Chairman's Message, November 16, 2006

Management Structures

The current Directors and Management Committee were constituted on the formation of the Club some three years ago. It has now become apparent that with the continuing rapid expansion and enormous success of the Club, this model has become outmoded and inefficient. In particular, the span of control of the Chairman to co-ordinate both the day to day operational management and the important task of permanent airfield acquisition has become so time consuming that the demands on a single person's spare time have become a limiting factor. The end of the season and the quieter winter months are an ideal time to undertake a review of the management structure and implement changes.

The Board of Directors (BOD) of the company (The Windrushers Gliding Club Limited) are elected by the full members at the AGM. There are presently three directors but it is considered that this number now needs to be increased to provide for a broader and more commercially viable structure. It is envisaged that an expanded BOD would be better placed to address the strategic management of the Club in the areas of major capital investment and most importantly, secure the long term future of gliding at Bicester Airfield, rather than have these vital tasks handled by the overburdened Management Committee, as happens at present.

In turn, the BOD will delegate operational or day to day management of the Club to the Management Committee. The members of the Management Committee will also be elected by the Club membership at the AGM.

The Management Committee will be chaired by a Deputy Chairman who will be elected from the Company Directors by a majority vote of the Directors. Alan Jenkins has agreed to continue as Chairman of the Club and of the Board of Directors.

These changes will be formally presented to the members for ratification at the next AGM. At the same time the BOD will seek confirmation from the members that the BOD are empowered to pursue permanent or long term acquisition of the AIrfield and/or to ensure the continuation of WGC. If such confirmation is forthcoming, then the Club's mission statement will be amended to include such aims.