AGM 2023

DavidKlyne
DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,857 ✭✭✭
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edited September 2023 in Club Membership #1

I see from this link https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/about-us/agm/ we have the date of this years AGM, which is about 5/6 weeks away. However I can't find any details of whether this will be broadcast online or whether members will be able to submit questions in advance of the meeting as they have been able to do in recent years. Will we have an update?

David

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Comments

  • RowenaBCAMC
    RowenaBCAMC Forum Participant Posts: 1,732 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2023 #3

    Hi everyone,

    The Club's Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Saturday 28 October 2023 at the QEII Conference Centre, London starting at 2 pm. 

    We will be sending out the voting email in early October from our democratic voting agency, Mi-Voice. Within this email, there will also be an option for members to ask a question, similar to previous years. The October Club magazine also contains an article on the upcoming AGM.

     In the meantime, please visit www.camc.com/agm to find out further information about the AGM. It's also worth noting that the answers to the questions asked will be available there for viewing after the AGM. I hope this helps. smile

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,857 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2023 #4

    Rowena

    Thanks for the update. I was just getting concerned that it was fast approaching and other than where it was and timing there seemed little extra information. I think most members appreciate the idea of being able to ask and get detailed replies to questions.

    David

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,857 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2023 #5

    Just a heads up that the AGM page here has been updated.

    David

  • DaveCyn
    DaveCyn Club Member Posts: 339 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2023 #6

    It raises the question is it worth voting??

     

    Apparently at last year's election vote all committee were re-elected with 100% for and no votes against!

    I know that's wrong!!

  • Hja
    Hja Club Member Posts: 849 ✭✭
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    edited September 2023 #7

    Me also!  I watched the AGM and those present voted for, but there was no explanation about how the online votes were counted. I havent had a look at the new AGM info but hopefully it will include how to ask questions!

  • the browser
    the browser Club Member Posts: 3,187 ✭✭✭
    edited September 2023 #8

    Let’s have a change at the top, I think the ceo thinks he has a job for life along with some others 

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2023 #9

    Do you mean The Director General or The Club Chairman? The former is an employed officer of the club while the latter is in an elected position. Maybe studying the club's governance would help.

  • sunlovers
    sunlovers Club Member Posts: 31 ✭✭✭
    edited September 2023 #10

    It's time we got rid both, try to find someone who wants to make it a CLUB run for It's members,  not a travel agents out to make money in any it can,  like bring in a 20% deposit,  then telling you of the fantastic deal of bringing  it down  to 10%. Members seem to be a long way down the list of priorities now a days.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,857 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2023 #11

    It would be interesting to know how people would run the Club differently and still keep it financially viable? The financial figures for 2022 are published on the updated AGM page. It's all very well being dissatisfied but its what you would put in its place, that would work, that matters. 

    David

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,425 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2023 #12

    I find all these posts of replacing or even getting rid of people who run the club always perplexing.

    For one thing the club is an organisation that one joins entirely on a voluntary basis, you even have to pay to join with a not totally insubstantial amount so it's not just a case of simply signing up and paying a few pounds to be a member? 

    If one does join then finds that it is not run to your satisfaction, or one feels that one is a long way down the list of priorities then the answer is in two parts.

    You can either not rejoin and stop using club sites and if (and it's a big if) enough people do that then the club will change. Alternatively campaign and get actually elected yourself and change things from that end.

    It could be argued that as the membership is at all time high and club site occupancy appears good many members are do not feel the same way, and personally I think just quite happy to use club sites and services and do not really care what happens at the top?

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2023 #13

    Corners, your penultimate paragraph hits the nail on the head. People prefer to complain rather than actively do something about it. Resolution of a problem is within the gift of the membership.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,383
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    edited September 2023 #14

    It could be argued that as the membership is at all time high and club site occupancy appears good

    You obviously have not looked at the 2022 performance review and in particular the outlook for 2023!

    peedee

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,425 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2023 #15

    No I have not PD. I made no mention at all of the outlook for 2023! and you've selectively quoted me there as it was linked to how members feel about those running the club, but my statement still stands.

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,425 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2023 #16

    Sorry, I meant to say I have read the review and it confirms what I posted PD. The first paragraph alone shows that I would say.

    Membership is at all time time high and a solid and successful year. Good enough for me.

  • GEandGJE
    GEandGJE Forum Participant Posts: 507
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    edited September 2023 #17

    What action do you propose to take that will make this change at the top you are calling for.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2023 #18

    At least it’s got Sunlovers posting instead of just 'liking', GE, so they might have a plan for change. It’ll be good to hear👍🏻

  • Hja
    Hja Club Member Posts: 849 ✭✭
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    edited October 2023 #19

    I would like to hear more from OUR elected council members. I would like to know what they are arguing for in meetings. Are they holding the administration to account? Are they challenging them over the appalling communications from the Club? My issues stem from a lack of transparency within this members organisation. Of course I don’t need to belong to it. But I do and I choose to push for a little more openness via voting and questions to the AGM. I have no idea how the prospective council members get nominated. I suspect wheels within wheels.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,857 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2023 #20

    I think we have a Club of two elements. One element would be those that belong to Club Centres and are involved at what some might see as the "grass roots" These people, through the "limited" Club democracy can put themselves up for election to various committees where they become known and are therefore in an ideal position  to progress to the Governing Committee. One shouldn't overlook the undoubted voluntary work they do for the Club and Centre members and I suspect that many of  those that are critical would be unlikely to commit the time and effort to achieve the same influence? It's a complete guess on my part but most of those elected in such a way would lean towards the traditional so whether they had sufficient "campaigning zeal" in terms of having a manifesto, perhaps unlikely? The second element, and probably the largest section of members are those that are just interested in the Club providing them with nice campsites for their stays away from home. Often their only extra contribution to the Club is maybe writing site/CL reviews and perhaps commenting on Social Media. Whilst those things are important its not exactly showing the same commitment as some running a Local Centre?

