RYA SPRING 2021


YOU AND THE RYA Minutes of AGM


Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Royal Yachting Association


38 Stay up to date with the organisation’s developments T


hese are the full minutes of the RYA AGM held at 11:00hrs on Friday 20 November 2020 and broadcast


on YouTube, with RYA Chair Chris Preston presiding.


1. The Notice convening the Meeting was taken as read. Dave Strain, Finance Director, reported that members had been invited to vote on the motions online; all votes had been counted by UK Engage (independent verifiers) and the Chair would announce the results as the meeting proceeded. Chris Preston, RYA Chair, then introduced a speech that had been pre-recorded by HRH The Princess Royal, RYA President.


2. The Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on Friday 22 November 2019, having been circulated in the Spring 2020 issue of the RYA Magazine, were taken as read and approved.


3. Chris Preston gave his formal report, reminding attendees that the Annual Report and Accounts covered the year ending 31 March 2020 and therefore did not


RYA Board 2020-2021 As of the RYA AGM held on Friday 20 November 2020, the following people will serve on the RYA Board


NON-EXECUTIVE Independent Directors Chris Preston (Chair of Board) Christophe Boulanger (Senior Independent Director) Peter Catterall


Nominated Directors Natasha Gladman, Ronan Harte, Fiona Kidd, Katie Snowball


EX-OFFICIO Dave Strain (Finance Director) Sarah Treseder (Chief Executive)


reflect the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic. He thanked the volunteers and staff who had contributed to the RYA’s success over the past year, and UK Sport and Sport England for their support in enabling delivery of the Association’s programmes and initiatives. Acknowledging that the pandemic had since posed major challenges for recreational and competitive boating, as well as for the RYA as a National Governing Body, he commended the innovations made by both clubs and staff. The Association recognises the financial pressures that will result from the pandemic and will work to support its members and ensure that participation and membership are maintained and increased. Dave Strain read the opinion of the Association’s Auditor, Haysmacintrye LLP, from the full report to members as included within the Annual Report. Sarah Treseder, Chief Executive, reported on the accounts for year ended 31 March 2020. Chris Preston announced that the Membership had approved the 2019-20 Accounts.


4. Chris Preston referred to the motion that HRH The Princess Royal, having expressed her willingness to continue, be elected to the office of President for the ensuing year. He reported that the motion had been overwhelmingly approved by members, and thanked HRH for her support of the Association’s activities and members.


5. The motion that Messrs Haysmacintyre be re-appointed as Auditor and that authority to fix the remuneration of the Auditor be delegated to the Board was approved.


6. Dave Strain reported on the proposed changes to the Articles and Board Regulations that had been circulated to the Membership. (a) The motion that the Company’s Articles of Association be altered in the form circulated to members was approved. (b) The motion that the Company’s Board Regulations be altered in the form circulated to members was approved.


7. Chris Preston reported that the Members had not been asked to vote for a new Nominated Director as none had reached the end of their terms this year. He thanked John Scott, retiring Senior Independent Director, for his service to the Board and Association before thanking the following retiring Home Country, Regional and Policy Committee Chairs for their service: Charles Glover Participation & Membership, Johnny Johnston South Region, Ewan Macpherson RYA Scotland, Geoff Meggitt North West, Jackie PattonRYA Northern Ireland, Ian Smith North East, Carla StanleyRacing, Matt Wright Training


8. Before introducing a photo montage of the 2020 RYA Volunteer Awards recipients, Sarah Treseder reported that it had not been possible to hold the presentation in central London this year, however, the President had pre-recorded a speech that would be played to them during a video call and presentations would be held locally. (See page 41 for details of recipients.)


9. Any Other Business: Chris Preston introduced a video summing up the RYA’s year, after which Sarah Treseder gave a presentation on the work that had been undertaken with respect to the Member and Other Stakeholder Engagement Strategy. Questions submitted through the online chat function and by email were then addressed. These included questions on how the RYA would support clubs and class associations with recovery; the scope of the digital transformation project; the RYA’s stance on the regulation and control of boating; the RYA’s response to the lockdown measures imposed during the pandemic; the RYA’s position on offshore wind farms.


10. There being no further business, a video celebrating the 50th anniversary of RYA Training was played before the meeting closed at 11:50hrs.


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