Author: Webmaster

I can’t believe it has come round so quickly, but my third year in the Chair is almost upon us. Traditionally this is a Charity year, therefore it’s time to think about which Charity, or Charities, we will collect for.

I would gladly accept nominations from the members for consideration by the committee. If you would like to nominate a particular charity, please e-mail Janice Price, secretary@secc-online.org.uk, with the name of the charity, and a few words to the effect of why you think our Centre should support them. Please get your nominations to Janice by 31st August 2024.

Many thanks

DAVID

The updated rally supplement is now available as a separate document on the Club app and looks like this:

Members using the app can easily find the supplement, whereas previously it could only be found at the end of the magazine edition. 

Janice Price.

A Couple of updates to inform you of in relation to your Centre:

Last weekend, along with a few other units from South Essex, Marion & I attended the Rally put on by the Anglia Region at Banham. This incorporated a ‘Question Time’ session with representatives from the Caravan & Motorhome Club, being Director General Nick Lomas, Vice Chair Greg Potter and Charles Patrick who is on the clubs Technical committee. I am pleased to be able to report to Centre Members that this was one of the most positive, open and honest, sessions that I have been present at. Nick Lomas explained how the club operates, and that there are several strands which they need to balance, including, Club Sites, the network of Certified Locations, Insurance Services, and representing members with the Manufacturers, and of course Centres & Rallying. He also spoke honestly about the recent Cyber Security Issue. Apparently the intrusion had been from a Russian Organisation, but they had only been able to access some Policy Numbers and Names of people who insure with the club. Whilst this should not have been possible, no other personal details were obtained. The Club took the decision to close the site immediately, and whilst the issue was addressed within five days, they took a further five days to completely scrub the system, and put in extra security. 10 days may seem a long while, however apparently a lot of similar attacks have taken large organisations much longer to resolve.

Spoke about developments at CAMC Club Sites, particularly expansion of Sandringham. Somebody asked about a CAMC site in Essex, Nick Lomas said it is on their radar, but no sites available at present where likely to get planning permission.

The subject of renewing Driving Licenses after 70 years of age was discussed. If you don’t do anything you will lose the automatic right to drive over 3.5 ton (combination of Car & Caravan, or large Motorhome). If approaching this age you should apply, you will need a Doctors letter to say you are fit to drive (cost currently £50 ?). Advise was that you need to do it in plenty of time, by post. Strange in todays world, but if you do it on line you will lose the over 3.5 ton category.

Another interesting aspect was that there were ‘Non-Centre’ members present, who did not seem to appreciate the benefits of joining a Centre, so they were informed and encouraged to join a Centre. Marion & I then went in to promotion mode and spent some time talking to one couple in particular, who live in Essex, so here’s hoping. It goes to show how important it is to ‘spread the word’.

All in All, very worthwhile attending. Whilst I hope this gives you all a flavour and an update, I would encourage anyone to attend future events such as this. It can be informative, and better to get the information first hand.

Six Week Booking. As you will remember the subject of the Six Week Booking date for Weekend Rallies had been raised in the Mainly Marshals forum back in January. Since then Janice has asked for opinions and comments from members. This was discussed at our Committee meeting last night. We need to speak to a few people first, but I will look to update you shortly.

Hope to see you on a rally soon

DAVID

North Essex Centre are running a Holiday Rally to La Rochelle, France from 5-19 July 2025. We have been advised that if any South Essex member is interested in joining this rally they are urged to contact Mike Threadgold, email: michael.threadgold1@gmail.com for further information and booking details, as soon as possible. This rally will be released on general sale via the Alan Rogers website from September 2024 and spaces are likely to disappear quickly.

Many Thanks,

Ian

Rally Prgramme Co-Ordinator

07739 405235

To rally marshals, to try and stop online bookings going into your spam box, all online booking emails will be sent from the email address of bookings@secc-online.org.uk

This email address is a send only and will not be able to receive emails. Please add bookings@secc-online.org.uk to your trusted senders list in your email program so that anything from this email address is not sent to your spam box.

If this throws up any problems, let me know.

