23rd FRA General Meeting - 28 August 2010
Minutes of the 23rd FRA Governing Body Meeting
Saturday 28th August 2010
Committee Present – Andy Kane, Clive Brown, Ed Wallace, John Bell, Kane Aston, Mike Hamilton-Macy, Tom Kane
Members present – David Weston
Event Organisers – Alan Young, Grant Cooper, Nick Cooper, John Findlay
Apologies – James Cooper, Leo Van Miert, Pete Lale, Tim Bence, , Tony Somerfield, Trevor Wright
Items of Discussion
1. Review of 22nd Meetings Minutes
The Fighting Robots website has been rebuilt using a Wiki backend allowing dynamic editing by any registered users. This should be online in the next few weeks.
Clive Brown has done a great job collecting memberships at events.
2. Changes to the Governing Body
Gilbert Grimm has stood down from the governing body.
Jason Marston has stood down as chief safety officer. John Bell will be co-ordinating safety checks at events with our other safety officers; Ed Wallace, Grant Cooper and John Findlay.
3. Judging Guidelines
John Bell presented Judging Guidelines for acceptance by the governing body.
Decision – Agreed (5 for, 0 against)
4. Rule Changes
New build rules for 2011 were discussed for acceptance by the governing body. These include changes and clarification for Lithium batteries, an increase to the hydraulic pressure limit and change to the restriction of hardened steel blades. Battery rules have been rewritten following practical experience over the last 2 years. Hydraulic pressure has been increased to 10,000psi to provide more scope for effective hydraulic weapons providing that accumulators are not allowed. Rules to be posted on the forum for feedback by members.
Decision – Agreed (5 for, 0 against)
5. Trophies
John Bell has approached both Roaming Robots and RoboChallenge to produce trophies for the FRA and proposals have been put forward by both.
Decision – Agreed (3 for, 1 abstain, 1 against)
6. Event Reports
John Bell noted that event reports had not been completed for all events this year. Event reports were generally good but exclusion zones for Roaming Robots MUST be enforced. John Bell will be working to ensure that event reports are completed for all events.
Portsmouth - Ed Wallace; Kidderminster – Clive Brown; Featherweight Championships – Ed Wallace; Maidstone – John Bell; Memorabilia, NEC – Mike Hamilton-Macy
7. AGM
It was the general consensus that it was not viable to have a face to face AGM however the forum would act as a good area for discussion. In addition a direct mail out towards the end of the year to update roboteers on rules and events would be beneficial.
8. Memberships
The drive for 2011 memberships will begin before the end of the year. It was felt that the membership fee had been held since the start and was not sustainable and should be increased to £15.
Decision – Agreed (5 for, 0 against)
Nominations for the governing body will open on January 1st until January 31st 2011.
Clive Brown will be present at most events to collect memberships. Members can still send memberships via the post using the form available for download on the website. Kane Aston will be investigating the ability to take memberships online via a form and electronic payment service such as PayPal.
9. CO2 Training
Following a few minor incidents at events it was the view that risk assessments should be reviewed.
Some instruction on CO2 filling may be beneficial to roboteers. A step by step procedure should available by the filling rig.
10. Annual gathering
John Findlay will be organising a Christmas party for roboteers. Details to follow.
12. AOB
Tech Checker Training should be organised again. While it was arranged to occur during events it was felt that a dedicated day would be far more effective. Event Organisers are to nominate members for training. A date in 2011 will be put forward and Andy Kane has offered his premises for the purpose.
FRA History pages require some updates. John Findlay is going to forward a list of suggested changes to Kane Aston.
Nominations for the 2011 UK championships should be received by 1st October 2010.
Next meeting will be arranged and notified in due course.