Those of you who received the December 2024 magazine will have seen that I am looking for someone to replace me in the role of Membership Secretary. Well, encouragingly, I have had an expression of interest from a long standing and active member who I feel would be ideal to take on the role. However, should anyone else have been thinking they might enquire further, please let me know. You never know when circumstances might change, and there’s always the possibility to share tasks or help out in other ways. As I said in the last magazine, I’m not walking away from the job, but we need to identify someone to step into these shoes before the end of 2025. We finally managed to move house in March, and that continues to stretch me further, as downsizing is quite a traumatic process! Where am I going to store all those car parts and 50 years’ worth of trophies!!!
The sooner someone steps forward, the more time there will be for me to help with the handover. There’s plenty of scope for new ideas on how the job can be done, and certainly how newer technology can be incorporated to make the job even easier. In fact, the Committee have been considering adopting a managed membership package that can generate new memberships and renewals automatically on receipt of subscriptions with minimal oversight from Club officials, and issue electronic membership cards just like MSUK do with the basic competition licences. The aim is to trial the new system alongside the current during the latter half of this year. Again, if you want to know more, without commitment, please contact me at (almost) any time, by email, text, WhatsApp, Messenger, telephone (land line or mobile!) or even face to face. Challenge repeated!
Hopefully, you should all know when your membership is up for renewal and take action to ensure that you hold a current membership card and remain on the contacts list. This will ensure that you continue to receive notifications, such as when entries open for any forthcoming events. Of course, the easiest way to be sure that this happens is to set up a Standing Order with your bank. When I see that the club has received your subscription, I send out a new membership card to the address we hold for you.
Please have a think; do we have the most up to date address, email address and mobile number for you? Worth checking if you have changed any of these recently.
Those who choose to continue paying by cash, cheque or direct credit need to make the payment, and inform me in good time. I will do my best to get a new card out to you by return. If anyone needs their new card before I have seen their Standing Order or Direct Credit payment, please give me a call.
So, to remind you, the Farnborough District Motor Club Limited (Ltd.) Metro Bank account number is: 50856739 and the Sort Code is: 23-05-80.
The annual subscription remains at £20 for single membership, and £25 for joint membership with a “partner” from the same address. This has remained the same since around 2007!
Here’s the list of those I’ve not seen payment from yet through the March to June 2025 renewals period (as of 15th June 2025):
Due in March ’25: Daryl Ambrose (3040), Stephen Bowers (3450), Chris (+ Ian & Evan) Kent (3458), Jonathan Mason (3460).
Due in April ’25: Gerry Pennell (2263) We need an email address that works, please!, Simon Taylor & Katherine Tipple (2603), John Hoskins (3227), Mac Robinson (3362), Dan Young (3364), Bethany & Luke Frox (3416).
Due in May ‘25: Steve Wallace (2600), Mo Kader (3035).
Due in June ’25: Gordon & Elizabeth King (3370), Stuart Leach (3371), Dean Grimes (3427) Steven Hitchcock (3464).
You will need to send me your subscription soon, to ensure you remain on the mailing list, and get a new membership card. After 3 months without renewing, your details will be removed from the mailing list. If you have decided not to renew your membership, please send me a message to let me know.
We have signed up 24 new members since January 2025, so to them all: Welcome to FDMC; we hope to see you soon at a club social meeting or the next event.
Paul Prescott (FDMC Membership Secretary)
Posted by Geoff Wade, FDMC Media
