Tide and time wait for no-man and that is why we find ourselves gathered here tonight for yet another annual meeting.

Not content with just an AGM, we followed it up in February 2007 by holding an Extra-ordinary General Meeting. The need for this meeting was because of possible changes to the rules and method of fees.

In March we came together again, this time for the Club Awards Presentation Evening. The event took place at St. George's Social Club and all those attending enjoyed a rattling good game of skittles.

Although not as well supported as in some previous years, we ran our annual beginners course. On the first evening I counted more coaches and helpers, than I could new beginners. However, at the end of the course we did have five new members join us and very welcome they are too. Perhaps the low turnout was a reflection of the poorly attended Have-a-Go-Night held early April.

The outdoor season for our own club shoots started off very wet indeed. This climatic upset caused some of our archers to jump in their cars and drive away. When the sun did come out on one or two occasions, they said it was to hot. But nevertheless, thank you to all of you, even if you only attended one.

Staying on the theme of club shoots, the mid-summer madness breakfast shoot in August is not worth writing about, but the breakfast is, Waffles, eggs, sausages, bacon, beans and baps. My most sincere thanks to Alison and Kevin Hastie for the "Belly Bustin" menu.

A group of our archers continue to attend open shoots across the Counties and West Midlands. Selection and success also came from within the Worcestershire County Squad. Coupled to all this excellence several of the archers produced new club records during the season. Congratulations to all of them. Added to this, l offer my grateful thanks to the rest of the club archers for rejoining and keeping the club alive.

Our outdoor shooting season more or less came to a close in October with the combined Moonlight/Halloween Shoot. l was away on holiday myself, but am told that those attending had fun and enjoyed once again good food.

In the early part of the year concern was expressed about the kitchen section of the clubroom and when would it be finished. My vision was that completion would be before the beginner’s course. Thanks to Steve Blount's wife for donating her kitchen units, Mike Lewis's mom for throwing out the sink and the skills of Rob Hodgetts, assisted by an apprentice, the work was completed.

In closing, I should like to mention the fact that should you be elected onto the committee tonight, please consider your commitment to that appointment.

Derek Moule
Chairman

Once again we find that another year has swiftly but gracefully passed by, making it forty-four years since the club was formed. Our duty tonight is to elect officers that will continue the good work and uphold the club name for years to come.

A bonus for some archers this year was the weather, while others stayed at home to soak up the sun.

The annual Club Awards Presentation Evening was held in the Aggborough Suite, at Kidderminster Harriers Football Club. The event was well attended by members, family and friends and also some esteem honorary members. The theme for the evening was a general quiz which appeared to be well received.

A successful introduction to archery was provided in our beginner's courses. The Monday night course was overloaded, so a second course was set-up on a Tuesday night. My grateful thanks to all who gave up their time in some way or form. I must add that in March, when we ran our Have-a-go night the interest shown by the public was overwhelming to say the least.

Turning to our own club shoots the low attendance's was extremely disappointing. The shooting line at some events would have looked very sick had it not been for participation of some new members.

However, on a more positive note a group of about eight members started to enter open competitions across the West Midlands. They have taken part in both indoor and outdoor competitions, collecting a few medals and trophies along the way. Also some members were eligible to attend this Years County Trials. Congratulations to Mike Lewis, Penny Neaverson and Tim Hastie on making the squad.

During August we saw the club back in a fundraising mood. This was all brought about by Mike Lewis saying that he was arranging a Saints & Sinners Bowmen Arrowathon in association with Macmillan Cancer Support. My sincere thanks to all those who gave this worthy cause their support. The result was a total of £1888 raised.

In October we held a Moonlight Shoot. A full moon and touch of Halloween for good measure made this event a very enjoyable, but at times a mad affair. Combined with hot food and light-hearted banter, what more could you ask for?

Each year we see members come and go, but the saddest loss of all was the death of our past President - Stan Heath. Stan was a founder member of the club and held various positions of office during his many years in archery. Always willing to help both on the shooting line and off. When he was an active archer he seldom missed a club function or working party and could always be relied upon to help. The Club and those who knew him well, are poorer for his passing.

