Our 65th Annual General Meeting was held on Saturday 28th September at De Montfort University in Leicester. IWA thanks all of the members who attended either in person or on Zoom, and is also incredibly grateful to the volunteers and staff who helped out during the event.
Before the formal AGM commenced, attendees watched a presentation about IWA’s campaigns by Deputy National Chair, Sue O’Hare. The presentation detailed the progress made since 2023 from a campaigning perspective and provided an insight into the future of IWA campaigning including the Association’s Campaigns Strategy. The presentation also summarised the progress made by the Fund Britain’s Waterways group since its launch in June 2023 and detailed IWA’s involvement as a member of the FBW steering group. Attendees were encouraged to take action to help Fund Britain’s Waterways by signing the FBW petition, making a donation, lobbying their MP or engaging with the campaign on social media.
The campaign-focused presentation was followed by a talk on restoration by Waterway Recovery Group Chair, Mike Palmer. His presentation explored some of the successes and challenges faced in the world of waterway restoration over the past year. It also provided a reminder of the many benefits that our waterways offer, as identified in our Waterways for Today report, while highlighting the considerable value that restoring unused waterways could provide.
After a short break for refreshments, the AGM began during which members approved the minutes for the Annual General Meeting held on 23rd September 2023. Members also approved the appointments and reappointments of the following Trustees for terms of three years each:
- Robert Atkins
- Christl Hughes
- Colin Porter
- Hannah Rigley
- Ian Sesnan
Presentation of the Sustainable Boating Awards took place after the formal AGM. The awards were launched earlier this year through a collaboration between Towpath Talk and IWA’s Sustainable Boating Group (SBG). The purpose of this new award scheme is to celebrate people and organisations which have had an impact in the sustainable boating community, with separate prizes for commercial and non-commercial innovations. This was followed by presentation of the annual IWA National Awards, the results of which can be viewed here.
After the formal AGM, an open discussion on residential boating took place which was facilitated by Deputy Chair of Navigation Committee, Ivor Caplan. Attendees debated the impact residential boating has on cruising, the uptake of people buying boats in the search for affordable housing, and what IWA’s involvement should be in terms of campaigning for residential boating.
Members enjoyed a free lunch before departing for a guided walk with award-winning Canal & River Trust Volunteer Rob Hetherington. The tour started at Castle Gardens on what has become known as the ‘Mile Straight’ of the Grand Union Canal Leicester Line, which is a canalised section of the River Soar. From there, attendees strolled along the navigation to Lime Kiln Lock which is where the IWA National Rally of Boats was held in 1967.
Thank you to everyone who came along to this year’s Annual General Meeting. We hope that the success of this year’s event will encourage even more members to join us at next year’s AGM!
