CHAIRMAN’S REPORT//

By Esther Smith

Just a brief wrap-up of the June events as my report for the 2022/23 year is also included in this MAG.

I certainly don’t want to go on about the weather, but it has had a huge effect on our ability to run planned events which is disappointing for everyone and particularly frustrating for the organisers. However as I am sitting writing this, I am looking out on a lovely sunny day and long may it continue.

Winter Deco- We have space at events ie the Saturday Night Catered Dinner with Entertainment and the Sunday morning tea, after which we will be visiting two collections of vehicles and memorabilia, the branch have never visited either venue before.

Refer to the Ad elsewhere in the MAG on how to purchase tickets for these events.

Vero Rally 2026-Hawke’s Bay Branch bid to host this event. The national selection panel where in HB for two days in mid June to meet with the Vero Committee along with representatives from CHB branch and thank goodness the sun shone. My thoughts are the visit went well. We showed them the proposed venue which is the Pettigrew Green

Arena, discussed timing, and presented information on accommodation options, proposed rally routes and generally a concept of how we would host the event. On the second day we met with representatives from the Napier and Hastings Councils as their support is crucial to running an event of this scale. The Committee received thanks from our National VCC President Diane Quarrie for the professionalism of our presentations, we will be informed in late July which branch is the successful bidder so fingers crossed it would be amazing for the branch to host such an event .

AGM- Thanks to all those members who attended this event it was a really good show of support, and having the aforementioned selection panel present added to the drama of the evening. A notice of motion to increase the branch levy component of the VCC membership from $40 to $50 was passed, this will appear as part of your next VCC annual subscription invoice.

A vital part of the AGM is electing the new Committee, we welcome Craig Manning and Larry Morgan on to the committee but have yet to appoint a new Club Captain.

I look forward to catching up with you all at our various upcoming events.