Editorial

An ‘Interesting’ Year for EKAM 

Things invariably change. The trick is to make changes for the better.

A lot has happened within EKAM over the last year or so and there’s been some impactful changes.  (We’ve swopped a paper magazine for this newsletter for a start). 

We’ve lost some highly valued faces from the Club Committee.   But then we’ve gained new ones, all of whom have settled in and are working hard for the club. More help would be welcome though…!

EKAM’s training work continues as successful as ever, something that should make us all proud, but rather than rest on that success the Observer Corps is looking at new ways to expand and improve their offering.  Again, we could use more volunteers willing to become Observers. 

And we started the year with some genuine concerns about the finances of EKAM and have ended with them looking quite healthy.  That really is good news!

You will have to wait for the end of year reports in March for the full details on all of this but, suffice to say, the club continues to be a success and remains a great place to meet up with friends, to enjoy cracking social rides and to engage in a wide range of social events.

Ultimately EKAM’s future success rests with the enthusiasm of all of us as members.  And there is much to celebrate.  So, as we fast approach the end of the year, we take the opportunity to reflect on a few of the good things in 2024 whilst looking forward to an even better year in 2025 as we develop some new and interesting ideas. 

Do have a great holiday.

Contributions to the newsletter should be forwarded to the editor Barry Ricks.

Newsletter Articles

Observations - From Our Chief Observer

Details

Test Passes

We run our stats from 1st March through to 28th February each year, so these figures relate to the 9 months of the 2024/2025 year so far.

Since the 1st of March: -

Read more: Observations - From Our Chief Observer

So What Happened in ’24?

Details

Actually quite a lot.

We had major changes amongst the club’s officials.  There’s a separate piece on this year’s changes but in short, we lost 6 of our 15 committee members.  Other members stepped forward to fill the gaps but, in the coming year, we will still need to recruit another two important posts.

Read more: So What Happened in ’24?

Did Something Change in the Way We Run Things?

Details

No!  But we did experience a huge change amongst those engaged in running the club.  I appreciate the very word ‘committee’ can immediately generate a switching-off of interest but this is important; somehow the club needs steering and things need to get done.  Without the Committee the club would cease to function so please take a moment to reflect on the following few paragraphs.  We’ve ‘lost’ some highly valued and long-standing committee members from key positions over the last year (although fortunately most of them don’t seem to have gone too far away).  And we’ve had to manage that loss.

Read more: Did Something Change in the Way We Run Things?

What's On for 2025

Details

The aim is to build and improve on 2024.

The big trips are in hand – Wales, Mid-Summer Madness, Late Summer Madness, an excursion to the Massif Central and another, yet to be finalised, long ride weekend in Blighty (all will be revealed in due course in eNEWS@EKAM).

Read more: What's On for 2025

EKAM Wales Weekend

Details

Friday 10 May 2025 - Monday 13 May 2025
Metropole Hotel & Spa, Llandrindod Wells, LD1 5DY 


Set out below is the booking process and hotel costs for the 2025 EKAM Wales weekend. The Metropole has a variety of accommodation from standard classic to luxury. Check out the website. Costs are set out below. These include full Welsh breakfast, choice three-course dinner and access to the indoor heated swimming pool and spa. There is excellent bike parking.

Read more: EKAM Wales Weekend

EKAM Tour de France

Details

Over the years I’ve been lucky enough to have been involved in a wide variety of events through EKAM but the ones I have most enjoyed and appreciated are those that have enabled me to go away and ride new and exciting roads in great company. Yes, they were a “holiday”, and yes, we went to some scenic and memorable places, but most importantly these trips provided me with the opportunity to focus on advanced riding whilst surrounded by like-minded individuals who shared my passion for Roadcraft.

Read more: EKAM Tour de France

2025 - A Look Forward

Details

It is the end of busy year.  We will have a full report on 2024 following our AGM in March but, for now, at the start of another year which promises to be equally busy I have been asked to share my thoughts on what we can look forward to in 2025.

Read more: 2025 - A Look Forward

TAILPIPE

How do snowmen travel around?

By icicle!

 

 

First published in "Out In Front" issue 104, December 2009

If you have any amusing 1-liners or short quips please forward them to the Webmaster.

The views expressed in these newsletter articles are not necessarily those of the Editor, the Committee, East Kent Advanced Motorcyclists nor IAM Roadsmart.