Minutes of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the South Wales Region of the Goldwing Owner’s Club of Great Britain held on Sunday, 10 November, 2024 at the premises of Taffs’ Well RFC, Maes Gwyn, Glan y Llyn Square, Taffs’ Well, Cardiff, CF15 7JD, commencing at 1830.

Present:  Mr M Green (Regional Representative)

               Mr L Roach (Provisional Assistant Regional Representative)

     Mr L Kenting Road Captain

     Mr B J Hawkins (Honorary Treasurer/Quartermaster)

     18 South Wales Wings members.

Apologies: Mr & Mrs L Bailey, Mr & Mrs N Jones, Mr & Mrs I Hall-Edwards, Mr J Buckley, Mr J Howells (Webmaster) and Mrs Howells, Mr & Mrs P James, Mr S Durrant, Mr B Milton and Mr D Webster.

Welcome and Notice of Meeting

Mr B J Hawkins opened the meeting by welcoming everyone and thanking them for their attendance. He confirmed that the Notice of the Annual General Meeting had been given in accordance with the GWOCGB constitution, all members having received at least fourteen days’ notice of the meeting. He reminded attendees that only registered GWOCGB members could vote on the Region’s annual general meeting business.

Minutes of the 2023 AGM

The minutes of the 2023 Annual General Meeting of South Wales Wings, a region of the Goldwing Owner’s Club of Great Britain, held on Sunday, 12 November, 2023 were considered and unanimously approved (Mr B Simpson proposed, Mr V Williams seconded).

Annual Report

Mr. M Green verbally outlined the progress that the Region had achieved during 2023/4 to date, as set out in his report below:

Another year draws to a close with our final event being Turkey and Tinsel at Sandringham Hotel Weston-Super-Mare hopefully it will be well supported. We started the year looking for an Assistant Rep after Roger resigned from the position, thankfully the position has now been filled with Les taking on the job, I’m sure he will fit in well. Earlier in the year South Wales Wings presented a cheque to Jason Hall, Public Relations Officer for Blood Bike Wales for the sum of £250.00 and also raised £50.00 from our Christmas Card donation. This year we held our Wing Ding and from the beginning of 2024 we started to plan for the event which took place at Caerphilly RFC on 18th to 21st July, and as far as I’m concerned it was a very successful Wing Ding and I personally would like to thank the regional members for the support, especially Roy and Christine for the fund raising again with a total of £2000.00 and Eddy for sponsoring the transport, tables and chairs, Lester road captain for two amazing run outs and last but not least Barry for overall organising the event with the various organisations. We did have some minor problems, one being the Chuck Wagon, but we managed to overcome so we will learn from it ready for 2026.

Wing Dings

This GWOCGB Calendar year was disappointing with only four Wing Dings which included ourselves and Yorkshire and Lincs Wings cancelling theirs; there was a Drop In but no sooner being advertised it was full. The Wing Dings that we attended were well supported by the members and those were Centre Wings, Thames Valley/White Horse and our own.

Treffens

South Wales Wings attended several Treffens throughout the year and again well supported by South Wales Wings. Main Treffens attended were Dutch, Irish and British at Rutland to name a few there were further Treffens in Europe that were also attended.

Static Displays

The Club also supported local events such as Sully Classic Cars, Field of Dreams Swansea, Panteg House Classic Cars, Brymawr, St Peters Church, Dinas Powys, Fonmon Castle and Bedwas Transport and Motor Show, there were a few others which we didn’t attend due to weather or lack of numbers.

Llandudno

This year we attended the Llandudno Light Parade but there was a small problem as the Evans Hotel had closed a large section of the Hotel and could not accommodate the Wingers that usually used it. Peter the Manager sorted out accommodation for those that required it, and the event went on to be another successful event enjoyed by all.

Funeral Escort

On a sad a note, the region provided a Funeral Escort for Anne Townsend after passing away suddenly, Anne and Ken being past members of South Wales Wings. I was approached by Ken to do the honours and we duly obliged, Ken thanked the club and said that Anne would have been proud.

Wedding Escort

On a happier note, the region also provided a a Wedding Escort in Pembrokeshire. Our friend, Derek Hackett’s daughter was getting married and several South Walians attended the event and escorted the bride from the church to the reception. We were invited to stay but chose to return home as it was quite a way to go. Derek kindly made a donation to the region for our services.

Drop Ins

If there is a lack of Wing Dings in 2025 we are considering putting on a Drop In, which is subject to the GWOCGB events calendar 2025 being filled up as found on the GWOCGB Website. So, we wait and see before progressing further and it may be held at the Taffs Well RFC.

