Windmill Angling Club – June 19th 2023

Meeting Minutes

Location: Hunters Pool

Introduction
After a very fruitful couple of hours of hard work by the attending members, creating the new pegs (please see the images above) on the small pool and tidying some of the lane, Andy Southern and Mark Bowden thanked them and started the meeting around the picnic bench. Please note: the pegs are not finished and aren’t yet to our normal standard, we just wanted to start the process and lay the groundwork, allowing anyone, who wants to, to fish the small pool. 

Apologies for Absence
The apologies for absence were received from Stu Drabble, Pete Boyce, Nick Hunt, Mike Hayes, Brian Smith, Gillian Beard, Chris Plant, Pete Pantiledes, Adam Sebes, Paul Davies, Nick Metcalfe, Kieron Murphy and Bob Hallworth.

Minutes of the last meeting (January 2023)
The abridged minutes of the last meeting (not including the AGM) were read out, specifically, the Aerator presentation and how well that was received and we had won and spent the grant on the small pool. There was again a thank you to Raymond Wills for donating the money to pay for stocking the Carp. There were no matters were arising from these minutes.

Secretary’s Report
The Secretary was absent due to being on holiday. Andy raised the issue of the Environment Agency and the possibility of having Hunters Pool netted so we can measure the levels of different species of fish, aiding us in our decisions in what to stock in future years. Mark commented that he would be wary of this as the damage it could cause to the Lillies and stress to the fish may well outlay its benefit.

Treasurer’s Report
The current Financial status of the club is £880.95 (as of 9am 19/6/23) in the bank with approximately £200 to be spent further on the Aerator. Apart from various small expenses for general maintenance he didn’t envisage any major spend to come out of the bank account unless we have an emergency, so the financial status of the club, at this moment is very healthy.

Match Secretary’s Report
Stu was absent due to a previous commitment, so Andy read on his behalf that all matches are subject to prevailing weather conditions and will be decided nearer the time of each match. There are now 2 places left for the Windmill Angling Club Cup match on the 2nd July. 

Working Party Officer’s Report

Due to ill health, Bob could not attend the meeting, but had stressed earlier in the day how pleased he was with the appearance of Hunters Pool and thanks all the members who had put hours-and-hours of work into making it the oasis that it currently is. He had asked Andy to mention the Adhoc Working Parties we’re having over the next few weeks: a) to finish construction of the internal workings of the Aerator power & control unit. b) to install and deploy the Aerator at Hunters Pool and to c) split the plants such as the Lillies whilst the water is still low and replant them wherever they are needed including the small pool.

Bob also mentioned that we are still having the working party in October.

A.O.B.

Andy read out the waiting list of people that want to join Hunters. It was discussed and agreed that the membership level as set out at the AGM is regarded as the right balance for the time being and we should only allow new members in who have either been on the waiting list for some time and have responded positively to questions about commitment to the club or are associates of current members. All this is subject to spaces being available.

It was suggested that we poll the membership and see if there’s any interest in a BBQ at Hunters Pool – possibly after the July 2nd match. Wives & partners are invited as well as members. We’d have to organise and work out a charge  for the drink/food and cost up a “per head” charge, but it could be a very enjoyable bit of “team building”  as well as the wider families seeing what Hunters is all about.

Craig mentioned the possibility of having a Lifebelt, First Aid Kit and Fish Care Kit stationed on the North Bank as well as on the shed, the logic being that, should there be an incident at that side of the pool, they are simply too far away to be of practical use. All agreed and Andy said, as soon as he had Committee approval for such a spend, he would purchase the items ASAP. UPDATE: The Committee approved the spend 20/6/23 and the items have now been purchased.

Andy further said that he would like to build 2 or more new Line Bins. This was agreed by all concerned and the Committee the next day, so he will facilitate as the earliest possible time.

Meeting Closed 20:15