Graham Brown

Chairman

Chairman’s Message

It gives me great pleasure to give you the details of our 2023 events. I hope that you will all find something of interest in the planned events and that you will support your Centre.

The year 2022 was not the easiest, and the current pressures on household budgets and rising fuel prices have meant that your Committee have been ever mindful to offer value for money when planning the 2023 programme.

This year there have been some welcome changes which, I feel sure, will strengthen and add to the work of the West Dorset Centre. I am pleased to have been able to welcome two new Committee members, Jon Cottee and Dave Craft, both are experienced ralliers and have already presented new ideas which will develop the services which we offer. You might know that Dave has started a Facebook Group called West Dorset Caravan and Motorhome Club 22, This is a group which will give you the latest information about the Centre and about our events. I would encourage all our members to log onto the Facebook website and join our group.

Your Committee is also aware of the difficulties which some members have when using our website. It has been agreed that a professional company will be designing a new website which will be operational in the New Year. On our new site you will be able to see the availability of places, book and pay for events and then get an automatic confirmation of your booking. I know that some members are not able to use the online site, so we will still have a printed copy of the programme available for them to complete the booking form and send by post, as they do at present. Please remember to tick the West Dorset Centre box when you renew your membership, this isn’t done automatically and is the only way you can retain your membership of our Centre.

During the past year my wife Val and I have represented the Centre on the Southwest Regional Committee. Through this Committee we can put your views and suggestions forward for onward transmission to Head Office. Should you have any comments or suggestions that you would like to be passed on please let me know. We have also been able to help organise our section of the national rally, called Clubfest, where more than 2,500 members come together for three days of music, activities and fun. Tickets for the Clubfest, which this year is being held in Northamptonshire from 26 to 29 May, will sell out early. If you are thinking of going, please book soon and ask to be located in our regional section.

Finally, I would like to thank all of those members who have served on the Committee and those who have marshalled events during the past year. Our Centre depends on volunteers to keep things going and, without those volunteers, we would not have a Centre. Please support our events either by attending or offering to marshal them. I hope to meet as many of you as possible during the coming year and wish you and your families a happy and prosperous New Year.

Graham Brown

Chairman – West Dorset Centre