Section News

The BMW CLUB Northern Section

Minutes of Annual General Meeting – Knowle Green Village Hall 13th October 2024

Committee members

Secretary                           Jim Warner

Membership Secretary   Lynn Sumner

Treasurer                         Alan Davies

Social Secretary                Les Butler

Committee Member       Robert Harrison 

1, Apologies for absence    Norma Gough

2, Minutes of the AGM held on 8th October 2023 at 2.00pm at Knowle Green Village Hall

3, Matter arising from those Minutes – None

4, Officers reports

Secretary’s report

This is the 62nd Annual General Meeting of the Northern Section of The BMW Club.  The National AGM  took place at the Canberra Club, Samlesbury Club on 27th April.  Last year’s committee with the exception of Stewart Lowthian were voted in by a majority.  Thanks to Frank Gough for spinning his 45’s at us

The AGM was a great success and again the staff were very welcoming and well organised, the same venue has been booked for 2025.

A big thank you to all the committee and club members who volunteered their time and contributed to the success of the AGM weekend, your time and efforts are appreciated

Alan Davis again organised the buffet for the June meeting with ?? attending, thanks to Alan

Thanks to Paul Stewart who continues to keep the facebook page up to date, highlighting events and making it lively showing what events are being held there are 208 on the FB page

A massive thanks to all those who organise and attend the ride outs, a massive thanks to those who open the venues for meetings and help in the kitchen and the tidy up afterwards with the table and chairs and washing up.

Another massive thankyou to everyone who attend the meetings and supports events, looks like another good year ahead and another good Northern turn out for the AGM

On a personal note, thanks to all who attended the Llandovery camping event, I've only been twice and it’s a brilliant event, I've made many friends, got drunk, ate well and had a good laugh.

Secretary’s report from the National Committee meeting

The NCM was held in February Tamworth this year with the venue providing VFM

At the National Committee meeting all section except London were recommended, the main points raised where from a  section who questioned the financial position of BMW club and sought to raise anonymous complains against national committee members, all points raised were responded to and a presentation provided prior to the meeting was available and on screen at the NCM, this presentation also responded to all the questions.

The London Section was discussed and was wound down with members joining the most relevant section to them

There was a discussion on future venues and locations with some feeling that there may be a North bias.  This included travel time and the number of people who travel from different areas.

Membership Secretary Report  

At this 62nd AGM of the Northern Section of The BMW Club the membership at year end 30 September 2024 is as follows:

·         343 full members and 66 Associates last year, now 303 plus 61 associates.

·         A loss of 40 full and 5 associates.

·         The 303 consists of 284 active members including the 70 new members this year. Then 8 pending renewal to the end of October and 11 lapsed in July and August but still on the database.

The National AGM took place on 27th April at The Canberra Club, Samlesbury where around 72 members signed in to vote and, amongst other things, an increase in subscription was raised and passed.

·         £35 p.a increases to £40. The Associate fee of £4 remains.

·         All memberships will cost £40 after Jan.25.

·         Overseas subscriptions will rise from £41 to £46.

Effective 1st November 2024 for new members and expires Jan.2026, it allows 2 months free to bring the subscription in line with existing memberships which are set renew by the end of Jan.25 or Jan 26 if they’ve paid for 2 years. This now ends the rolling year and makes a very busy time for the bankers again taking renewals by cheque or cash between November and January so please renew online if you can to save the banker a trip to the bank or PO. 

Each NEW member joining after Jan.25 will pay a full, ¾, ½, or ¼ subscription depending in which month they join.  Present members please watch for your Renewal Notice on the reverse of the address sheet with your Nov. Journal. Everyone’s will show £40 plus £4 if there is an associate.

Let’s hope the membership numbers increase in 2025/26 and there is good support again from Northern members at the National AGM who, apparently, are returning to the Canberra Club on 26th April 2025 for a third year.

General discussion around fall in membership noting many members recruiting through Bowker’s had not renewed and a general agreement that the Club would prefer less members who were more active than more members who were non active.

Treasurers report

Subscriptions this year raised £1390.95, down £750.60 on previous year

Advertising raised Nil as diary events are now digital, lest year advertising raised £623.34

Our July raffle raised £110

The costs for hall hire were £637.00 up from £564 last year

Food and refreshment at events totalled  £946.90 up from £916.38 last year

Administration costs of printing were £220, down from £744.00 last year

Postage £189.22 down from £310.46 last year

Balance is down this year by £511.62 expenditure over income due to more expenses especially cost of catering

Total balance is down this year by £434.15

The section is in a healthy financial position with nothing radical happening

Air Ambulance collection box raised £246.00, £77.69 up on last year

General discussion agreed club members are satisfied with current financial position

Social Secretary’s Report

Busy 12 months with 8 meetings a month and most being well attended, again preference is for less more active members than more non active members.

Frank Gough put a ride on for members in the south area of the Norther Section but generated little support.

The 1st Sunday of the month social meetings have moved from the Lets Eat Café to J&S Motorcycles, Northwich

Events put on through the year were well attended with the highlight being the National Rally where Les Butler thanked Robert Harrison for putting on a successful impromptu ride out.

The Crastor weekend is already fully booked

The Canberra Club have Curry days on Tuesday and Thursday with Robert Harrison inviting people along for a curry on Thursday 17th October, all welcome.

