November News Letter

Come cheer up, my lads, 'tis to glory we steer,
To add something more to this wonderful year,
It’s hard to believe that four months have passed since we launched Rebel. That wonderfully colourful day in June seemed to somehow capture the spirit of dynamism, positivity and commitment that is Lyme Regis Gig Club.

The Gig Club has also rather magically captured the imagination of people of different ages, old families and new, in and around Lyme Regis and in a short period and without too much promotional activity has a membership of over one hundred.

It was clear that Lyme Regis Gig Club needs to continue to grow rapidly if it is going to meet this high level of interest. Which is why the Club’s Committee decided that significant resources would be devoted to reach a ‘critical mass’ if we are to deliver on expectations. This has seen the Club commission a second gig in October 2008 for completion in July 2009 and the building of the gig shed on Monmouth Beach.

The last four months have seen Lyme Regis Gig Club running a rowing programme that has had Rebel being rowed in the evenings and weekends and the Club participating in its first competitive events in Swanage and Weymouth. In parallel the Club members have put in a herculean effort to build the gig shed and be ready to start to build gig two. On top of this we have produced a very professional Members Handbook, a copy of which you can pick up at our office or download from the Gig Club website.

To help fund its development Lyme Regis Gig Club is now registered as a Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC) which means it can apply for Gift Aid from donations that are made to the Club. This means Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise will give the Club an additional 28p for every £1 raised - for example, a single gig oar will cost the club £305 which would be covered by donations of only £239 and we will very soon need a minimum of 6 new oars!

I am conscious that whilst The Club has achieved a lot, this has been at the cost of not perhaps communicating with members as regularly as we might have wished. The Management Committee would like help with communications and please contact me if you would be willing to help with this. The membership of Lyme Regis Gig Club is its lifeblood and it’s important that you feel actively involved in developing our activities in the future.

The hearty singing of shanties is now very much a part of Lyme Regis Gig Club we are very lucky to have a crew of singers led by Honorary Musicians Ian Thompson and Adrian Pearson who have helped to make Rebel’s launch and our social events such fun. So remember ‘We will rant and we’ll roar like true British sailors, We’ll rant and we’ll roar on the salt sea!

The success of Lyme Regis Gig Club has been laid by the people who are working together to make things happen and by the Power Boat Club, the Boat Building Academy, the Town and District Council, West Country Vending and the generosity of our sponsor Otter Brewery and our generous patron George Eyre.

Consider this when you are next in the gig – It is ‘To honour we call you, not press you like slaves!’

Marcus Dixon - Chair

Rowing Update

Since the launch at the end of June Rebel has been at the centre of a robust rowing programme with sessions taking place in the evenings and at weekends when she has often been out to sea a dozen times a day.

Competition

Competitive events are taking place on one Sunday each month over the winter with the Weymouth and Swanage Clubs. Two events have been held so far with our performance improving each time and our crews beginning to be in serious contention. It’s terrific to see the Lyme Regis teams, who have only had access to Rebel for the last four months, doing so well against the other clubs who have had seven or eight years experience.

Lyme Regis will be hosting the next Winter Competition Event, which will be taking place on Sunday November 30th at 11am. There are likely to be seven or eight races during the course of the day and opportunities for members to participate as competitors, stewards and providing team, coffee and help as required. Ship aboard and contact me if you’d like to be involved.

Training

Training is now on Saturdays and Sundays, weather permitting. Mornings are set aside for the more competitive, experienced rowers, and from 2pm we will run training for those who wish to be competitive, but have not done a lot of rowing yet, and those who are rowing to keep fit or for fun. To check for the latest training information, times, etc. please check the website http://www.lymeregisgigclub.com/training.htm or ring: 07531191547 to check if training is still on. Please DO NOT leave a message on this number, it is for information only.

The effective management of the rowing programme is going to be crucial to the future of the Club, which is why the Management Team has formed a dedicated Rowing Sub Committee. The aim for the Rowing Sub-Committee is to introduce a training schedule to support the safe running of the club and coaching for members, particularly those who want to compete.

Coxswain Training

One key objective is for the Club to be able to field at least ten Coxswains by the launch of the second gig next year and a dedicated training course will be run over a winter weekend for those interested. Although some coxswains may wish to steer competitively, we also need competent people who can take the boat out at any time, whether for training or socially, so please do not think you have be Lester Piggot(?) size – I will be joining in for example!

Please contact the Rowing Captain, Henry if you’d like to become a Lyme Regis Gig Club Coxswain.

Gig Shed

Thanks to Lyme Regis Town Council the Club has been able to secure a site on the seaward side of the Boat Building Academy Car Park off Monmouth Beach on which to build a shed. Hardly had approval been given a team, under the direction of Club Bosun, Chris Douglas swung into action and acquired a marvellous wooden building but also constructed it and painted it white. The Gig Shed is designed to store two gigs and provide storage.

