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1. Meeting opening The meeting opened at 17.30 hours. The Commodore welcomed members to the 13th MNABC Annual General Meeting followed by each member introducing themselves. 2. Members present: Committee: C Edwards (Commodore and Chairman), R Card (Rear Commodore), C Woods (Rear Commodore and T Brant (Secretary). Members: Mrs V Foster (MNA Past President), J Sail (MNA Vice President), Mrs R Card, Mrs L Edwards, M Harris, L Payne, G Shimmings and N Williams 3. Apologies for Absence Apologies were received from: D Buckpitt, D Cornes (Membership Secretary & Treasurer), D Hearn (Webmaster), T Eaves, J Johnson-Allen, B Lawrence, R McClean, C Overton, S Partridge, I Pearson, J Rose & S Walker. 4. Minutes of the last Annual General Meeting (19 September 2023) Approval of the Minutes: Proposed by J Sail, seconded by C Woods and were unanimously accepted. 5. Matters arising from the previous Annual General Meetings There were no matters arising 6. Commodore’s Report The Commodore’s report (see attachment) was unanimously accepted. On 1-2 June this year, the Commodore and R Card (Rear Commodore) provided Guard Ship duties, using their own motor cruisers, for the Norfolk Broads Three Rivers Race which covered 50 miles on the Rivers Bure, Ant and Thurne. 7. Constitution (Read Here) The Commodore thanked R Card for all his dedicated work in drawing-up the new draft MNABC Constitution and the meeting unanimously agreed. The revised Constitution was required as the MNA National Councillors had agreed that the MNABC should be recognised as an affiliate Branch and should take care of its own finances. Discussion followed, then R Card proposed that the new Constitution was adopted, seconded by C Woods and unanimously agreed by the meeting. The annual subscription was then discussed and it was agreed that it should be £10.00 paid, preferably by Direct Debit, on 1 January for members who received their MNABC information by email and £12.00 for members who received their information by post due to postage, packing and printing costs. At present, 50 members had not supplied an email address which involved a few hours work for each mailing. A meeting quorum would be 12 members - this was proposed by Mrs V Foster, seconded by J Sail and approved by all except one member. The meeting unanimously agreed that David Cornes would be appointed as Treasurer and a Barclays Treasurer’s Account would be opened requiring two Committee members to be signatories for each outgoing payment. There would be 4 appointed signatories – C Edwards (Commodore), R Card (Rear Commodore), D Cornes (Treasurer) and T Brant (Secretary) to ensure that there were 2 signatories available during illness or leave. 8. MNABC Officers The Election of Officers was not due until the 2025 AGM. P.Battagliola (Vice Commodore) had recently stood down due to his business interests. It was agreed that Mrs V Foster should be co-opted as a Rear Commodore and I Pearson as a Committee member until the 2025 AGM Election of Officers. The Commodore stated that Committee Members were needed from other areas. 9. MNABC affiliations The Commodore stated that in addition to the Merchant Navy Association National, the Club was affiliated with the Institute of Seamanship, Norfolk & Suffolk Boating Association, National Water Safety Forum, National Independent Lifeboat Association, Sea Safety Group of Coastwatch Stations, RNLI and the RYA. 10. Defaced Red Ensign The Commodore reported that he had written to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and a reply was awaited. 11. Any Other Business J Sail proposed that the Club should sponsor a younger person to attend a boating safety course. This was unanimously agreed. 12. Date of the next MNABC AGM The date and time for the venue to be advised but it was agreed that it should be held in Liverpool. J Sail undertook to see if the AGM could be held in a local yacht club. 13. AGM closure The meeting closed at 18.50 hours.

