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Front Page
Editors Ramblings
Focus On
The Stages of a Bill
Behind the Lines
Foreword
Intelligent Speed Adaption
Theft Survey 2003
Motorcycle Safety Questionnaire
Young Pillions
Searching for Parking Bays in London
Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval Delayed
Research on A-Pillars
Hard Shoulders
Rural Speed Issues
Mode Hierarchy Powered Two Wheelers
Affiliated Clubs
Introduction from New National Officer
Websites of the Month
Useful Links
Stolen Bike
MAG Events
Previous Issues
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JAN HURLEY
NATIONAL CLUB LIAISON OFFICER
PO BOX 750
RUGBY
CV21 3ZR
Tel: 0870 774 3540
E-mail: clubs-officer@mag-uk.org
Dear MAG Affiliate Members, past and present.
It seems like a lifetime ago now that in late
March I asked if Debbie Jones needed some help with her job as National Clubs Liaison Officer. I knew she was having problems keeping on top of things, over the past 3 years or so, hence my now sending
this to both current and lapsed clubs since 2000. If you are a new club, welcome aboard. I hope, as I lay out my plans here, you will all feel, as I do, full of confidence for the future of MAG, and the
two way work done between MAG, and you, our Affiliates. I knew there was a need to do something, as I felt that our Affiliate Members, were not being given the service that I believed you should all
expect to receive from MAG. It turned out that Debbie was glad of my offer, and she nominated me to take over the post from her. Debbie has done some sterling work with the Clubs in the past, and
sometimes you can give so much of yourself to a job that you just lose touch and enthusiasm. This is obviously the time to get out, and have a change in direction. All this was too close to the AGM, for
my manifesto to be printed in Streetbiker, and as a result, many of you will probably still be unaware of my having been voted in as your new National Clubs Liaison Officer, or indeed even seen my
manifesto.
For those of you that did not make it to the AGM, you will soon find out that we have an almost new set of officers. Having stepped into the breach last year, Aine Gale was elected as
your new and firm but charismatic, Chairperson. Liz Needham’s appointment last year as National Network Communications Officer was also cemented. Myself, of course, and Ian Moore was co-opted
in by the NC as vice-chair, (only Julie Stevenson remaining as National Finance Officer, from previous years. Bless her for giving us continuity). This, along with a lot of new Regional Reps, and some
changes on the Board, makes the year ahead of us look very exciting, full of new blood, and fresh ideas. So I hope you will all take an active part in the more promising future of MAG UK. One where
fighting for your rights comes top of the list of priorities, where we are united behind one cause, yet retain our individual opinions in healthy and progressive debate. And hey, we’ll have some
fun at the many MAG fundraising events along the way.
It has only been 7 weeks since the AGM, and in that time I have been canvassing ideas, queries and plans from your Regional Reps, along with
other MAG Officers, and the members of the Board. As I stated in my manifesto, I do have experience of clubs and bring along many ideas of my own, some of which I have already begun to implement.
First of all I looked at the MAGMAX package, and could see that will need a lot of updating. I am working on that at the moment. It did not answer many of my own questions, so I guess you may have some
similar unanswered ones. I set to task bothering Head Office. So far I have ascertained that the Affiliation dates had been changed twice in recent years, once to bring all Clubs Affiliation due at the
same time of year. Then they had to change once more to run from 1st May to 30th April. This, I have been told, had caused a lot of you some problems, and you just left it. However, I found that this was
due to the changes by the company that covers the Public Liability Insurance, (which looks like MAG could have the only cover of the kind we offer you for your events, in the future. I will keep you
informed on this one) So, apologies to those of you who feel it has been a bit of a muddle, it was all done with your needs in mind, and all should run smoothly from now on.
I was unsure of the
fees and incentives, for clubs signing up members as full members. There is a discount for any Affiliate, who wishes to upgrade to a Full Membership, they pay £18 instead of the full £20. However, there
is a much better offer on the table. If you as a Club sign up a member to Full Membership of £20 or £30 for joint membership, on a Standing Order Mandate, then we will give your Club £5, on receipt of
the Standing Order Mandate. This could be a valuable source of income for Clubs, and especially Associations that run by raising funds for charity. How many of your members have become full members
of MAG, without you taking advantage of this offer? Forms for this are available from myself or head office.
I have studied the information held on our Clubs database, and am forwarding contact
details of Clubs to the Rep, whose region in which they are based. Many Reps have not had your details updated for a long time. In many regions, you have an elected Club Liaison Officer, who will also be
given your details. I will be encouraging Reps to make contact themselves, with Clubs in their region, and as stated, I will deal with many National Clubs myself. So, if you have not heard from someone
in your region for a while, please let me know. We are all volunteers, and on occasion it may not be possible for your Rep to cover your event or meeting. Every effort will be made for your liaising
needs to be met by myself in this instance. Communication, therefore, is paramount between us all for this to work. If you have any changes in the contact details for your club, please inform us
immediately, so our records can be kept up to date, and you do not miss out on any issues, or deals, which are constantly being worked on, in the fast and ever changing world that is YOUR MOTORCYCLE
ACTION GROUP.