Good morning all. I have not given an update for a few weeks, but I am pleased to see things are going well in the Centre. Marion and I hosted Love the Lambeth walk which went very well. I have written an article which Beverley Walker has sent to the CAMC magazine, so hopefully we will get this published in a future edition. The following week was the Barn Dance Hop run by past chairmen’Sue and Paul Maran, assisted by our most recent past Chair Will Thursby and Penny, which by all accounts was another great rally. Then Marion and I attended St David’s day rally run by Aubrey and Linda Thomas, this was very enlightening, entertaining and enjoyable. Steve and Angie Thomas took ralliers for another Walk around the Water this weekend, with hospitalities at the White Horse. I have kept in touch with several members, and attended the funeral of Edna Jewell on Friday. Hopefully Spring is now just around the corner, and we can look forward to getting out onto some rally fields and enjoy the Sun. Our next big event is the Dinner Dance on 13th April, once again being held at the County Hotel in Chelmsford. We have live entertainment from ‘Lovely’, who performed for us and was enjoyed by many at last years Chairman’s rally. The dinner dance is a great event and gives us a chance to dress up and enjoy a more formal evening. You can either come onto the rally, where transport is arranged to and from the venue, or join us at the County Hotel on the Saturday. It would be great to have a few more bookings to see members enjoying yourselves and supporting your Centre. There is a link on the front page of our Web site. Either log on, or give me a call. Remember, as your proud Chairman, I am always here for anybody who wishes to discuss anything. Looking forward to seeing you on a rally soon.
DAVID

We have received notification from FM Tags of their upcoming holiday. The closure dates are as follows:

Friday 26th April until Tuesday 7th May 2024.

If you have rallies around these dates you will need to order plaques sooner than expected. Please allow extra time for deliveries and ordering times may be longer too.

I expect they will be very busy before and after their holiday.

Janice

Good Afternoon all,
As you may be aware, Ian Carter is going to produce the Rally Book for us this year. Can I please ask that all those who have kindly agreed to run Rally events for the Centre next year, ensure that you have sent in your Planning Sheets. If you have not done so can you please send them to the ‘rallysec@secc-online.org.uk’ e.mail address, from where Ian will be able to pick them up.
In addition, should anybody running a big rally wish to publicise it in a grander way, please feel free to design an advert which we will aim to put in the book on a page adjacent to your rally details. We may also be able to use this to promote your rally elsewhere. One of my aims for the coming year is to reach out to a wider audience, to showcase what we do in the Centre, and the fun that we have.
Once again, I would like to thank Ian for offering to look after our 2024 Rally Programme.

It is a pleasure to be able to bring you some positive news. Having assessed the Centre’s funds, and current costs, the committee has come to the decision that at least for the time being, we are able to reduce the Admin cost charged on each rally. As from 1st January 2024 the Admin charge will reduce from £2.50 to £2.00. However, the cost of buying plaques from the suppliers continues to increase, and for several years now the Centre has incurred a loss in respect of plaques, the difference between what we are charged by FM Tags and what we collect in from those who have plaques. We have in the past looked at alternative suppliers and types of plaques, but feedback has suggested that members would like to retain the traditional type and style. As a result it is necessary to increase the charge for a plaque from 85p to £1.20 and this is just to cover the cost being incurred. I personally like to have a plaque at each rally, although I know this view is not shared by all, however I do hope that more people will not dispense with having plaques, as I think it would be a shame for the Centre to loose this tradition. For those taking a plaque, the additional 45p is more than off set by the reduction in admin (just). We did consider leaving things as they were, but in reality this could be perceived that those who do not take a plaque would effectively be subsidizing those who do. I realise that we are only talking about a few pence, here or there, but in the past these type of things have become emotive. I hope this will be taken in a positive manner . . . and those who, to date, have taken a plaque at each rally, will continue to do so.
There you are, at least that was not sad news.
DAVID

As secretary for the South Essex Centre, at the beginning of every month I receive a spreadsheet from the CAMC with a list of members that have not renewed their membership in the previous month. This month I have 51 members whose membership has lapsed. I will now email all members from that list to remind them to re-register with South Essex. Some will, some won’t. I may get 10 from this list that do so. This month alone we may lose 40 South Essex members! This is not a one off either. This happens every month.

Our rally booking slips for 2024 will soon have a section to add your membership end date. Hopefully this will remind members to re-register with us.

Unfortunately this will not help the South Essex members that do not attend rallies at all.

So, if you are a member of this page and you receive the email from me, Please, Please renew your membership with South Essex. Hopefully we can then keep the centre running for another 60 years.

Thank you

Janice