Annual General Meeting 2009

Chairman’s Report

It was a great privilege to be elected Chairman of the Vale in what was my 40th Year with the Club at the 2008 AGM

New look Executive Committee (2008)

It is very important to bring in fresh faces now and again so it was good to see Pat Card, Dave Maisey, Richard Taylor and Ian Thompson elected on to our Executive Committee. I would also like to say that they have been a pleasure to work with over the past year.

Young Athletes Management Group

I must thank the YAMG and their Chairman Andy (The Mariner) Stephenson for their support over the last twelve months.

Club Development and problem solving

We have been busy during the past twelve months. I organised a small Development meeting with Andy Stephenson, Dick Knowles and Mike Wise. We made a list of the problem areas of the Club and then we looked at the Club Development Plan 2005 and we decided that it was time it was updated. We then set about the task. Most of the problem areas of the Club can be tackled via the new Development Plan. My thanks must go to Richard, Andy, Dick, Mike, Nick Taylor, Scott Grace, Peter Hoare and Ruth Allcock for their major contributions to the new 2008 Development Plan. This Development Plan will be implemented and monitored by our Club Development Officer Richard Taylor along with the Executive Committee.

Below are two examples of problems which we inherited which we put into the Development plan.-

Stadium Track and Field Facilities

Ian Thompson our club Treasurer was volunteered to be our main club contact person with the Stadium. Just after the last AGM Ian, Steve Rooney and myself held a meeting with the Stadium Business Manager Lyn Britton. We asked for the Track and Field Facilities to be improved e.g. Track cleaned and relined, More sand for the Jumps Pits, A new Hammer Cage and better Pole Vault equipment .

It is a fact that most of this has been done and we must thank Ian Thompson for this. We will be seeking another meeting with Lyn to discuss a new Pole Vault Cover and the question of Track Certification which runs out at the end of this year.

Shortage of First Aiders

Due to our concerns regarding a shortage of First Aiders in our club Jamie Johnston who is an experienced First Aider with St Johns volunteered to be our First Aid Team Leader. (He is now responsible for Recruitment, Training, Rotas and First Aid Kit Maintenance.)

During the past twelve months Jamie has updated the First Aid Kit, Purchased a new First Aid board for the gate and he is now working hard to get club Coaches on a Sports First Aid Coarse. There is still more to be done in this area but we are getting there.

Chiltern League Home match

Our Club was approached at short notice to organise a Chiltern League meeting and our thanks must go to Colin Steptoe, John Gibson and their team for doing a super job

Primary Schools Cross Country

It is very important to forge links with Schools and we must say a big thanks to Andy Stephenson, Peter Beniwith and there team for organising the Primary Schools CCC.

Club Funding

Our thanks must go to Pat Card our Club Membership Secretary (Club Membership numbers are up this year) and our Road Races Directors Colin Steptoe (Risborough 10k) Ian Thompson (Boxing Day) and John Gibson Waddesdon 5k for the amount of money which they bring into the Club every year.

Executive Committee

We have been working very hard to improve the Club but some of our problems cannot be sorted out overnight so please be patient and support us over the next twelve months and we will do our best to build on what we have done already. We will make the odd mistake along the way but at the end of the day we are all part time volunteers trying to do our best for our Club.

Graham Gorman (Club Chairman)