News from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire I hope everyone is out and about enjoying the good summer weather as it has been unusually clement for either towing path or boating ventures recently. So it seems a long time to take my mind back to recall our AGM last February. The review of the previous year highlighted our fund raising activities, attendances at events and canal clean-ups. It was also good to report that last year the Branch donated £1000 to local waterways causes. £500 went to the Canalside Heritage Centre at Beeston on the Nottingham Canal to enable them to start engineering plans for a mooring in the adjoining derelict old river lock – which should increase visitor numbers and help sustain their long term income. £500 was also donated to the Erewash Canal Preservation and Development Association to help them purchase Sandiacre Lock Cottage and then install new toilet facilities - helping to secure the future of this historic cottage for generations to come. At the AGM we were also joined by Region Chairman, David Pullen, who gave an interesting report on IWA’s new marketing vision and objectives for the short and long term. Not as dry a subject as it might sound, as the background and reason for the new
logo and how well it had all been thought through became abundantly clear. Perhaps a key piece of information for the Branch came towards the end of proceedings, when committee retirees were mentioned. For the last few years the Branch has been managed by three stalwart committee members and two additional “behind the scenes” volunteers fulfilling important roles but sending in reports rather than attending meetings. Of the three stalwarts, one is moving out of the area so will not be able to continue and the other two, after 18 and 20 years in post, for family and personal reasons announced they would continue for twelve months but would then stand down from committee at the following AGM in February 2019. It was therefore clear to the audience that prior to the next AGM a new committee needed to be recruited otherwise the branch would close. So your scribe is making a plea to you, dear reader, if you have any spark of interest, however small or large, in keeping the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Branch afloat please contact me. Note you will not be thrown in at the deep end as Treasurer. Brian White and I will be in post until next February and will still be
Aegre 151 - July 2018 Page 19
