Thanks for all of you who attended the AGM at Salcombe on Monday eve at 6.30pm. Special thanks to Dan Alsop who rushed his tea and bought me a drink!

MROA rules require a quorum of 25 (allowing us to start the agenda) and a voting number of 40 full members to change things.

The AGM was predicted to be non controversial and last a short time.  We obtained a quorum at about 6.40 pm and reached the straightforward rule changes at about 7.10 but sadly without the necessary 40 voters.  Despite valiant efforts to press gang any passing Merliner we failed to reach the number. Given the significant number of Merlins at Salcombe this is clearly disappointing.  We have therefore voted to ajourn the AGM until a time to be specified at the Nationals when we hope to be able to pass through these largely administrative rule changes.    

Apologies to those who will not have the practical opportunity to attend the reconvened AGM.

Thank you
Steve Watson

Maybe Mags could arrange a virtual AGM the MR Class has always been at the forfront of innovation.

Could we do proxy voting for something like this?

For goodness sake, you have a hundred MROA members chained to within 1 mile of your AGM and you can't get them to the meeting! Sack the organiser, if your class is as enthusiastic as it appears.

i seem to remember the whole point of holding the agm during salcombe week was for the 'captive' audience...........maybe reconvene before the pubs open?

Is it that people stayed away so that these changes do not take place but did not want to be there and be seen to oppose them?

what was being voted on that would keep people away?

As I suggested above an electronic "Athens" (Where everybody in the City state had a vote, it only failed when Athens got too big and there was no technology.) may be the answer not only to the Merlins but other classes and organisations, that have the same problem, a recent European Regatta got only 10 people out of 150 boats attending, it's the same in politics too. 
Remember Merlin Sailors you'll get the class you deserve.
The volunteer "servants" of the class will only carry on giving you the wonderful infrastructure they do if they feel they are at least recognised, perhaps appreciation is too much!
Maybe Salcombe could shut the pubs for an evening? 
Silly me of course not. 
Free beer at the AGM?

The notification of the AGM is an elaborate process and gives plenty of time to plan.  The idea of the AGM is have a wider group of attendeees than those observed at the Nationals.  The potential attendees are adults not cattle and should not need herding.  It would  a further burden on the class administrators and the suggestion of sacking the organisors is an affront bto their generousity.

The AGM was scheduled at the earliest time practical, competitors were still racing at about 5.30.  However, the 'captive' nature of Salcombe is not complete as half the fleet are possibly away on the 'holiday' section of the day.

Regarding proxy voting, this is an interesting possibility.  However, it has not been without problems in the professional political arena. It also mitigates against discussion, especially with those who are not internet pro-active which includes several top racers.

let the input continue.

how about postal voting rather than proxy voting?

The point of an agm is to provide informed debate and discussion, as well as voting on specific issues (and committee representation of course) this requires a degree of interaction which can only occur in a face to face situation. Remote ballots are fine for elections but not for deciding issues. Salcombe should provide plenty of potential attendees - I'm sure they could mostly turn up if they wanted to, even if they were just on 'hols', but what about the rest who didn't get a place for salcombe or wouldn't normally go anyway?
We seem to have great representation on the committee - thanks to you all for that, but poor support from many of those at the heart of the class - i.e sailing at salcombe! I would have gone if nearer - a bit of a trek from kent with work next day. Maybe I'll have to apply for salcombe next year in order to get an opportunity to vote (let alone sail!)

or make agm attendance a condition of entry, dock points for a DNC - that should sharpen a few pencils for the diary!

As one who doesn't do Salcombe or the Nationals I'd also like chance to attend the AGM. Why not hold it at a weekend event with a central or accessible venue - the inland champs at QM would be a suitable option for example. Lots of local Thames Merlins could come just for the AGM even.

I'm not at all sure lots of Thames merlin sailors would come.  If people who are staying within easy walking distance of Cliff House in Salcombe cannot be bothered to turn up I can't see why we should expect people to take time out to drive to the AGM.  Having another go at the Nat's is a reasonable next try, possibly leaving the Inlands as the backstop.  We do after all have this forum for people to express their views, it is possible to talk to other folk you know are going to have your views represented even if this is not proxy voting.  I'm sorry this has happened.  We should be supporting our class and committee better.  I will attend the meeting at the Nat's.

Andrew 3511

Of course you could always include in the Agenda something controversial eg increase the hull weight by 50kg / reduce hull weight by 50kg / lengthen mast by 1 metre etc etc. This will smoke out the members - the downside is that there will be loads of discussion before it is voted out - which of cours impinges on Salcombe drinking time!!

Controversial items will indeed draw the crowds! But I think an unnecessary tactic in what should be a straightforward checking exercise on the committee.  Will Rainey demonstrated this requirement admirably and I am pleased he raised the questions. 

But how about a proposal to reduce the voting level to 2% of the membership?  Then we could easily see the 74kg smooth skinned Merlin with all carbon hull, asymetric 20m2 spinny and twin trapeze.

We do need to have checks and balances.  It is the body of the membership's responsibility to do this.

For future years how about signing on / registration straight after the AGM on Saturday night?

I'd think most people would try to get there as early in the day as possible so you could potentially start proceedings at 5:00ish maybe?

QM Central! Central to the south, Midlands is more central. Weigh up the number of MROA members plot them on the map and then decide where the central location is. There are quite a few in the North and Scotland to consider.

Chairs, a smooth skinned assymetric? I can forsee another class merger. The RS400-Merlin-Rocket or Merlin-Rocket-RS400? Put it to the vote!

I Like Chris's idea.
I am fairly bad at attending AGM's, and in teh 5 years of going to Salcombe, I only actually made one! But each time I missed it (often wondering up to teh club as everyone comes out) I felt guilty but it was either because I was on a morning flight so doing Holiday things in the p.m. or just got of the water, sorted out showers, something to eat and whoops.

Alternatively, of course, I would welcome the AGM at the Inlands, prove you lot would come by signing up now to the link below, if over twenty boats who are not at Salcombe vote now by signing up to the Inlands, that woudl affirm or not whether taht is a good idea. Link below. 
p.s. Thanks Chris for signing up, that makes two of us, at least that is first and second prizes sorted - maybe!

How about reducing the size of the quorum, or doing away with it entirely. If a few people were seen to be leading the class in the wrong direction by the absentee members there would soon be a rush to the next AGM or a demand for a hasty special GM.

Later thought. Best bet is probably Inlands. Being interested in AGMs but never been to Salcombe, I've signed up for the inlands hoping for a lively AGM as a bonus.