Club AGM 2020
Comments
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Not sure about that, it could be 8hrs or more at weekends (fridays)it could cause quite a bit of animosity where the (which is probably what started the instruction) first LV arrives "early?"and how many pitches "saved"
We have noted how when a "rally"is using a site how many "chairs" are put on adjacent pitches by the earlier arrivals
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The ability to book a pitch type is something that I have been arguing since I became a Club Council Member. I am obviously so pleased that eventually this will come on-line, although it may be a little time away.
Those who listened to the AGM will also be aware that the Club are also still considering whether or not a deposit system would be a good idea.
In a year when the Club has had to deal with all the problems and challenges of Covid, I'm not really surprised that, this year has not been easy.
However, one plus is that many folk have been able to view the AGM from the comfort of their own homes. It might be a good idea to offer this as an option, even when things do get 'back to normal'.
We also had a Zoom Club Council Meeting, which again had advantages. Unlike the AGM, the Council Meeting was a normal Zoom meeting where we could see and talk. In many respects this was good.... we could actually see everyone's faces rather the back of people's heads.....
On the subject of booking specific pitches, I doubt if this would work for the Club, and even if it did, I would have thought this would be much further down the line. If you allowed folk to book individual/ specific pitches, there is more possibility of having odd spaces left on site. This would mean if folk wanted to book (perhaps last minute bookings) they could end up by having to swap pitches during their stay, if one pitch had been pre-booked but others had not. This could deter folk from booking.... (e.g. If I wanted to book for a 3 night stay but because specific pitches were booked, I would have to move pitches after one night, I would be less likely to bother booking). Understandably, the Club would want to maximize bookings - not just to maximize income, but to give more members the opportunity to book...
So why do some non-club sites allow it? This is done usually where a site is so busy that if they have an 'odd space' they are fairly sure someone else will be along soon to book it, or if the site is often less busy, that there will always be spaces. Another way sites cope with it is by 'managing' specific pitches. This would involve using a variety of strategies, including restricting booking to a certain number of days (e.g. some sites will say Saturday to Saturday booking only during busy periods), or only offering certain pitches as being available to avoid odd pitches being left (this is more risky and still could result in gaps and less bookings).
Just a few thoughts.... which, very quickly, I may not have explained very clearly.... sittingchere in the caravan, with 3 mobile internet going in and out of range...
David
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They could be waiting for the AGM Minutes to be typed up and distributed to the three interested parties who were at the meeting before publication? As I know from personal experience of compiling minutes from long meetings they have to go through several stages to be checked by management. I don't know how easy it is for someone from the Club to then publish them on the website. It's only been a week so far. If they are to provide answers to all the questions asked they may need to be some consultation with other members of Club management before being published?
David
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Yes I can fully understand that it will take time to type up and vet. The questions were lodged well before the AGM and therefore there should have been plenty of time to compile answers to these. Nevertheless why leave a page live with outdated information?
peedee
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Just a heads up that the questions asked prior to the Club AGM have been answered and published here
Haven't had a chance to read all the answers yet but it will be interesting see what the replies are.
David
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Thanks David for highlighting the update to the AGM pages. Some interesting answers, particularly about the booking system. Pity COVID is inhibiting/excusing progress in so many areas but I don't see any point in being pessimistic.
Agree with Brue about the questions and hope it will be a template for the future.
peedee.
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I agree that it was a good format and something that should be carried over to future years. Even without COVID the numbers willing to travel to a Club AGM will always be limited.
Quite a bit of repetition in some of the answers but they generally covered what had been asked. Good to see that it looks likely that we will be able to book hardstanding pitches from 2022. Comments on deposits and cancellations interesting although there was a degree of reading between the lines so not altogether sure which side of the line it will land.
David
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Lots of repeated questions, mainly around personal likes and dislikes, and on the whole with the Club’s response known and not that likely to change. But at least it’s good to catch a glimpse inside the AGM.
Personally, I think using such as zoom is a way forward, as it will allow more people from different areas of the UK to take part, and feel part of the process. Even centrally located, it would be a heck of a trek for many folks to attend in person, and with all respect, AGMs are seldom riveting stuff warranting a day off work and a long commute.