Staying with contact, I have arranged for Head Office to inform me of your new or renewed Affiliation within 2 weeks, so keeping in touch will become faster. There are a few Clubs
who have 2 people named at the same address, it would be more efficient if you could find another person in your club, willing to be a 2nd contact, and forward these new details to me. This not only
avoids 2 letters, Streetbikers etc coming to one place (unless of course you want it like that), it also means we do not lose contact with your Club should you move or for any other reason are not able
to keep your Club informed of things. As you may know only one of your contacts gets a copy of Network, the publication that goes to only Reps and Affiliates. This gives you an insight into NC meetings,
and general behind the scenes look at MAG’s running, along with many specialist editorials. You are most welcome to contribute to this publication, as of course you are with Streetbiker. I plan in
the future, to look at having a regular Clubs feature in both of these publications, maybe with a list of your meeting and event details. If you wish to be included, let me know the details. Also, any of
you who have a Club Publication, please could you request your committee that I am put on your circulation list. If they are agreeable, it is another way of me keeping up with your club, and its
progress, and of me putting people in touch with you, as I often get asked of the whereabouts of clubs in a region, especially if someone is new to an area.
Trevor Baird, your Director of Public
Affairs, got in touch with me with regard to a Club that felt it had not been given sufficient information regarding the SVA consultation. This sent them thinking how many clubs miss out on picking up
information about consultations. There are many such documents that come out from time to time, and your input is very much needed. So, as is becoming the norm with our new, more team work efforts within
MAG, Trevor has offered to operate a database, sending out emails on consultations from the office, and co-ordinate the feedback. What do you have to do to be part of this new benefit? Let us know if you
would prefer us to use the person named on our database, who receives Network on your behalf, or a “technical” representative in your club, on-line, to be included.
Get back to me or
Trevor Baird on this one. The main benefits of this one are, Clubs will get the information first hand, and become part of the consultation process through MAG, or individual Clubs can reply to
consultations, giving the added benefit of the wealth of experience out there amongst you.
I attended my first National Club AGM within 2 weeks of taking the post. This proved beneficial to both
parties, as I hope will be the case with others I attend. These give your members a chance to speak directly to us, in a way that they may not have a chance to in any other situation. All I ask is for
you to give me a little notice if you wish me to attend. I will come along just around time for ‘any other business’, so as not to encroach on your private club business.
I have also
been to my first National Rally of an Affiliated Association. Again, this gives your members, and indeed many others, a chance to discuss things in a more social atmosphere. Many a good idea was born
from an impromptu, round the table chat in a bar or marquee, or indeed I can put actual facts to issues dominating the rumour rounds, as I found myself doing at this event. MAG endeavours to have a stall
at most events, and these are a good point of information. Not being tied to the stall gives me the chance to meet and speak with many more people. If you would like your Regional Rep to come along with
or without a stall to your event, get in touch with them. Again, let me know if problems arise.
As I mentioned in my manifesto, running events, and marshalling has been a big part of my biking
lifetime. I plan to build a database of services for all events, from bands to marquees etc. So if you have contacts for any events services that you wish to be included, send me details, demo tapes etc.
When this is up and running you will be able to contact me, if you are in need of any service for your event. Marshals also are a valuable voluntary service, and any Clubs that are happy to offer help at
events, please let me know. There is no need for you to be experienced, there are always things that need doing, and the more people helping out, the smoother an event will run. I will be doing an
article on marshalling for publishing in a future Streetbiker and Network.
In as much as I am out and about, gathering input from you. I, represent you at National level, which takes the form of
constant email, telephone and letter contact with other Officers, and all Regional Reps, on the issues that arise between meetings. I will always represent you Clubs to the best of my ability, will put
forward your concerns, or ideas, and make sure, along with the rest of the National Committee, that our Constitution is upheld at all times, as this is the document, voted on by you the members, to abide
by. I also attend bi-monthly National Committee Meetings, held in Rugby on the 2nd Saturday of every other month. I will be attending the next one on 15th June 2003. In this way, the circle of liaising
is complete, and with a two way effort, we can take MAG forward at club level like never before.
I hope this goes some way to answering some of your questions, and gives you an idea of the way I
would like to proceed with my year in Office. It may all take a little time to pull it all together, and will evolve as we go along. At the end of the day, it is our freedom to choose the way we enjoy
our chosen mode of transport that we must fight to protect. Together we stand. Please consider re-affiliating if you have been away from us for a little while. Meanwhile, if you have any other queries,
or ideas, or indeed criticisms and other reasons for not re-affiliating, please write to me at the address at the top of this letter, or email me.
I would like to thank you all for your support.
Let’s make this the best year for MAG clubs ever.
Ride free and safe
Jan (Gremlin) Hurley
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