Eastern Region Local Group – Inaugural meeting

Kim Fisher is setting up this first meeting of an AYRS local group primarily for members living in East Anglia, although as with other AYRS meetings, all are welcome, from any part of the world.

The conference room at the Alton Watersports Centre is booked for this event, and will be available to us from 10:00am.  The format of the meeting is expected to be similar to that we have followed for our meetings at Thorpe Village Hall – that means that the meeting will continue until around 5:00pm but those who do not wish to stay the whole day join and leave as they wish.

The conference room has coffee/tea making facilities and a Video Projector/Screen. It is believed that WiFi is also available. There is a cafe available BUT in another building on the reservoir site so Kim says ‘Please bring your own lunch’ – i.e. packed lunch – sandwiches etc.  The AYRS will make no charge for this meeting but assuming that you travel by car you will need to pay a £6.00 parking fee to the Alton Watersports Centre. The car park will be open from 09:00 to 18:00.

Kim writes:  This first meeting is to sort out how we organise ourselves and what we want to do going forward. I am suggesting we base it around the ‘Thorpe Village Hall’ agenda of – News, who has seen what? and ‘mini’ presentations from members and guests with lots of questions. + any boat/bits/demos

Kim is hoping to bring his boat ‘Quill’ (crab claw – tacking Proa) and the ‘Yellow Alert’ (forward rowing boat) to this meeting for trips on the water, other members may also bring boats but should pop into the centre reception to pay a day launch fee, sign on and collect a safety wristband. Craft using the water must have adequate third party insurance.  For further information about the centre and use of the water contact Graham Colam who Kim has been dealing with and who knows who AYRS are – gColam@anglianwater.co.uk   01473 328408.