Gig Two

Its clear the Club needs a second gig if it is going to compete in regional events and provide local training. After a competitive selection process the Club in September appointed Gail McGarva to build the new gig. Work is advancing and please drop in to the Gig Shed to see the work underway, but don’t distract Gail for too long as we are planning to take delivery of the new boat in early July 2009 and every moment counts.


To enable this to happen Lyme Regis Gig Club has recently received grants from West Dorset District Council, Sports Relief and Dorset County Council. More news on this soon.

Fundraising

Inevitably the growth of Lyme Regis Gig Club comes down to our ability to raise funds to buy the kit we need and ensure we are generating revenue throughout the year to meet operating costs, The Club Committee’s has formed a Fundraising Team to continue to generate the monies needed to ensure financial viability and development plans. Please contact Kerry
Maguire at maguirekerry@googlemail.com if you’d like to joint the fundraising team.

The building of the gig shed and the second boat are the two main current capital projects and funds for these are being raised primarily through grant funding.

The on-going running costs will have to be met through a mixture of membership and rowing fees, sponsorship, fundraising events, merchandising and what ever entrepreneurial activities we can think of.

Lyme Regis Gig Club is fortunate to be sponsored by Otter Brewery who have provided both direct support and beer to enliven social events. The Club continues also to supported by a Lyme Regis Boat Building Academy, The Power Boat Club, Lyme Regis Town Council and others. This includes Nigel Clarke Publishing who have kindly offered Lyme Regis Gig Club a page on their forthcoming local Tide Times, of which 12,000 are printed and circulated each year.

Shirts, Caps and Cards

Lyme Regis Gig Club has a range of polo shirts, complete with logo, that retail at £15.00 each and stylish ‘Rebel’ Caps that sell for £10.00 each. These items are priced for each to raise a small amount of money for the Club and are available from Tony Short tony@short50.orangehome.co.uk. The Gig Club is now also able to offer a stunning pack of four atmospheric cards showing Rebel to her best advantage. The Cards retail at £3.50 for a pack of four and are good for Christmas, Birthdays and other occasions. Contact me if you’d like to buy a pack.

Events Programme

The summer rowing season came to a close with a Trafalgar Night Celebration at the Powerboat Club on October 18th where a good time was had by all!!! Trafalgar Night raised £600 for the Club and well done to all who made the evening such fun.

Events are being planned including a possible social evening in the run up to Christmas and a major Spring fundraising event to be held at Uplyme Village Hall on Saturday March 21st 2009.

Events Calendar

Event
Who
Where
When
Lyme Regis Gig Racing Event With Weymouth & Swanage
LRGC Competitive Rowing Members, Social Members, Public
The Cobb
11am 30th November
Christmas Event – To Be Confirmed



Summer Rowing Launch Event
Members
Uplyme Village Hall
21st March 2009
World Championships 2009
Members
Scillies
May 2009

For updated information on Lyme Regis Gig Club please visit www.lymeregisgigclub.com


GIFT AID

As you have read, we are hoping that Gift Aid will provide us with a significant boost to our funds. However, we have to receive the donations first! We are exploring, for example, whether our Social Membership subscriptions may be eligible.

Only one form needs to be completed that will cover any donations/contributions you may already have made or may wish to make in the future. Obviously, we should be delighted if you would also like to make a donation immediately. In any event, I’m sure that you see the benefit in completing and returning a form now. So, if you feel that any donation you may make will be eligible for Gift Aid please do complete the form below and return it to Diana Dixon at St Michaels Business Centre.
…………………………………………………………………………....
GIFT AID
LYME REGIS GIG CLUB
Please treat
¨ The enclosed gift of £ ……….. as a Gift Aid donation; OR
¨ All gifts of money that I make today and in the future as Gift Aid donations; OR
¨ All gifts of money that I have made since the 14 March 2008 and all future gifts of money that I make from the date of this declaration as Gift Aid donations.
þ Please tick the appropriate box

You must pay an amount of income tax and/or capital gains tax in each tax year at least equal to the tax that the charity or Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC) will claim from HM Revenue & Customs on your Gift Aid donation(s).

Donor’s details

Title ………… Initial(s) ………………. Surname ……………………………………
Home address …………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
Postcode …………………
Date ………………………
Signature ……………………………………………………

Please notify the charity or CASC if you:
1. Want to cancel this declaration.2. Change your name or home address.3. No longer pay sufficient tax on your income and/or capital gains.
Tax claimed by the charity or CASC
• The charity or CASC will reclaim 28p of tax on every £1 you gave up to 5 April 2008.
• The charity or CASC will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 you give on or after 6 April 2008.
• The Government will pay to the charity or CASC an additional 3p on every £1 you give between 6 April 2008 and 5 April 2011. This transitional relief for the charity or CASC does not affect your personal tax position.
If you pay income tax at the higher rate, you must include all your Gift Aid donations on your Self Assessment tax return if you want to receive the additional tax relief due to you.