Initial report on the Club's Council meeting and AGM held on 14th October 2006
Victor Smith posted an initial report on the V8BB late on 14th October saying "very briefly the two most significant developments during the day were the future of Safety Fast! at the Council meeting and the election of four new directors of the Club at the AGM". (15.10.06)

Safety Fast! and the Octane Media matter
Two motions were considered by the Council members on Saturday:

Proposal to renegotiate the existing commercial arrangements with Octane Media
This motion requires the Executive Committee to renegotiate the present commercial arrangements with Octane Media to reduce the cost of the Club significantly. John Dutton (Club Treasurer) presenting the motion said "the cost is simply not sustainable at the present level".
See a copy of the motion

Proposal to terminate the commercial arrangements with Octane Media and relaunch a full feature in-house produced Safety Fast! as a monthly Club magazine
This motion was presented by John James of the T Register who said many Club members in the T Register were not satisfied with the present "Slim Safety Fast!" and did not want MG Enthusiast. What they do want is the return of a full featured monthly Club magazine. The motion was amended with the additional requirement that the Executive Committee should negotiate a concessionary subscription rate with Octane Media for those Club members who wished to continue receiving MG Enthusiast and then create a two tier Club subscription - one for a revived Safety Fast! and the other for both a revived Safety Fast! and a copy of MG Enthusiast.
See a copy of the motion & amendment

The outcome of the vote of Council members on these two motions was a heavy vote in favour of the motion to renegotiate the commercial deal with Octane Media. However it was clear the resolution passed on Saturday requires prompt action on reducing costs, failing which the Executive Committee has to take "other options" which include terminating the commercial agreement and relaunching Safety Fast!. The Executive Committee is required to report back on its progress to the next Council meeting in March 2007.

Footnote: The commercial arrangements with Octane Media were agreed and signed by the previous Board just before the Council meeting in October 2005 without allowing Council members an opportunity to consider or comment on such a fundamental change to the Club's magazine. The first opportunity to terminate the agreement would take effect at the end of June 2007 for which formal notice of termination would need to be given on or before 31st December 2006

Comment
As a director I have to accept the Board's decision, even though I did not support the decision of the Executive Committee to recommend the motion (made at its EC meeting in September 2006). However I can assure you that I will be watching progress with achieving an acceptable cost reduction outcome and the timetable in achieving that very carefully indeed. Initial indications are the new directors will do likewise.
Victor Smith

Election of new directors at the AGM
Four new directors were elected to the Board at the AGM who are in my view very good people with good capabilities and management experience. They are:

John Day (Vintage Register) who is a very capable and experienced manager and engineer.

Chris Hunt Cooke - a V8 member who rallies an MGB and a V8 Roadster. He is a clear thinker and an experienced accountant and someone I personally rate very highly.

Ted Lawrence - a member from Devon & Cornwall Centre who is an experienced engineer and businessman.

Dave Saunders - a longstanding member who races several ex works cars, has a V8 and is projects director for a leading commercial group.

So now all the directors associated with the serious mess created in 2005 have finally gone with the exception of Brian Woodhams, who was re-elected as most Council members recognised he has done a good job as Overseas Director. For my part I can acknowledge that earlier this year he had the personal integrity to admit that a number of serious mistakes had been made on his watch in 2005.

Executive Committee of the MG Car Club
The complete list of members of the Club's Executive Committee is:
Peter Best (Club Chairman)
John Day
John Dutton (Club Treasurer)*
Malcolm Eades (Vice Chairman)
Chris Hunt Cooke *
Howard Gosling *
Ted Lawrence
Dave Saunders *
Victor Smith *
Brian Woodhams

Five of them (marked with an *) are V8 members so I hope that will provide some comfort to V8 enthusiasts as to their good taste and good sense!

Full report available
You can see a full report on the Council meeting and AGM from Al Barnett (V8 Chairman) who attended with Mike Russell (V8 Committee member) as the V8 Register representatives at the Council meeting and AGM.
Full report