(Our Branch AGM is Thursday April 6^th  2017,   7.30pm)

The year has gone quickly; it must be because I enjoy working for our Branch. This year the branch has stayed steady at 200 members, in other words we have gained as many members over the year as we lost at renewal time. Members drop out for many reasons including death, too old to ride or they find motorbikes are not their thing. For some with mortgages the extra household cost is a strain and some with children find the family takes up all their time. To make up for those members we lose we need to recruit as many new members as possible, don’t ever be too shy to hand out our branch business card which is available from the Quartermaster and free.
 
The change to the Pupuke Golf Club for our monthly meetings has proved a popular move and we regularly get 80-100 members & partners along, I hope the decision to have a split starting time summer & winter will encourage people to keep coming along in the adverse winter weather. (The May Club-night will revert back to a 7.00pm start.)

Your 2016 committee didn’t change much, and we have to thank Lora Nankivell (Secretary), Joy Zaloum (Treasurer), Andy Kelly, John Johnston, Rini van Driel, Dave McAnulty and Barry Holland for their work on your behalf over the year. Unfortunately Vaughan Nankivell (Branch Vice President) got very sick and was unable to come to many club nights or meetings but he still did a great job organising the Ronald McDonald Fundraising Ride with help from Les Duffield. As Vaughan’s health got worse Lora had to give up her Secretarial work to look after him and we were lucky to have Niki Morrison & Tracy Unstead who stood in as required.

Dave McAnulty, John Johnstone and Rini van Driel are standing down this year and I appreciate and thank them for the work they have done since our branch was formed in 2014. It was hard to get a full Runs Committee with members away overseas and others injured but we still managed to get in a large number of rides and some weekends away.
Thanks to Niki Morrison (Runs Coordinator) and her Runs Committee members Barry Holland, John Heebink, David McAnulty, Les Duffield, Mike Orr, Paul Morrison, Peter Zaloum & Peter Hyde. Thanks also to anyone else who was brave enough to put their hand up and take a ride. Thanks to Niki & Paul for our Omapere & Opononi Weekends away, I would like to see more members come along to these weekends even if they came in their car as it’s a great way to get to know your fellow members.

A special thanks to those members who aren’t on the committee but pitched in to help make our branch the success it is, Craig McEwan who took over the newsletter and keeps us informed, John Heebink for the Face book Page later taken over by Peter Unstead who also took over the running of our web page when Vaughan got too sick, Peter Webb who served us extremely well as Sheriff and Dale Painter as Quartermaster. Dianne Webb does a great job selling Club Night Raffle tickets which boosts our branch funds.

Every-one who has volunteered has contributed to making our branch a success, without your help we would just be a group of people with no direction or goals.
Our Mid Month Dinner night at the Africa Bar is still popular with between 30 & 40 members & partners coming, this night is a good way for new members to meet some of the older members in a smaller group, it is very relaxed and not so daunting for them.

Functions
            The Poker Run was a very enjoyable event, again John Heebink planned an interesting route and finishing at the Africa Bar meant everyone could relax at the end, Joy Zaloum was pleased to collect 1^st prize and the trophy. The BBQ at the Africa Bar was a success with a few visitors from the Auckland Branch and the Xmas Breakup Party at the North Shore Squash Club was enjoyed by 80+ people.

Sponsors
            Our branch is lucky to be supported by The Cycle Spot Group, Spectrum Hyosung & Kawasaki, ProRider and Techmoto, without their input we would not be as healthy as the Treasurers Report will show.

The only way we can keep our sponsors is to give them 1^st choice when you want to change your bike or buy motorcycle gear, however, remember they can’t always give you the deal you would like and they have to make a profit to stay in business so don’t abuse them when things don’t go your way. Make sure you visit our sponsors and let them know you are a North Harbour Branch member.
 
Ronald McDonald House Charity Ride
            Our “Ronnie Run” was not the success it was last year but we still gave RMcDH a reasonable donation. As I said earlier Vaughan became very sick but along with Lora did all he could to make it work, in the latter stages Les Duffield stepped into the breach to help out.

It was great to see Vaughan lead the ride in his car and be part of the prize-giving. As we all know Vaughan passed away in January, from now on in memory of Vaughan the Ronnie Run will be called “Vaughan’s Ronald McDonald Charity Ride.

There seems to be a charity/fund raising ride nearly every couple of weeks for one thing or another and I think riders are getting sick of them, it was disappointing that not all our branch members turned up to support our RMcDH Ride.
 
            When our branch was formed in 2014 some people from other branches reckoned we would fall over within a couple of years, sorry folks the North Harbour Branch is here to stay and we are getting stronger every year, we have some fresh faces coming forward on the committee for 2017/18 and it looks like another great year for our members.

            Last but not least I must say thank you to Dale my lovely wife, without her support it would be extremely hard to do my job as Branch President.           

Wayne Painter #1756NZ L/M
Branch President, North Harbour Branch