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The Merchant Navy Association Boat Club Commodore: Clive Edwards, 19 Horsford Street, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 8UH Tel 07785 392892, email clivecgedwards@gmail.com Minutes of Committee Meeting via Zoom 5 th March 2025 In Attendance - Clive Edwards (CE, Chair) Richard Card (RC) Tim Brant (TB) Ian Pearson (IP) David Cornes (DC) David Hearn (DH) Mark Harris (MH) 1. Apologies: Chris Woods (CW) 2. Minutes of committee meetings in January and February – approved and signed 3. Bank Account and Treasurers Report CE thanked IP for setting up what already seems to be a very good and very helpful community bank account. IP reported that we now have a total of £394.67 in the account. NB Noted that we are still awaiting a cheque for £50.00 compensation from Lloyds Bank – CE to chase up receipt of this. Agreed that IP, TB and DC to produce a budget for consideration at our next (or subsequent) meeting to be agreed at the AGM in June. 4. Membership: IP and DC reported that to date we have 20 paid up members with a number of subs still in the pipeline. The MNA are continuing to refer potential new members to DC and if indeed they do join DC is sending them a welcome letter. CE to thank MNA membership sec Roy Glencross for supporting us be referring potential new members to us 5.Membership Subscriptions CE has circulated all those members who have an email address with a letter providing our bank account details and seeking their subscriptions be paid by 31 st March via BACS. So far about 24 have responded, with a couple saying they wouldn’t rejoin as they no longer have access to a boat and CE agreed to follow up all those who have still to respond positively with a reminder, a list of benefits of belonging to the Club pointing out that boat ownership is NOT a membership requirement! TB will circulate a letter to all those members without email addresses as soon as possible and this letter too will include a list of benefits to members irrespective of whether or not they have a boat! 5 AGM 2025 Agreed Venue (HMS Wellington) and Date (Wednesday 18 th June The Wellington Trust are offering access to the ship any time between 10.00 – 16.00 hours to provide ample time for members to make a tour of the ship, enjoy a buffet lunch if they want with the cost of the lunch being no more than £20.00. It was agreed that we would charge members £25.00 per head if they require lunch (to include £5.00 in the form of a donation to the Wellington Trust) We would charge £10.00 including a donation to the Wellington Trust for those just wanting a tour of the ship without food whilst attendance at the AGM itself would of course be free of any charge 6.Insurance Noted that Public Liability & Professional Indemnity Insurance now in effect. CE has paid first months two premium personally by direct debit which now we have a bank account will need to be re-established. 7. Website & Shop: Website again up-dated by DH including prices and payment arrangements as provided and up-dated by MH. Agreed to ask DH to include reference to the RYA[s “Joining Point” on the website which might over time generate some income to the Club DH is currently developing a database of maritime historic attractions which could subsequently involve members providing their own personal “reviews” in respect to any that they care to visit – DH to continue development for future discussion/consideration 8 Affiliations & Operational Partnerships - It was agreed that these should all be reviewed and rationalised as regards promoting these on our website and/or headed paper (CE/DH/RC) 9. RYA Affiliation and Regionalisation - Following attendance by CE and MH at an RYA East Region workshop last January we have established a useful and positive working relationship with both the regional chair and the RYA regional officer Robbie Bell. 10. Future Events Several suggestions were floated as regards future events including a trip on the SS Shieldhall, a visit to the Medway Queen at Chatham and a visit to Greenwich. These will be discussed at a future meeting 11.AOB. It was agreed that we should look at producing an MNA Boat Club Handbook on the lines of the one published by the Weymouth & Portland Cruising Assn,including pen-portraits of the Clubs officers, reports of Club events, and a plethora of maritime information likely to be of use or interest to members. It was agreed that we would ask Chris Woods (CW) if he would be willing to head up this project in the role of managing editor. The initial stage would involve the development of an on-line (perhaps Flip-Book format) version to be followed as soon as funds allow by a printed version 12. Next Committee Meeting Agreed via Zoom Monday 7 th April 10.30 hours NB The Zoom Meeting ID for ALL our c’tee meetings is 862 906 1846 Passcode MNABC

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