Black Mountains Gliding Club

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting

Held on Friday 6^th April 2007

Robbie Robertson chaired the meeting with 38 members present. Apologies for absence were received from several members.

Before the start of formal proceedings Martin Brockington made some complimentary remarks regarding the work and commitment of committee members that set the tone for a pleasant and productive annual general meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 14th of April 2006 had been posted previously on the club website; these were approved and signed.

Chairman’s Report: Robbie presented his chairman’s report. This took the form of an assessment of the challenges that faced the committee during 2006-2007.

Wet weather often made the east end of the field unusable. This was solved by the installation of field drains that are now working well.

The approach lane to the airfield was seriously potholed and the cattle grid was distorted. The lane was resurfaced and a new cattle grid installed.

Don Puttock resigned as manager and chief flying instructor. Bo Nilsson has been recruited as mid-week summer instructor from Easter 2007 and Martin Langford became chief flying instructor from November 2006.

Don Gosden resigned as Director and treasurer and no member volunteered to take on the role. Clive Micklewright finally agreed to become treasurer with the promise of assistance from Don whenever needed.

The K13s were perceived to be unable to provide pre-solo spin training at weights above those placarded. After much lobbying from many gliding clubs including the BMGC the BGA finally agreed formally to permit spin training in the extended weight category.

The Junior and K13 trailers were in poor condition so that retrieves following field landings were not feasible. A new trailer was purchased which was adapted for the Junior and the club K6; and the K13 trailer was restored to good roadworthy condition. The chairman thanked Geoff and Julie King for their efforts with this work.

A higher performance glider was needed to provide the means of teaching advanced soaring and cross country flying. A K21 was purchased, and is now flying and proving popular.

With an increasing number of visiting pilots, trial lessons and a professional training programme planned the committee were conscious of the rather scruffy appearance of the clubhouse. A task weekend was organised to redecorate and generally improve the facility. This was a lot of fun and would be repeated when necessary.

There was a problem with the water supply to the clubhouse at busy times. This was solved by fitting a radio telemetry system to control the remotely situated water pump. This is working well and the chairman thanked John Horley and Steve Blackman for planning and carrying out this work.

The present clubhouse was proving too small. A temporary building is being erected to the south side of the hangar. This will provide a briefing room, bunkhouse accommodation and storage for parachutes and other items.

Due to recent capital investment in improving club assets finances will be tight throughout 2007. Income must therefore be maintained by members flying as much as possible and by controlling costs.

It is important to promote BMGC as a premier gliding site. This will be achieved by encouraging expeditions from other gliding clubs and by looking after visiting pilots so that the word will spread that BMGC provides a first class facility.

Finally the chairman emphasised the need for all members to help the committee in running the club by doing their “bit”.

Treasurer’s report: The company directors’ report and accounts had been prepared by the company accountants, King, Morter, Proud and Co, and had been approved by the directors at their meeting on 17^th February 2007. The accounts had previously been made available to members on the club website; these were formally laid before the members at the meeting.

The treasurer summarised the club’s current financial position.

Club income totalled £124,024. Of this 42% was derived from launches, 18% from trial lessons, 14% from club membership fees and the rest from other sources.

Cost of sales for 2006/7 totalled £45,078, of which 38% was for tug fuel, 17% for tug maintenance, 24% for glider maintenance, 15% for aviation insurance, 2% for tug hire and 4% for advertising.

Cost of overheads totalled £46,948. Major components of this comprised £14,193 for wages, £5,300 in rent to TAL Ltd, insurance other than of the tug and gliders £2,633, light and heat £2,039 and premise maintenance £1,351.

TAL debenture repayments continue on budget so that the outstanding loan has almost halved since 2004. £42,000 remains to be repaid over the next 4 years. A budget strategy is in place for this. Total loan liabilities, including two from members have almost halved since 1998, and stand at £74,532 as of 31 March 2007.

Turnover has almost quadrupled since 1998 when it was £34,313 to the current £124,024. Profit and loss remains fairly static at £28,488 compared with £28,456 in 2004.

This represents a healthy financial situation, but cash reserves are relatively low and need to be closely monitored over the next few weeks to ensure that sufficient cash flow exists most particularly to meet the salaries of paid club employees.

Chief flying instructor’s report: Martin thanked Don Puttock for his help in handing over the CFI brief. He thanked all tug pilots, instructors and all those members who help in many ways on the airfield for their contribution to the continuing success of club activities.

He confirmed that the K13 was cleared for spinning in the extended weight category and that one K13 now has a removable modification for our paraplegic pilot. The club was waiting for the hoist before commencing training for this member.

The acquisition of the K21 required instructor consolidation for this glider. It will be modified to allow spin training during the refinishing that is due to take place in early summer. To enable the effective use of three two-seater gliders more full cat and basic instructors will be needed, and several members have already indicated their willingness to become involved in this upgrade.

Bo Nilsson will commence mid-week instruction soon after Easter. He will require two weeks to become familiar with the airfield and surrounding air space. He is an immensely experienced pilot and instructor and will be a great asset to the club.

Martin emphasised the importance of the annual flight review in terms of the club safety record.

He has arranged for a motor glider to be available at Usk for field selection training at the bargain price of £35 per hour.

Together with Mike Codd he has arranged a full programme of courses during the summer and encourages all members to participate. To this end one week in every month will be devoted to club member development.

Following feedback from the instructors meeting and a few recent incidents there are now some changes to the daily briefing check list. These have been sent to all members by e-mail and to those without access to a computer by post.

The Tony Burton trophy for height gain was awarded to Tony Crowden. A new trophy donated by Ralph Johnson will be named the Talgarth Triangle Trophy and awarded for the fastest flight around a 100km triangle; TAL to Leominster to Burley Gate and back to TAL. It will be handicapped.

Election of Directors: Current Directors are Robbie Robertson, chairman; John Scott, company secretary; Don Gosden, treasurer; Peter Saundby; Clive Micklewright; John Horley and Mike Codd.

Don Gosden wishes to resign and Clive Micklewright seeks re-election. Ken Basterfield, Tony Bartlett and Gordon Dennis were nominated as new directors.

Mike Codd had been appointed by the directors during the year and sought approval of this from members.

The Committee discussed this and had decided that they were prepared to increase the number of Directors by three in order to accept all three new nominations. The Chairman asked the meeting to approve of all this by a show of hands. He said there was a proposal seeking a ballot for the Election of Directors, but with the increase in the number of Directors, there would be no need for a ballot now. The Chairman seconded this proposal and it was approved by the members.

Clive, Mike and all three nominees were elected unanimously to the Board of Directors.

The chairman thanked Don for his tremendous contribution to the financial success of the club and wished Clive good luck in the formidable task that he has taken on in becoming the new treasurer.

The meeting was formally closed by the chairman who then invited comments and questions from members.

Tim Barton asked whether there were any proposals to change the block charging for two release heights. The new treasurer said that he thought not, but it will be discussed further at committee.

Ralph Johnson asked if there were any plans to improve trailer parking facilities. The chairman noted that for the last few months there had been no pressure on trailer slots except at times when there were visiting expeditions.