Other

We have recently obtained an event shelter/gazebo for static displays kindly donated by a member’s relative and our thanks and gratitude will be sent. We are now looking for a small trailer to carry our equipment to events so watch this space. The region also had a sort out of equipment at the lock up and lots of items no longer required were thrown away and the container is now accessible, there are still items that have to be disposed of and that is mainly early years Goldwing bits and pieces, which I will photograph and put on the GWCOGB site and hope we can raise some funds for South Wales Wings. The region hopes to give Blood Bike Wales a cheque in the early part of 2025, figure to be decided on.

Well, all that’s left to do is to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Treasurer’s Report

Mr B J Hawkins presented to the meeting his Report dated 1November, 2024 which consisted of a Receipts and Payments Statement for the twelve months ended 31 October, 2024 together with cash/bank reconciliation, a List of Donations made during the period and a Stock Reconciliation as at 31 October, 2024 (copies attached). 

It was noted that during the period Receipts had exceeded Payments by an amount of £1,640.88, this was to be expected as it was a Wing Ding year (31 October, 2023 Payments had exceeded Receipts by £2,493.05). Balances at the Region’s Bank Accounts and Cash in Hand amounted at 31 October, 2024 to £5,808.21 (31 October, 2023 – £4,167.33). Apart from the Wing Ding payments, the First Aid Course and the donation to our selected charity there were no notable additional payment transactions made. Apart from the Wing Ding, no notable income transactions took place either. The Statement

was unanimously approved by the meeting following a proposal by Mr R Pryor, duly seconded by Mr R Jones.

The Donations Made and Equipment Purchased Statement dated 1 November, 2024 was considered and approved by the meeting following a proposal by Mr R Simpson and seconded by Mr M Green. It was noted that our charity had been supported by a small amount. A donation had been paid to Blood Bikes Wales of £250. The Equipment Purchased section of the Statement showed an amount of £317.54, all items required for display at static events.

The Region’s stock value had again reduced during the period and totalled £1,651.35 as at 31 October, 2024 (£1,740.25 – 31 October, 2023). The meeting unanimously approved the Stock Reconciliation Statement following a proposal by Mr R Simpson, seconded by Mr M Green.

The Treasurer thanked all the members for supporting him throughout the year.

Allocation of Donations for 2023/2024

Following the proposal by Mr R Jones, seconded by Mr R Simpson, it was unanimously agreed that a Charity Commission registered local charity be supported and that a donation of £2,000 be made to Blood Bikes Wales (Charity Number 1143352), an NHS blood/plasma transportation support service that provided its service on evenings and bank holidays when the NHS service did not operate, the service being staffed by volunteer motor cycle riders including some members of the Region. This amount being drawn from funds received for the charity during the Wing Ding and the balance of £49.00 from the Region’s reserves.

 

Unfortunately, Unilever plc had reduced considerably the number of pot noodles made available to us for our selected charities. The only donation we received being those for our Wing Ding guests.

Selection of Charities for 2024/2025

 

It was unanimously agreed by the meeting that Blood Bikes Wales (proposed by Mr V Williams, seconded by Mr L Roach) be the Region’s nominated charity for the twelve-month period commencing 1 November, 2024. The Treasurer reminded members that if, during the period to 31 October, 2025, they identified a local registered charity who needed our support they should contact him.

Vote of Thanks

On behalf of the other members, Mr B J Hawkins gave a Vote of Thanks to Mr M Green, Mr L Roach, Mr L Kenting and Mr J Howells for the work they had undertaken for the Region during the preceding twelve months, the membership was very grateful. All were congratulated by the membership in the usual way. Mr Green also thanked the Treasurer for his contribution to the Region during the year.

Appointment of Officers

There being no other nominations, and as Mr Green, Mr Roach, Mr Kenting, Mr Howells and Mr Hawkins had offered themselves for re-election, they were duly appointed following a proposal by Mr R Jones and seconded by Mr R Simpson.  The meeting unanimously therefore appointed Mr Malcolm Green as Regional Representative, Mr Les Roach as Assistant Regional Representative, Mr Lester Kenting as Road Captain, Mr Jeff Howells as Webmaster and Mr Barry Hawkins as the Region’s Honorary Treasurer (and Quartermaster).

Other AGM Business

At a previous monthly meeting, the region had discussed the possibility of purchasing a defibrillator which would be available to regional members for run outs and static displays. It would be necessary for someone within the region to take responsibility for the machine, ensuring it was regularly charged and made available when required which might be a problem. The cost of purchase was around £1,100. Following a lengthy discussion, it was agreed not to purchase a machine at the present time, but to reconsider it at a future date when more funds might be available.

Also at a previous monthly meeting, we had talked about a request from Phil and Joy James for a donation towards the cost of buying a defibrillator by their friends in Swansea. Their friends were looking to donate a machine to biker-friendly cafes within South Wales. After a discussion, it was agreed, at least for the time being, not to make a donation in the hope that in the future additional regional funds might become available to enable us to support the appeal.

Closure of AGM

There being no further relevant business, Mr BJ Hawkins closed the meeting at 1855.