    David

  • sunlovers
    sunlovers Club Member Posts: 31 ✭✭✭
    edited October 2023 #22

    Sorry I for got to add , the club might have got £59 out of us, but have lost a minimum of £850 site fees this year

     

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2023 #23

    Sunlovers, what are you going to do about it? You can campaign for change by becoming more involved or leave camc but it’s really no use complaining yet still paying your membership fee.

  • sunlovers
    sunlovers Club Member Posts: 31 ✭✭✭
    edited October 2023 #24

    What can I do she who must be obeyed says she likes CLs ? . Being in my late 70s and not good health all I can is only pay Club site fees as a last resort, I haven''t paid any yet this year,

     

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2023 #25

    You could stand for election to the Council, you could raise a question at the AGM either in person or remotely, you could complain directly to the DG and/or the Chairman, you could leave CAMC and join C&CC. Alternatively you can pay up your membership fee and look happy. It’s your choice but complaining to your fellow posters will achieve zilch. 

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,425 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2023 #26

    we arrived at White House Beach Site mid week 9 mins early, the access through the village is very narrow , we got turned round and told to return in 10 mins, I thought they were joking , they weren't , so we ended up causing major traffic problems in the village, with another caravan going to the site being unable to pass each other because of parked cars.

    I know WHB well and yes it has narrow approaches which caused problems when it was leave and arrive at 12. Sorry but you agreed to arrive after 1pm yet thought it would be OK to arrive early and by your decision caused a problem. It's not the club's fault here but yours. There have been many discussions on here about early arrivals and many complaints against those that do. In fact in this case the club is doing exactly what many members (at least on here) want.

    Also the site fees are far to high, and the advertising say great deal we have reduce the deposit from 20% to 10% it was only made 20% to get more of the members cash.

    I don't follow that at all? The deposit amount, be it 20% or 10%, is part of the the total price paid, paying 20% upfront means the club gets that earlier but it is not getting more of your cash - you would have paid it sooner or later. I suppose it could be argued they will make some interest from that, but now it's even less at 10%?

    In my view the introduction of deposits has made long term bookings reduce and the number of cancellations down by 70% and I see that as a benefit to members. 

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,383
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    edited October 2023 #27

    Good post David.

    With regards to to 2022 performace report, I am sure readers are capable of drawing their own conclusions as well as reading between the lines pf such reports which all too often are presented with a positive slant.

    peedee

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,425 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2023 #28

    We are pleased to report that the Club had another successful year in which we experienced more normal pre-pandemic levels of activity as the UK staycation boom waned, meaning a solid but not exceptional year was achieved on UK sites.

    Statutory revenue was up 18.7% year-on-year at £134.6m producing a statutory surplus of £5.3m...(and confirmed by the auditors)

    I think those are pretty good and as they are given as simple statistics I can't see how they are can anything but neutral, that is neither positive or negative slants? I'm sure plenty of similar business would love to able to state those words and figures

    But in any case I suspect that many users (especially outside of CT) of club sites and services won't even look at them but continue to use the club as it gives them what they want. I don't look at Sainsbury's, car dealers... or anything that I buy from, accounts or performance reviews, I simply buy to suit to preferences. 

    There are warnings about the future but then again I recall from last year's review it was 'dark clouds are gathering' but that didn't occur in any way at all, especially  on the sites I actually visited and by the quoted parts from the review, and there was something similar the year before. Some may worry or makes comments about that while others like myself who actually go to club sites go and continue to enjoy them.

    As a members’ organisation with no shareholders or dividends to pay, or expensive borrowing, we are in the best possible position to confidently weather these sorts of financial storms, as we have successfully done through previous periods of
    significant financial pressure

    As always if the club isn't giving you want you want in either services or sites then we're told there are plenty of better sites out there, cheaper too. 

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,383
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    edited October 2023 #29

    It is easy to quote bits in support of your views CS,Like I said above I will let the readers of the report judge for themselves.

    peedee

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,857 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2023 #30

    The Club are clearly not expecting 2023 to be as good for the reasons they mention which also chime with some of the comments on the forum over the last year. No mention of the impact of the new booking system although I image that will be in one of the reports to the AGM on the day?

    David

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,425 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2023 #31

    Ok, but I'm just posting rather more than bits I would say, but whole paragraphs with actual money figures to show how your view that all is not well is rather incorrect. but why not post some bits from the review to support your position PD? 

    The vast majority of those who actually use club sites (and other services) I suspect won't even know the review and AGM is there let alone see it.