Minutes of HCC Virtual Committee Meeting held online at 7.30pm on Monday 12th October 2020

Committee Present: Paul Morgan (PM), Chairman Dale Clarke (DC), Trips and Events Officer
Alison Hardy (AH), Secretary Ben Hardy (BH), Development Officer Lesley March (LM), Finance Officer
Liz Owen (LO), Membership Secretary Neil Smith (NS), Equipment Officer
Apologies: Mike Dallaway
Others Present: Simon Boyton Tony Kerr
Richard Matthews Jonathan Pope
Chris Tooze Pete Wilson (from 8pm)

Minutes: These having been previously circulated and amended were accepted as a true record.

Chairman (PM):

  • Issues covered elsewhere in the minutes.

Club Admin (AH):

  • Meeting minutes – draft minutes of the meeting on 16th September 2020 added to the website prior to this meeting.

Finance (LM):

  • Bank Balance – balance £8,971.99 as at 10/10/20 but Mike Dallaway needs reimbursing for roofing materials.
  • Al Randal – HCC has donated to the memorial charity draw.

Equipment (NS):

  • An old canoe has been donated with the consent of the Committee to “Belisama’s Retreat”, a Charity supporting former Members of the Services who struggle adjusting to civilian life.
  • Meeting agreed to kayak purchase HCC Member (Alice Smith’s), may consider AH’s before its advertised, as suitable for the smaller paddler.
  • Job’s List includes painting container doors and inside storage/racking; slabbing bank area; completing the seal launch.
  • Possible access to a trailer – no update since last meeting.

Events and Trips (DC):

  • Matlock Trip (Coaches NS/PM) 17/10/20 for the group progressing onto moving water after recently completing Explore kayak.
  • Loughborough River Soar Loop (Trip Organiser Richard Matthews) 24/10/20 ideal for trip newcomers.
  • Halloween Paddle (Trip Organiser Alice Smith) Foxton Locks 31/10/20 Fancy dress encouraged, ideal for juniors and trip newcomers. NS queried set up on Bookwhen to ensure paddler’s age is requested to identify Juniors.
  • Request by Pete Wilson for regular sessions – outdoor rolling/trips etc. HCC hoping for additional trip dates if restrictions allow. No plans to arrange formal rolling as still issue of breaching social distancing.

Club Development (BH):

  • Pool Sessions – Reluctantly, website updated as no pool sessions possible currently. Only one possible option at Ibstock pool despite contacting numerous “local” pools. Cost would be similar to that for Desford, but available time slot not as suitable and less local plus venue looking for reassurances of social distancing which is not possible for rolling practice.
  • Lee Valley WW Centre – looked at group hire by the hour but paddlers still need to have been assessed by the Centre who can only take 1:3 for assessment. Also contacted Club based there but no obvious alternatives with current restrictions. Contacts made for possible future joint sessions.
  • Paddler 29 5* leader Level 1 Coach – info to be up to date. South Leicestershire 20 minutes away.
  • Website – still hoping to update coach/leader bio’s.
  • NS’s 2 Day WW Training – been postponed until 2021

Membership (LO):

  • Affiliation – LO will liaise with AH as BC renewal due early December.
  • Membership – number remains constant. Have been two separate requests for annual membership refunds. Much discussion followed – acknowledged unprecedented times, not for profit club with coaches volunteering their time, impossible to predict how restrictions will impact on coaching for the remainder of the membership year to end of March 2021. The circumstances for each of the two requests were different. One joined late in the season for the lake and had been unable to book onto introductory courses at the lake or pool. The other had joined mid lake season and had benefitted from booking onto coached member sessions. Chairman to make final decision on requests and proposes HCC Policy is revised.

Any Other Business:

  • Safeguarding course – PM considering arranging a date for BC online virtual course. It is a pre-requisite for Coaches and Leaders. PM has a list of Members who have expressed an interest. Cost implication £10 online.
  • Canoe Crafting Sessions – Sharnford Hall hire £10 per hour but a number of queries over accident insurance, social distancing if juniors/accompanying adults. Agreed to put on hold but Chris Tooze offering to help Mike Dallaway if consider this in the future.
  • Pens – Chris Tooze can produce on his lathe for £2.
  • Parents/Weekend courses – query why parents must stay on site? Parents do need to be on site as coach would need to hold an AALA licence if certain criteria not met.

Next meeting and Location: Virtual Full Committee Meeting 7.30pm Monday 9th November 2020, revised to 16th November 2020 7.30pm to avoid clash with East Midlands meeting.