Present: M.Joyce, A.Lunn, D.Brock, Q.Broadbent, P.Hogan, D.Joyce, M.Wells, B.Bennett, H.Eaton, C.Thurgood, P.Bulaitis,
D.Mayer, N.White, R.Bond, A.Dickin, D.Milner, S.Timpson, J.Dawson, D.Cracknell

The meeting opened at 6.18pm

1. Apologies for Absence: K.Wood, J.Farrier, R.Everett, G.Austin, L.Austin, J.Perry, M.Armitage, T.Wright, C.Inch

B.Henbest, C.Lutman, S.Bunce, R.Warner, S.Dooley, R.Stone, S.Simpole

2. Minutes of the AGM 2005: The minutes were distributed and read.

3. Matters arising: Item 12 regarding election of Junior Committee members. Q.Broadbent asked whether the vacant post of the third committee member had been filled. S.Timpson replied that, whilst a number of potentially interested parties had been approached, the post had not been filled.

4. Approval of the Minutes of AGM 2005: Proposed: H.Eaton Seconded: N.White Passed unanimously.

5. Captain’s Report: D.Brock began by stating that he had now come to the end of his 6^th year as Captain and was still honoured to be so. He felt especially privileged to be part of a club which had achieved so much in the last season. We conquered the Chingford League in all but one category, our best ever performance, as well as picking up County Championships and team medals. Both home mob matches were won comfortably, including our 5^th consecutive victory over Blackheath, something of which he was particularly proud. Looking forward to the forthcoming season, he hoped to retain all the Chingford League titles and to compete aggressively in all the various Essex Championship races this year. He was envisaging a strong team performance to lift the Essex Cup in the Southerns at the new venue in Norfolk. The task of two away mob matches this year is always a challenge but the Captain believed that, with a good turn-out in numbers, things could go our way. He went on to praise the teamwork of all the various committee members and the Trainers whose specific remit is bringing through the next generation. DB singled out Bob Everett for his exemplary help and guidance throughout the whole of his tenure. The Captain concluded that he was enjoying the job as much as ever despite some members remarking to him that he had lost some of his spark; he pledged his continuing support in serving the club and ended by stating his willingness to stand for another term.

6. Ladies Captain’s Report: This was presented by C.Thurgood in the absence of M.Armitage who had arranged a family weekend before the date of the AGM had been determined. She spoke of a good feeling in the ladies section at the moment following the success of the team in the Chingford League last year, although she was a little disappointed by the turnout in the summer league. She was especially encouraged by the increasing number of ladies wearing the club vest, many of whom competed in the 5K race on the rides in August. There had been a healthy representation of Orion Ladies at Hackney Marshes the previous week despite missing 5 of her top runners. She finds the number of enquiries from women wishing to join very reassuring as is the regular feedback she receives about how friendly the club is. Ideally, she would like more women to challenge the top runners in her charge, and had great faith in the junior coaches in this regard. She was honoured to have been elected as Ladies Captain last year and, with the very capable Clare Thurgood at her side, was looking forward to another year in the role.

7. Junior Manager’s Report: S.Timpson spoke on behalf of J.Farrier who was unable to attend the meeting. The Orion Juniors won all their categories in the Chingford League. The membership continues to swell with numbers up by 80 on last year. ST remarked that the Orion Invitation Schools Race (held that same morning) was a shining example of the strong organization of the Junior Section. 6 more schools had entered bringing the total number of competitors up to 250, making it a very successful race.

D.Brock added by stressing the importance of the collaboration between the senior and the junior sections. He further cited J.Farrier’s magnificent contribution to the club.

8. Hon. Secretary’s Report: R.Everett was too unwell to attend the meeting and his report was read out by Q.Broadbent.

The Secretary reminded the meeting about the leasehold arrangement with the Corporation of London which the club currently enjoys, and of the continuing threat of the possibility of the club being obliged to vacate the premises, in the event of the Corporation turning the clubhouse into an educational facility. He dwelt at some length on the vital wording of one of the clauses in the lease, namely that "suitable alternative accommodation" would be found for the club. He would have felt more comfortable with "comparable" alternative accommodation. It is nonetheless reassuring that no decisions will be made without "full consultation and discussion" with us. He stressed our responsibility as tenants to keep the internal fabric of the building in good order; as examples of work which needed to be done he mentioned the ceiling in the men’s changing room and the bad state of the men’s toilets - however, he questioned why we should expend what in club terms could be a great deal of money, only for the club to be evicted at the next review. In any event, he had approached the 100 club organisers who are willing to put forward £500 should the committee agree to repairs being instigated.

The Secretary was pleased to have received a letter of congratulation from the Essex AA in recognition of our having hosted the County Vets/Junior Champs last December, but was unwilling to accede to their request that we host further races until we have more members willing to assist in the organisation. He thought our Centenary year would be a fitting time.

The membership of the club stands at 304, 223 men and 81 women. There are 45 2^nd claim, 17 Life and 27 Associate members.

