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The Rough-Stuff Fellowship Limited, Annual Report, 2001

 

Review of the Year This is the first annual report of The Rough-Stuff Fellowship Limited, a company limited by guarantee. The company took over assets of The Rough-Stuff Fellowship, an unincorporated association, on 1 January 2001. Members of former association were asked to sign a form of guarantee to become  members of the new coimpany.

For the off-road cyclist, the dominant feature of 2001 was the out break of Foot and Mouth Disease. This closed most tracks for much of the year, especially in core areas such as Yorkshire Dales and the Lakes District. Despite the off-road ban at our Easter Meet and General Meeting at Penrith, we had about 85 members and friends at the Sunday dinner. We should remember that what was an inconvenience for us was an disaster for many in the rural community.

Area group activities suffered. Many events saw reduced attendance. Some charismatic group leaders have retired. It may take time for area group to recover.

Membership The Fellowship had 747 members on its roll at the end of 2001, a reduction of 20 over the year. This represents a considerable slowing in membership loss in comparison to recent years.

The Rough-Stuff Journal Major changes were made to the Rough-Stuff  Journal. Linda Bussey organised the production of  a sample new journal design for the March 2001 journal design for March 2001 journal, under John Matthews’ editorship. The graphics content and print quality were increased , and the range of material was broadened . Richard Harris was elected Editor at the AGM with a mandate to continue production in this format. A presentation was made to John Matthews in recognition of his valued work over the years.

The new Editor stated , prior to his election, an intention to produce the journal quarterly, but with more pages per issue. The Directors reluctantly recorded a decision to that effect. With the changeover, five journals were published during 2001. Feedback to the Editor is on balance in favour of the thicker and  more colourful journal. The Editor believes that this standard could not currently be maintained with more frequent publication. For the Editor, the main factor is the quantity of publishable material received. The Treasurer would refer to issues of cost and income.

Some officials and members expressed their concern over the reduction in journal frequency of contact is crucial. The separation between editing and layout means that the journal lead-time has increased. Also the membership renewal cycle has been complicated.

ww.rsf.org.uk John Whittaker reduced the cost of our web-site and kept it updated. John Brewer has now taken over and given the site a new look and renewal vitality. Latest runs lists are available, the on-line route archive is increasing, and members are encouraged to put ads, requests and stories on the notice board. Visitors will find a regularly updated sample from the current journal.

Marketing The main plank of  the Committee’s efforts to stem, and hopefully reverse, the decline in membership is the improved journal. The renewed web-site is also important, as most new members now come through the web-site.

2001 has not been an easy year to attempt to market a British off-road cycling club. In  the context, the slowing of membership loss must be seem as some kind of success,  and  maybe 2002 will prove kinder. There remains concern at the small number  of new members attending  club events and taking an active role in the Fellowship.

Finance A loss of some £2,100 has been recorded, About £1,000 of this arises from the fifth journal in the year, which is not a recurring cost  at the present quarterly pattern . About £300 represents transitional costs  to the new  journal format. The underlying loss is nearer £800.

At the AGM, the Treasurer said that a marked increased in subscriptions would be needed to avoid a recurrent loss. However some argued that a large increase would deter membership recovery. Members voted for a modest increase. Invested income fell as interest rates reduced , but new membership has increased and  donations  are more generous than expected.

The late Alan Pocklington managed the journal adverting  income effectively. Heather Evans and John Matthews continued sterling work collecting membership income.

 

Signed: Norman R Hodgton, Simon C. Preston, Ivan Viehoff (Directors)