Mid Antrim Centre Meeting - 13/04/19

[willie reynolds]

Mid Antrim Centre NIPA –

I had a phone call from Alan Darragh with the shock news that George McDowell had resigned from all his positions including Centre Manager at Cullybackey and that a meeting of all clubs that use the local centre would need to be called to sort out the arrangements for 2019.

He indicated that the Cullybackey HPS Clubrooms would be available to be used as in the past, he would sort out race crates needed for each event and he also stated no member of Cullybackey was interested in running the centre.

I said I would pass this on and that probably the best date for a meeting would be the same night as the arranged AGM for Mid Antrim Combine, the Centre Meeting would start earlier.

The meeting was held in the Ballymena & District HPS Clubrooms on Wednesday 13th March at 7.30pm. Those attending included W Gilbert (Randalstown), T Young and C Moore (Ahoghill), W McFetridge and J Steele (Rasharkin), K Kernohan (Harryville), M Graham and J Harris (Ballymena), R Service, W Reynolds and there was an apology from A Darragh.

All clubs had been informed of the meeting and same had been published in the local press, BHW and RP. Clubs absent were Cullybackey, Broughshane and Kells. It was proposed we replace George McDowell with Jackie Steele who had been involved previously but Keith Kernohan stated he would prefer the place for George to be left vacant in the meantime and that he himself would stand down in place of Jackie Steele. The decision of the meeting was we let things stand as they are at present.

On the venue for Marking Centre there was a long discussion on where it should be, who would be involved and if it could not be resolved locally the alternative was to use other Marking Centres already in operation. It was thought we best sort out something ourselves. Various clubs were looked at including Cullybackey, the way forward from general discussions was Ahoghill who had all necessary facilities and equipment to host same. The Chairman Tom Young and Secretary Chris Moore agreed to take details back to a club meeting.

In an effort to share out the workload with both members and clubs a sort of management team was put forward to include Jackie Steele as Centre Manager, James Harris to deal with entries and provide the same service as when assisting George, W Reynolds for general admin, K Kernohan Committee Sect B and Tom Young at Ahoghill.

It was thought marking at Ahoghill, and the admin and entries at Ballymena & Dist.
When decision was made by Ahoghill, if in favour, the management team would meet and sort out the arrangements for the races. A letter was to be sent to George McDowell to thank him for his dedicated work locally over several years, especially in the post of Centre Manager.
Following the meeting at Ahoghill I got the following reply and this was circulated to all interested parties and clubs.

Dear Secretary,
Ahoghill members were called to a meeting of the club on tuesday the 19th of march at 8pm to discuss and decide on the Ahoghill clubrooms becoming the new centre hosts, following the request of the delegates at the recent MAC meeting. This was not a straight forward decision and after a lengthy chat about the pros and cons a vote was taken and i am happy to report that the vote went in favour of Ahoghill becoming the new centre for the local area subject to the following.

The venue will be used for a one year trail basis to make sure it is viable for us as a small club to run
The rule be enforced that two members from each club sending through Ahoghill centre must stay to help with the work
That we are only hosting the venue and not running the centre, running the centre being in the control of J Steele, J Harris, W Reynolds, K Kernohan respectively.

Keys to the Venue will be held by Ahoghill members only, but access will be made available to the centre officials as they deem necessary
A fee of £10 per club once per year and a fee of £1 per member plus 15p per bird be charged for each race and funds made payable to Ahoghill Flying Club
Ahoghills printers, leads, base units will be made available to the centre manager but remain the property of Ahoghill club rooms.
Centre manager to stipulate his expenses for traveling with documents to Dromore after each race.

The most recent update is that Keith Kernohan has indicated he does not wish to be included in the management team but will help out as often as possible.