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The questions could have been grouped together which would have avoided the repetition. However, I think the Club did the right thing by making sure everyone got an answer to their individual question even if the answer was repeated from similar questions.
It looks as if we are in for some interesting changes for the 2022 season?
David
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There were some interesting things asked. I forgot about it to be honest, in midst of our boiler fitting saga, so good that folks did ask questions.
I can’t help thinking that HQ can be a tad defensive when tackling some issues though, and more of being put on the spot might get the message through that there are issues that crop up time after time, from quite a few members that need some real debate and thoughts, maybe not just from Committee and HQ. The CL network needs a stronger presence somehow, they are such a big part of the Club for many Members. Likewise, it would be good to see Wardens having a presence as well, feeding back from their point of view. This of course might happen, but maybe Members are unaware.
Hopefully, if I remember I will ask something next year👍
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Very much like PMQ's...."I refer the Hon Member to my previous answer"
And obviously many dog lovers on the Exec Committee....Time to start charging for the 2nd dog upwards...could definitely be some dog rage the next time one 'off lead' cocks its leg up on the A frame cover...
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I would imagine that wardens have plenty of opportunity to feed back their views via their Regional Managers who then have an onward route to the person in charge of sites? Personally I would say that I would want membership views to be taken into account over and above paid employees?
CL's are a different matter. Unless the Club become more prescriptive in how CL's are allowed to conduct themselves how would this be achieved. Perhaps we need more people like Ted who runs a successful CL and has made efforts to organise fellow CL owners? But for every CL owner who is happy using social media there are probable ten that aren't. The more we try to commercialise CL's the further we move away from the idea.
David
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The answer to the dog question has reinforced the Club's position as the provisional wing of the Kennel Club. Dogs get facilities provided for free whilst motorhomers who pay for their use of the site continue to wait for proper waste disposal facilities. Whilst I think it is fair for the first dog or even possibly the second as well to be free, I would like to see charging for more than that. A stricter enforcement of the two metre lead wouldn't go amiss. How often do we see an owner with a dog trailing often as much as four or five times that length behind. There's a trip hazard if nothing else. Two metres! The same distance that you should be from me.
NB Moderators - this relates to AGM questions, not the "dog thread"
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You missed your chance in putting your points forward to the AGM as AD did. Next year, eh? 👍🏻
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The club pointed out the £10 per day dog charge levied on guests using S pods etc. This is because extra cleaning work is involved etc.
Dogs on sites incur lower working costs pro rata.
Whatever charges are levied upon any site users there will always be some who cost the club more in working terms eg people who make a mess in facility blocks, people who damage pitches with groundsheets.
Each improvement is a separate issue, I don't think dogs are slowing up motorhome point upgrading.
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If I was to bring up a comment about dogs at the AGM, it would be around ensuring that the Club operated a strictly enforced code that didn’t tolerate poor dog ownership on its Club Sites. It’s no good having a list of do’s and don’ts if it isn’t policed. That’s got nothing to do with charging for them, it’s about being responsible for them. You don’t tend to get many issues on CLs with dogs, because the CL owners sort things out. Same on small private Sites as well. It’s a Site management issue, not a charging issue.
Next ill informed suggestion will be measure the ruddy dogs and charge by the inch🤨
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Whilst I agree that the problems are primarily a site management one, I still stand by my contention that provision of dog walks is not zero cost and, on the face of it, appear to have a greater priority than upgrading motorhome waste points.
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The ongoing completion of motorhome waste points was detailed clearly in the AGM including site design and leasehold situations.
Dogs are not to blame for delays to infrastructure improvements.
We're talking about caravan sites where people complain about all sorts of things but financially budgets are set for projects and projects hit glitches.
I look forward to more questions from more people next time, if this on line opportunity continues to exist. Covid appears to have opened up access.
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That's my point, David. Although your recent experience of club sites is not extensive, you perceived an issue and brought your view to the attention of the AGM by putting your question. CY could have done the same but missed his opportunity to make his views known.
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Have dog walks been upgraded ahead of MHSPs, CY? I must have missed that.
Some of the upgraded MHSPs are a joy to use whereas dog walks are generally still the same scrubby old bit of waste ground down the end.
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