In closing I would like to thank all the committee and club members for their valued support over the year.

Derek Moule
Chairman

P.S.

Hot off the press. Congratulations to Penny Neaverson, Chris McNeill and Ken Merry on passing the coaching exam. WELL DONE!

Again - Mr President, Honoured guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, and fellow Archers – Good Evening to you.

You will be pleased to know that this evening is unique – I’m finally going to relinquish the chair and I want no jokes about my seat please!

As it is the last time I can lecture you all and criticise without fear let me say that for all those who missed the burnt offerings and fine wine, of which I had a little too much, at the inauguration of our New Club House, it has been open for use since July and I for one am very pleased with it.

From what looked like being a major disaster we have a very good result although I have to admit that we did go a little over budget but the new Club House will provide many years of use to all club members.

I made this my primary concern for the past year and I must thank all those who helped, not least of all, Mike Lewis, without whom I would have struggled to finish the job. Thank you Mike and everyone else for your support and help during the last two years.

Our Treasurer, Steve, has maintained a fine set of books which I am sure we will be pleased with when he makes his report.

Our coach Derek, again, excelled himself this year with the Have-a-Go night and a full beginners course that made a very welcome contribution to the Club’s funds and provided more new members, who I would like to formally welcome to the Club and hope they enjoy shooting with us. I must also thank ever one else for the help they have given to Derek who I am sure would wish me to extend his gratitude as without them it would not have been so successful.

Our Target Officer - Dan, without whom we would not have had such straight lines and round targets, always delivers a fine shoot with much controversy over who shoots with who and who is the actual winner. But it keeps as all amused and the Club would be worse off without some repartee.

Spiderman – Mike, continues to provide the Club with an envied web site, which I hope we are all making use of it. It brings numerous prospective members and more than pays for the costs.

The breakfast shoot this year I am told was excellent and if you missed out like my self I commend you to try next years for a good shoot followed by hot sausage and bacon butties.

I would like to thank the Secretary and Bill Gates for his spelling checker in producing the minutes for the Club.

The goundsmen did a very good job keeping the field clean and tidy throughout the season.

Finally as I take my leave of this honoured position my thanks to all of you for all your support during my time as Field Captain, Competition Officer, Records Officer, Club Chairman.

Rob Hodgetts
Chairman

Once again, Mr President, Honoured guests, Ladies and Gentlemen; Good Evening.

The year started badly and I must apologise, unlike Mr Blair we were wrong. The new port-a-cabin was not quite the bargain we thought it was. I must sincerely apologise for this unhappy state of affairs that has persisted throughout the summer. After a lengthy tussle via the County Courts Adroit repaid our money in September.

The port-a-cabin roof has been patched and the leaks have now been stopped. We intend to examine the hut as the summer season approaches and make a decision then as to how we should proceed.

Stan Heath as now retired from is position as Club President. My self and all Club members wish to thank Stan for all is hard work and support to the Club over the years.

Steve, our frugal Treasurer, produced another budget for the year and we have increased our cash holding by £357.00 including the leaky hut.

Derek, our esteemed Coach, has excelled himself with the Have-a-Go night and an excellent beginners course that made a very welcome contribution to the Club’s funds and more new members, who I would like to formally welcome to the Club and hope they enjoy shooting with us.

Dan, without whom we would not have had such good targets, has always delivered a fine shoot, well organised and to keep things lively much controversy over the rules and awards.

Our own Spider Man on the WEB, Mike has produced an envied web site for the Club and I hope we are all making use of it.

I think we all enjoyed another breakfast shoot? And the Bar-B-Que lunch helped us enjoy a good Western.

I again thank the Secretary, for his efforts to comprehend the English language and making much use of his spelling checker in producing the minutes for the Club.

On a more serious note my thanks to all the helpers throughout the year who have given there time unstintingly to help with the beginners course, tidying up the club field and to remove the old club hut and prepare the ground for the new Club House.

I was pleased to see that the two groundsmen kept the field in good order and hope we can find two worthy replacements for the coming year.

Thank you for all your support and I hope we can eventually start to use our new Club Hut.

Rob Hodgetts
Chairman