Written by Brian Dawson<\/p>\n
ngg_shortcode_0_placeholderI arrived at ColinTT\u2019s home about five minutes before the AGM was due to start.\u00a0 But I had one of the braais and a required gazebo (to shade the food table), so things were delayed a bit while many hands made light work of offloading and successfully erecting the gazebo, despite paying scant attention to the manufacturer\u2019s colour-coding on the poles.\u00a0\u00a0 Fortunately Kobus and Nico had arrived more timeously with the tables and chairs and a much bigger braai, so the rest of the arrangements were already well in hand.<\/p>\n
We gathered under the car-port \u2013 Colin stood at the head of the table, and the guys who chirped the most sat in the back row, while those who were more well-behaved were prepared to sit a little closer to the chairman\u2019s chair.\u00a0 Colin quickly called us to order, and things got under way\u2026<\/p>\n
ngg_shortcode_1_placeholderWith 25 out of the club\u2019s membership of 45 present for the meeting, it was a good turnout (and even some understandable apologies having been sent from as far away as Australia and New Zealand!).<\/p>\n
You all received the Agenda sent out to all members ahead of the meeting, and will all receive the Minutes and Financial Statement and Chairman\u2019s Report in due course, so you will get the detailed report of what happened anyway\u2026\u00a0\u00a0 But, in short, there was all the usual AGM meeting activity \u2013 adoption of minutes (taken as read), signing of attendance register, presentation of the Chairman\u2019s report on 2016 activities (by Colin), presentation of the Treasurer\u2019s report (by Colin!), and then discussion of all the other agenda items, including the Events Programme report for 2016 (by Colin!), the Newsletter Editor\u2019s report (also by Colin!), and proposed changes to the Constitution (by Colin!)\u2026\u00a0 So it was NO surprise at all when we got down to the Election of Committee Members \u2013 we\u00a0 all understood why ColinTT was stepping down as Chairman \/ Treasurer \/ Events Manager \/ Layout Manager \/ Newsletter Editor etc.\u2026, and was looking for new blood to step up to the plate!<\/p>\n
Colin had made it very clear ahead of the AGM that he would NOT consider standing for re-election as Chairman.\u00a0 He even went as far as to propose changes to the club\u2019s constitution, seeking to establish the position of \u201cPast-Chairman,\u201d so that he could ease himself out of having to do everything, but at the same time pass on his wealth of knowledge and experience in the running of the club to the new committee, in an orderly and \u201cconsultative\u201d manner.\u00a0 He even prepared job-descriptions for each of the various portfolios to be filled on the committee, and indicated who he thought might be suitable candidates to fill those positions.<\/p>\n
Theuns Wessels was initially proposed to take over as Chairman, but he declined, vigorously protesting that his work commitments would not currently allow him to do the job properly.\u00a0 Jimmy Mattushek, who will be retiring in a few months\u2019 time and hopes then to have more train-time on his hands, was prepared to take on the job, and was elected to the position unopposed.\u00a0 Thanks Jimmy \u2013 you\u2019ve got BIG shoes to fill!\u00a0 The other positions on the committee were also filled (the names appear elsewhere in the newsletter, so not detailed here).\u00a0 So there is now a new committee in place, under Jimmy\u2019s leadership, but with ColinTT still around to hand over and guide us in the right paths, based on his hard-earned experience\u2026<\/p>\n
In Colin\u2019s Chairman\u2019s report to the AGM he pointed out that the club is doing well \u2013 membership is growing, there is money in the bank, and we have a great club facility at Northmead Mall that appears to be pretty secure, is functioning well, and is well used and is appreciated by the members.\u00a0 You\u2019ll get the rest of the detail when you read through the AGM minutes and Colin\u2019s report\u2026<\/p>\n
The topic which elicited the most discussion (some of it a bit heated!) was the need for all members using the club layouts to adhere to the operating rules<\/strong>!\u00a0 (And I seem to remember a similar discussion at the AGM last year as well!).\u00a0 Colin, some time back, prepared a set of Model Train Operating Rules and Etiquette <\/em>(they are pinned to the notice board at the club).\u00a0 The rules are basic, they are logical, there are very few of them, and disregarding them invariably causes inconvenience and irritation, and sometimes damage to the property of other club members.\u00a0 The need for all club members to know and obey the rules was heavily stressed.\u00a0 There have been some unpleasant incidents which have arisen due to some members disregarding the rules, tempers can become frayed at times \u2013 and these are things that we can avoid by showing consideration for the other guys making use of the shared facilities at the club!\u00a0 We are going to have to revert to an old arrangement whereby the person designated as the Keyholder for the day will also be the \u201cStationmaster\u201d, who is responsible for ensuring that all members present are sticking to the rules, and even has the authority of the committee to ask non-compliant members to leave the facility!<\/p>\n Another significant issue discussed was that of the \u201cownership\u201d of the layouts.\u00a0 Many members have contributed modules over the years, and these have become incorporated into \u201cthe club\u2019s layout\u201d.\u00a0 It was agreed that we need to establish whether the modules have been donated by the members to the club, or whether the member wishes to retain ownership of his module (with it then being on loan to the club). \u00a0The constructor of each module and its \u201cownership status\u201d needs to be established if not already known, and then indicated on each module to clarify this situation.\u00a0 So if you have contributed modules, you can expect to be approached by Niel (the new Layouts Manager) in this regard.<\/p>\n ngg_shortcode_2_placeholderColinTT, as outgoing Chairman, expressed his thanks to members of the club who he felt had contributed significantly during the past year, handing over personalised mugs as a token of appreciation, and then stood down as Chairman.\u00a0 Jimmy took over, and his first act as new chairman was to thank Colin TT for his tremendous contribution to the club during his 8 years as chairman.<\/p>\n Colin handing over a mug to Jimmy Mattushek <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Glynn Chamberlain, who has worked closely with Colin for the past couple of years, then on behalf of the club read out a comprehensive expression of appreciation for all that Colin has meant to the club, after which he and Niel handed over a specially-made \u201cAppreciation Award\u201d to Colin TT, who for once was virtually speechless!<\/p>\n ngg_shortcode_3_placeholderColin and Rosemary were also thanked for their generous hospitality in once again hosting the AGM and braai at their place.\u00a0 Many thanks to the TTs!!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Glynn and Niel handing over the one-of-a-kind Appreciation Award to Colin, <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n with Rosemary TT and Jimmy looking on<\/em><\/strong> Written by Brian Dawson I arrived at ColinTT\u2019s home about five minutes before the AGM was due to start.\u00a0 But I had one of the braais and a required gazebo (to shade the food table), so things were delayed a bit while many hands made light work of offloading and successfully erecting the gazebo, despite … <\/p>\n
\nAnd then the formalities were over, the braai fires were eventually lit, and there was lots of opportunity for chatting and chirping while waiting for the coals to get to the point where we could start braaing meat, and then also enjoying the delicious assortment of salads and desserts provided!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"