: (Steve Howes)

It appears that the clubs equipment is now accounted for.

There were discussions around the servicing of rigs and whether the club should be providing equipment for trainees. It was felt that that servicing of rigs was non-negotiable and that the club had traditionally provided equipment to trainees so as to assist those who had just taken up the sport.

When the Tornado was moved from the boat yard at Portland it was found that the brakes where not working. Blue Water are to be contacted about this as they are supposed to have serviced it.

Secretary’s Report: (Paul Hopcraft)

The number of members renewing their membership in 2009 is likely to be about 38, in addition to this there may be 3 new divers joining us next year.

Any Other Business:

Anthony Dixon has asked that if most dives are organised on Tuesday evenings rather than through the group e-mail system. It was felt that with the club RIB dives it was often the case that the dives were only organised at short notice due to people waiting to see what the weather was going to do at the weekend, although it was stated that these were usually backed up with a group e-mail. Dave Jerram urged people to make more use of both the group e-mail system and “Face Book”. The particular advantage with Face book is that it is not limited to CPA members,

There was a long discussion around the cost of the pool given that the club’s finances are not in great shape and the pool and hall cost us £3,280 a year. There was a proposal that we use the pool on a night when Hydrodive have it. It had been agreed in principle by Hydrodive that they would allow us to do that.

Andy Hepburn gave a presentation highlighting the problems he foresaw if this course was followed.

It was agreed that the there should be an open meeting on 9th December 2008 to look at this issue again and vote on it. The following actions were to be carried out prior to the open meeting and the findings sent out on the group e-mail

Steve Howes: Obtain a financial projection of the situation if the subs were raised to £15 for a those members who are currently paying less. This should include the fact that we may lose some members who are not actively diving.

Dave Jerram: Speak to Roger from Hydrodive again about shared pool use.

Andy Hepburn: approach the school and see if they would consider a reduction in the current pool fees.

Ian Andrews proposed that the club fees be put up to £17 per month. This was seconded by Dave Jerram and unanimously carried.

There was a general discussion about the need for continued fund raising and making savings.

Awards:

Aquanaut of the Year: Peter Schroeder

Mick Marcado Trophy: Robin Cawsey

Hughy Award: David Jerram, for failing to kill himself, despite diving for years with a PFO.

Committee for 2009:

Chairman; Glyn Fox

Diving Officer: David Jerram

Assistant Diving Officer: Andy Hepburn

Training Officer: Steve Howes

Assistant Training Officer Mike Harrison

Equipment Officer: Robin Cawsey

Treasurer: Steve Howes

Secretary: Paul Hopcraft

Assistant Secretary: Kate Ross

Meeting concluded next meeting will be an open meeting at the School hall on 9th December 2008 where a vote will be taken regarding continued use of the pool.