2025 Annual General Meeting Summary Report
On 6th May 2025 the Chairman, Roy Sammons, welcomed everyone to the Annual General Meeting. He began by thanking the brilliant Observer team, and in particular members of the Training Team who had enabled us to establish a fully Qualified team of IMI National Observers within the timeframe set by Head Office, out of the blue, just over two years ago. We began the year with 16 Observers (nine National and seven Local) and closed the year with 15 national Observers.
Turning to test passes, he reported a final total for 2024 of 13 which was a marginal improvement over last year. The good news was that of those 13, five were F1RSTS. In 2023 we had 10 passes which was much lower than the 23 in 2022. That year was up from 10 in 2021, a number which was in itself a significant improvement over the two passes achieved during the Covid year of 2020. For comparison during 2019 we had 27 passes, which was 50 per cent more than 18 in 2018, 35 passes in 2017, then 31 in 2016, 47 in 2015, and 43 in 2014. In 2013 we had 41 passes, 51 in 2012, 38 in 2011, 35 in 2010, 52 in 2009 and 70 in 2008, all short of our best ever year, 2006, when we reached 76 test passes.
Covid had changed the climate for people enrolling on courses – or was it all down to the cost of the Advanced Driver course, which was increased to £204 by IAM RoadSmart on 1st April 2025? Will that further deter people from joining a course to improve their driving? We enrolled just five new Associates in February and four so far on our upcoming May course. Despite the price, there is still no better value for money, but people don’t realise that until they take the course. The reduction in Associates over the years is not unique to the Bolton Group. Nationally the numbers have reduced for cars, with only motorcycle groups ‘holding their own’ though even they no longer have the waiting lists they previously had. So he made no apology for repeating that your Group still needs you to spread the word and encourage recruitment.
Of those who enrolled during the year, almost 40 per cent did not take the course through to Test. Whilst this is very disappointing for us, we hope that the sessions our Observers undertook with Associates were not wasted and improved their driving standards.
At this point he thanked all the volunteers and members, without whom the Group would not exist. From the Committee who give their time unstintingly, attending meetings and planning all our courses and events, to our dedicated Observers who support our courses, training needs and Diploma. The members who attend the Group meetings (though we could always do with a few more regular ones), and those who join together for our Ride and Rambles (would anyone like to organise a couple?), trips and other visits were thanked. There were too many to name individually but whatever you did, your effort was greatly appreciated.
He then talked about the shock of the year, the sudden and unexpected cancellation by Dobbies Sports and Social Club of our room hire after 25 years. Having originally been invited to use their facilities, it appeared that we were no longer welcome, despite the fact that we paid for the full year ‘up front’. Our payment for 2025 was rejected with just one month’s notice given, and only reluctantly extended until the end of February 2025. He believed that they no longer wanted to plan around the bookings we made most Tuesdays, preferring to be able to do what they wanted when they wanted. But change isn’t always bad, often bringing other benefits (like the new venue being closer to where he lived!), and now we had a much warmer room and at a venue which appreciated us. We were pleased to be at Lostock Parish Centre.
Last year a Bolton News reporter enrolled on a course at our expense, with an agreement that we would receive newspaper articles covering his course experience. Sadly, some difficult personal events, along with ongoing car problems meant that the course and articles could not be completed. In return last weekend there was publicity in the paper for our May course, including pictures. It will be interesting to see how many readers enrolled on the course after reading it.
We continued to have excellent records, kept by Lynn Jordan, Vince Dover and Steve Peary, which have contributed significantly to the planning and effectiveness of our Sunday mornings. This included drives for trainee Observers, and those training for National Observer.
Owing to lack of numbers, we did not organise a Diploma Course for 2025, but we hope that we will have sufficient numbers for a course to start in January 2026.
Barry Sloan, our Publicity Officer, has continued to maintain the Group’s presence with vigour on all forms of social media, with our own public Facebook page. The Chairman thanked Barry for his enthusiasm in maintaining and co-ordinating our presence, and equally to Steve Peary for keeping our website up to date and relevant. Steve has been given a further task for the next few months to create a new website for the Group, IAM RoadSmart having given notice that they will no longer host a website on behalf of 39 Groups. It just shows how vulnerable we are to the whims of Head Office; just 10 years ago we were actively encouraged to join the main IAM website with the benefits of free hosting, support and loading of IAM promotional material!
The Chairman had now completed his twenty eighth year in office, and members were aware that in previous years he had quoted the IAM guidelines recorded in the IAM Group Handbook. These state; “It is very strongly recommended that the post of Chairman be held for no more than three years and that there be a break of at least one year before being nominated again”. He did not wish to prevent anyone who would like to take the role from doing so, yet he was also conscious that many groups were closing because they were unable to form a committee. We were very fortunate to have a dedicated Committee of 13 people to keep the group together, and with the necessary varied skills to do so. He was happy and honoured to be Chairman of such a strong, active and enthusiastic IAM RoadSmart group.
He was very conscious that playing an active part in the Group was a hobby to us all – and for a hobby to be rewarding we needed to feel a sense of personal achievement. He hoped that everyone involved feels just that and closed, as usual, with the biggest possible ‘Thank You’ to everyone.”
The Secretary thanked the Chairman for his work during the year. As always, he had worked harder than any other committee member and his enthusiasm, devotion, dedication and leadership skills inspired us all to remain one of the top IAM RoadSmart groups.
The Advanced Driver course cost £200 between 2nd April 2024 and 31st March 2025. It now costs £204.
The Group recruited 21 associates during the year compared with 15 last year and 19 in 2022-23. Thirty-five members didn’t renew their subscriptions. Our membership at the beginning of May 2025 consisted of 129 full members, 14 associates and nine friends. These add up to a total of 152 compared with 163 at this time last year. We were currently sending out only 28 monthly Newsletters by post compared with 126 by email. Those who received theirs by post, were asked to think about transferring. They would get access to the Newsletter’s web links and save the Group printing and increasing postage costs. Special thanks were due to those who sent postage stamps for their newsletters. The Group subscription remained at £10.
The Secretary closed by repeating what the Chairman had said many times, personal contact and recommendation continued to be very important in recruiting new associates and sincere thanks were given to those who had encouraged friends or relatives to enrol this year.
The Treasurer reported another straightforward year, continuing the management of the accounts online, allowing prompt payment of invoices etc. We still needed to progress to more members paying their annual subscriptions online. The number of new associates coming through continued to be low despite our extensive advertising through social media and recommendation.
A slight drop in both members and new associates contributed to a drop in income in the Charity Account. Expenses were lower mainly because we had not paid room hire in advance as we have in the past. The current slightly larger bank balance will decrease over the year as we pay room charges. Turning to the Social Account, Ride and Rambles and Raffles brought in a similar amount to last year, but not having the surplus from events we had last year meant a drop in income. Speaker expenses were similar but the Xmas dinner subsidy was greatly reduced. These led to an overall drop of almost £200 in the account. Overall cash in both accounts remained in a healthy position to cover payments needed.
Thanks were due to Roy for producing the balance sheet and liaising with Warran Bolton for the audit of the accounts. Thanks were also given to Margaret and her band of helpers in organising the raffles. Chris was thanked for organising the speakers and looking after the clothing account as were Vince and Lynn for the social events.
All office-holders and committee members, who had to seek re-election were re-elected along with Dougie Phillips who rejoined the Committee. Contact details can be found on the inside front cover of the Newsletter.