Tony Cross in arranging Xmas lunch at ……………………..with limited places and an early 11.00am start.

The social event at the Graham Arms is provisionally on the 23rd December with the hope to move it back to the 16th December.

5, Election of Members

Part quote from the Memorandum and Articles of the Company.

Rule No 81 – Each local section will be required to elect a committee consisting of Secretary, Social Secretary and Treasure (who must be full time members of the section) plus at least two other members of that section

The following Nominations have been received 28 days prior to this meeting

Position

Proposed

Seconded

Secretary

Jim Warner

Hilary Farrer

Treasurer

Alan Davis

George Goldynek 

Social Secretary

Les Butler

Denis Rushton

Membership Secretary

Lynn Summer

 Frank Gough

Committee Member

Bob Harrison

Chris Juszkiewicz

The Club Members voted in all the proposed officers with no objections

October Section News

Membership Secretary: Ms Lynn Sumner, 63 Moss Lane, Leyland, Preston. PR25 4XA. 01772 431324 northern.membership@bmwclubuk.net

Secretary: To be advised

Social Secretary: To be advised

Mike Gibson's September ride-out report. The weather forecast didn’t disappoint. A cool-ish, at that point, band of 13 riders left Devil’s Bridge heading up the road to Sedbergh. Once through the town, the pleasant, despite a brief 40mph limit for non-existent road works, route took us along to our morning break at the Fat Lamb Inn. Here, the group was divided into those who sat inside and those who chose the outside arbour. Each had its advantages. Duly refreshed, we carried on, through Ravenstonedale onto the road towards Tebay. Forsaking the main road for minor roads we arrived at Orton, and the next country road leading under the M6 to join the A6, and Shap village. From there, it was straightforward riding along the A6 to Penrith where we picked up the Alston road. It wasn’t too long before we sighted our lunch stop – the Old Village Bakery in Melmerby, at the start of the climb up the Hartside pass. Here, due to pre-booking and pre-ordering (the latter done from Devil’s Bridge) we were soon sat outside on a long trestle table, Oktoberfest-style, tucking into a mixture of sandwiches and cooked food. By this time the temperature, and sun, had risen quite significantly, necessitating (for some of us) the use of some form of protection from said sun. Lunch over, the Hartside pass beckoned, so what could we do? Nice road - plenty of challenging corners, the odd straight bit and extensive views (when there was time to look) over to the Lakes. Oh, and traffic lights for some tree clearance! Never mind, the summit was soon reached and onwards down to Alston, where we turned eastwards on the Middleton-in-Teesdale road. Another cracking combination of sweeping and tight corners with the odd straight stretch thrown in. Arriving in the town, the opportunity to rehydrate at one of the cafes was taken. Here, one of our number fell into conversation about Moto Guzzis with a fellow Guzzi-owner sat at the next table. Again refreshed, the ride continued across the North Pennine AONB to Brough, shortly followed by Kirkby Stephen. From there we followed the A685/683 combination back to Kirkby Lonsdale, where ice creams and ice lollies became a necessary part of life. Mmm, hmm – perfect for cooling the tongue! Highly recommended. The worst part of the day? Getting home and struggling to peel off sweaty riding gear! Definitely not recommended.

The food cabin staff at Bull Beck, Caton told me that their business was suffering with a reduction in two wheel customers because of the recently installed average speed cameras. Riders are taking an alternative route to avoid the cameras. The alternative route presents significantly more hazards in my opinion so expect more incidents on this road. Unintended consequences of so called safety measures.

Had a front wheel puncture in September while touring Scotland and I have to say we were impressed with BMW Recovery even though in the end we didn't need them. A long story but I plugged the tyre and rode to Drysdale Motorcycles in Perth to have a new tyre fitted. A projected three hour wait for the BMW van to appear so I plugged and rode. Numerous phone calls from BMW to ascertain our situation during the course of the day and also the day after just to ensure all was well. Very pleased with the caring attitude.

Six BMWs, three Hondas and two Yamahas on Bob Crawley's September Scotland Hotel Weekend in Newton Stewart (photo below), and one car. 140 mile rideout on Saturday that all bikes attended. Returning to the hotel one bike pulled over at the junction. We all thought he'd had enough and was returning to the hotel while the ride carried on. Not so, the bike had a rear wheel puncture. We all sailed by, not realising there was a problem. All was explained on returning to the hotel where the puncture was repaired with the assistance of fellow riders. An electric pump is such a handy item to have in these situations. Beats my bicycle pump anyway. I also still carry those decades old mini gas cylinders that BMW at one time included with the bike's tool kit. Still have twelve to go.

Regular Meets

1st Sunday 12:30 Let's Eat Cafe, Tarporley Rd, Warrington, WA4 4EZ, Bob Harrison

2nd Sunday 12:30, 30 Rixton with Glazebrook Community Hall, Manchester Road, Rixton Warrington WA3 6JZ Bob Harrison

3rd Tuesday, 18:30: The Raven, Ballaugh, Isle of Man. Harvey Garton 01624 625140.

Penultimate Thursday 10.30: Great House Barn Cafe, Rivington Lane, Bolton, BL6 7SB

Last Tuesday 11:00 The Thatch and Thistle Pub, Barrowford J13 M65 Bob Harrison