All-Day Meeting in Surrey (embracing our AGM)

Important note:

This meeting will only happen as a ‘face to face’ event if covid rules at the time allow that. Should we be unable to meet as planned we still intend to hold our AGM at 2:00pm on January 23rd, but by Zoom only.

Assuming that we are able to hold this meeting at the Basingstoke Canal Centre, we ask all those who attend in person to provide evidence (e.g. photo on mobile phone) of a NEGATIVE Covid-19 Rapid Self Test (Rapid Lateral Flow Test) which has been carried out within the last forty eight hours prior to the meeting. These tests can be carried out at home and at the time of writing test kits are available free of charge.  You can have test kits sent to your home, or you can collect them from designated pick up sites, most of which are pharmacies such as Boots or Superdrug, or you can be tested at a covid testing centre.   A pack of tests will be taken to the venue for any member attending who has not carried out a test prior to their arrival.

For further information about covid-19 rapid lateral flow tests see here:  NHS Webpage about Rapid Lateral Flow Tests

To order free test kits sent to your home go here:   Government webpage to order test kits sent to your home

To find a local collection point for free test kits enter your location at this NHS webpage NHS Webpage for finding a local collection point

We hope that those attending our meeting will be happy to comply with this plan and that we will all feel (and be) safer at the meeting knowing that the other people present have tested negative.

This meeting offers a whole day of chat and presentations about AYRS members’ projects and new developments in sailing and will also include the AGM of our society. The AGM will commence at 2:00pm and will be broadcast by Zoom so that distant members can attend and vote.

Although this is an ‘all-day’ meeting you can arrive and leave as you wish. Bring your pictures/video/posters/hardware to show other members. If you have a more formal presentation you could let the chairman (chairman@ayrs.org.uk) know in advance to be sure we can fit you in, but that is not essential. Presentations by members about their projects has been the main content of these meetings but presentations about sailing holidays or general discussion of boating topics or development of the AYRS are also welcome. Do also bring along models, items of equipment, books etc. for members to inspect and discuss during our coffee breaks. We expect to have a PC with a good sized screen available (or possibly a digital projector) so that video and digital pictures can be displayed.

Note that the Basingstoke Canal Centre (BCC) is not actually at Basingstoke – it is at Mytchet near Farnborough. Driving, it is a few minutes off the M3 and for public transport Farnborough has two stations with quite fast services from Waterloo. Car parking is available at the site.

Tea & coffee will be available through the day. The Basingstoke Canal Centre has an on-site cafe which we understand is open through the year and it does have outdoor seating as well as indoor. If any members would like to meet for a meal after the meeting then Potters Steakhouse would be a possibility, it is next door to the BCC. Potters Steakhouse has rooms available which could be an option if you need overnight accommodation. For alternative accommodation (for the hardy I think) the BCC has its own camping field and according to their website this is available all the year round!

All our meetings are open to all those who share an interest in the technical aspects of boating, so members and non-members are welcome, (although only members may vote at the AGM). Donations will be invited to pay for the meeting room and for a supply of tea/coffee.

We aim to gather from 10:00 to start our meeting at 10:45am.