On behalf of the club, he thanked Georgina and Les Austin (who are both stepping down from their positions) for their work in many guises and over many years, but who will continue to support the club, although to a lesser degree. The Secretary concluded that it had been his intention to retire this year, but in the apparent absence of a volunteer at the present time, he would somewhat reluctantly serve for another 6 months.

Q.Broadbent added, as co-trustee of the clubhouse with R.Everett, that the leasehold agreement in question was due to expire on 24 June 2007, which he thought would give the meeting a better idea of the timescale involved before the next review of the club’s position. QB further stated that the state of the men’s toilets had in fact been remedied that same morning thanks to the intervention of D.Brock.

9. Hon. Treasurer’s and Junior Treasurer’s Reports:

Copies of the main accounts were circulated by A.Lunn who, after his first year in the job, began by thanking his predecessor, N.White for his help in showing him the ropes. He furthermore thanked the Auditors, J.Hoy and A.Armitage, for their contribution at comparatively short notice, and R.Everett for collecting the bath plate. There was a small surplus this financial year of £252 compared to the £2,000 deficit of the previous year. This was explained in part by much smaller maintenance costs and an exceptionally large amount of contributions to the Orion 15. There is now a profit showing on kit stock - some of this was earlier thought to have been mislaid but has since been recovered by P.Bulaitis. There is a pretty healthy cash balance but he envisaged a £3,000 deficit in 2007, taking into account requisite building work.

B.Bennett asked why the bath plate takings were forecast to be down next year. A.Lunn ascribed this to mere prudence. D.Brock welcomed the additional income (£700) that the plate brings in. P.Hogan stressed that it should not be too great a hardship paying for use of HQ, seeing as our membership fees are so reasonable, but added that it is only human to forget to pay sometimes.

Q.Broadbent requested that the Treasurer should have to inspect all quotations for work to be done when they are above, say, £500, before permission for the work is given.

P.Hogan distributed the Junior accounts and read his report. The junior section started the year with an outstanding balance of £5,830.80 and closed with £2,258.06. He admitted that the junior accounts were beginning to resemble something of a financial seesaw, but thought there would be enough incoming funds to address the differential. The police grant did not materialise this year and the LBWF grants are becoming much smaller in general. Also the Mini-marathon sponsorship was noticeably down. A generous donation from Mitre Construction enabled Danielle Sale and Maxine Joyce to travel to Japan for the World X-Country Champs. S.Timpson had done sterling work in collecting subscriptions as well as taking on an increasing workload when J.Farrier was not able to be around in person. The purchase of a lap-top has already proved to be a useful aid to the organisation of the section. PH concluded by saying that he had been doing the job for 9 years, a job which had become increasingly more demanding, as has his own daytime job. He would therefore continue for one year only if re-elected.

M.Joyce added her thanks for the Mitre donation.

D.Brock noted that the senior levy was missing from the accounts. This has now apparently been received.

10. Approval of the Annual Accounts:

Senior Accounts: prop: H.Eaton sec: P.Hogan passed unanimously

Junior Accounts: prop: J.Dawson sec: S.Timpson " "

11. Election of Officers:

President M.Joyce D.Brock n/a

Captain D.Brock M.Joyce Q.Broadbent

Deputy Captain J.Dawson D.Brock n/a

Ladies Captain M.Armitage D.Brock "

Ladies Deputy Captain C.Thurgood D.Brock "

Hon. Secretary R.Everett D.Brock "

Asst. Hon. Sec’y T.Wright D.Brock "

Hon. Treasurer A.Lunn D.Brock "

Hon. Handicapper C.Lutman D.Brock "

Hon. Fixtures Sec’y Q.Broadbent D.Brock "

Hon. Editor/Ass. Ed position unresolved/posts vacant

HQ Manager S.Simpole D.Brock "

Committee members S.Simpole D.Brock "

B.Bennett D.Brock "

S.Bunce D.Brock "

P.Bulaitis D.Brock "

Junior Manager J.Farrier P.Hogan S.Timpson

Junior Membership Sec S.Timpson J.Dawson P.Hogan

Junior Treasurer P.Hogan J.Dawson S.Timpson

Junior Committee S.Kipps S.Timpson D.Maher

D.Maher S.Timpson J.Dawson

E.Paul Q.Broadbent J.Dawson

Junior Liaison Officer J.Farrier S.Timpson P.Hogan For: 9

E.Paul Q.Broadbent J.Dawson For: 3

Abstentions: 3 J.Farrier duly elected

Hon. Auditors J.Hoy D.Brock n/a

A.Armitage D.Brock "

12. Any Other Business

D.Cracknell had been asked by T.Gobby to raise the subject of possible subsidence as posed by cracks in the stud wall adjacent to the staircase. Q.Broadbent would approach Richard Barrell of the Corporation to do a survey, but not before we had conducted our own private survey. Q.Broadbent would ask A.Armitage if he would oblige.