BICC Agm & News Report February 2015

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BICC

by Gareth Watkins

AGM and end of year News Report

BICC Committee2014 and 2015. Re-elected en bloc at the 2015 AGM.

The committee of the BICC met on Sunday 1st February to complete the business for the 2014 season and conduct the club's AGM.

The end of year committee meeting started promptly at 11 am and the first thing on the agenda once the minutes of the previous meeting had been read out, confirmed as a true record and any matters arising dealt with, was the subject of the remunerations for our secretary Carol Francis and Treasurer, and in effect assistant secretary, Russell Bradford. Three members of the committee along with Chairman Albi Deacon and Vice President Mick Bunney had undertaken a "root and branch" review of the salaries and had settled on a formula whereby the secretary and treasurer remunerations would in future be fixed as a percentage of the membership fees paid each season. So in effect, if the membership increases, then the remunerations increase proportionately and vice versa. This was new formula received a unanimous vote of approval from the committee.

John Tyerman then gave a short report on the progress with the new trailer and aluminium crates being built by Jeff Greenaway and had brought along one of the new crates for the committee to inspect. After a short discussion in which various points were raised it was agreed that the grids in the bottoms of the crates be manufactured from aluminium as it was thought that these would then give a longer service than the plastic alternatives. All crates will be numbered and have the BICC logo stamped on them for security. The trailer curtains and back will also have the BICC logo and name printed prominently on them.

The transporter pick up times and routes were then discussed and Albi pointed out that as a result of the purchase of the new trailer he had been able to re route one of the transporters so that the well supported Chestfield marking station pigeons could now be collected.

Three marking stations have now been approved in Cornwall- one at Penzance, one at Barncoose near Redruth and a third at St Austell.

Gary Jacobs, who has been instrumental in the organisation of the Cornish push for membership of the BICC, will organise collection and transport of the Cornish pigeons to the nearest transporter pick up point at Peasedown St John. It is to be hoped that the Cornish members will support this venture in sufficient numbers. If so, there is a strong possibility that the committee may in future, grant Cornwall a section of its own. It's now up to the "men of Kernow" to show their support for the BICC.

Carol then gave a short report on the upcoming presentation evening in Bournemouth and told us that she had in fact sold 158 tickets. Those present on the night will be seated around the much preferred round dining tables and the menu will once again be medallions of beef with all the trimmings. There will of course be a vegetarian option.

That concluded the pre AGM committee meeting business and after a short break for refreshments it was on to the AGM itself.

The minutes of the previous AGM were quickly accepted as read with no matters arising. The balance sheet was also accepted without question and the club is in a very sound financial position.

We were informed that there had been 88 resignations but this number was counter balanced by applications for membership from 83 new members with more applications anticipated before the start of the season.

Election of officers was next on the agenda and it was proposed that all offers be returned en bloc with the addition of Gareth Watkins as Vice President. This was agreed to with a unanimous vote.

With no Notices of Motion submitted the AGM closed at 12,20 pm and was followed by a short General meeting during which it was decided that advertising in the Members Handbook would be priced at £120 per page for black and white and £150 per page for colour. Russell will look into the feasibility of incorporating the 2015 race sheets as a pull out section within the handbook.

In all probability there will be another Moot at the Epsom Show in late October albeit possibly in a slightly different format. There will also be another Auction of pigeons to raise money for the continued modernisation of the club's fleet of transport vehicles.

All business dealt with the meeting closed and we were on our way home by 12.45 pm.

I have included here the 2015 race programme which can also be found on the BICC website.

Race Programme 2015

2nd May Falaise National. code 5017; £3.00/bird. Race Marking April 30th.

16th May Alencon race code 5001; £3.00/bird. Race marking May 14th.

30th May Tours ;code5044; £3.50/bird. Race marking May 28th.

13th June Poitiers code 5039 £3.50/bird. Race marking June 11th.

19th June Pau International [old birds only] code 5102 £13.00/bird. Race marking June 15th.

26th June Agen International; code 5097 £6.50/bird. Race marking June 22nd.

3rd July Barcelona International [old birds only]; code 5099 £8.00/bird. Race marking SUNDAY June 28th.

10th, July St. Vincent International; code 5100 £8.00/bird. Race marking July 6th.

17th July Marseille International; code 5088; £8.00/bird. Race marking July 13th.

18th July Le Mans; code 5076 £3.00/bird. Race marking July 16th.

31st July Perpignan International; code 5082 £8.00/bird. Race marking July 27th.

23rd August Guernsey Young Bird National; code 4042 £3.00/bird. Race marking August 20th,

23rd August Guernsey Any Age National £3/bird.

12th September Guernsey[2] Young Bird National £3.00/bird. Race marking Sept 10th.

12th September Guernsey[2] AnyAge National £3.00/bird. Race marking Sept 10th.

Also included with this report are the photos of the 2014 race winning pigeons. Here's wishing the members a successful season's racing in conjunction with what is possibly the most progressive organisation in the British Isles.