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It’s the start of a New Year, a new decade and a new term in office for me as Chair of BMMC.

I have decided on some new aims and objectives to build on where we have already come so far.

AIMS & OBJECTIVES

1.         Provide communication and support to all marshals and potential members

Website to develop – we need to attract new people so new pages to develop

MailChimp to clarify recipients – some of you won’t get this as you’ve unsubscribed

Agree timing of messages – some of you aren’t happy with the content or frequency

2.         Simplify Council reports and meetings

                        We need to be sure we are explaining our actions – so simplification is key

3.         Committees to enable maximum relevant contact points for members

Ensure relevant content shared via Social Media

Attracting more members on to Committees – it’s your Club after all

4.         Recruit new marshals – increase membership to 2,500 members

Taster days – ensure uniformity

Ensure regional contact point and follow up

Work with Motorsport UK to embrace all possibilities 

5.         Raise money for Race Against Dementia – our nominated charity of the year. 

So hopefully this covers some areas you want to see develop but there’s space for some more objectives on here – so what am I missing?  Forgotten? 

AUTOSPORT

We are reaching a club milestone for BRMC – 40 years recognised as a club for rally enthusiasts.  We are launching a new logo and branding at Autosport at the weekend.  Stand 3545 is the place – or watch Social Media for updates – a few teasers are out there already!

BMMC will be on stand 2392 with a new look too – tell us what you think.  We are trying to bring clarity and identification to our stands.  So this is our starter with some great work from the Brand team (and supporting cast!)

Lille have also a stand at Autosport this year and will be taking orders, measurements and answering queries for you on stand 2730

Sponsors have all agreed to continue for 2020 so our overalls are still fully subsidised despite a slight increase from Lille.  Thanks as always go to Ginetta, MGCC, Cataclean, Polyflor, NGK, TIGA and CSCC.

Our membership renewal process is now open for 2020 – many of our members take advantage of our direct debit scheme which has now been processed.  All membership packs will start being distributed in early February but once you’ve paid you are good to go!  

Our volunteering system is also in the process of being populated so you can start planning the year ahead.  I hope you got all your brownie points in at home to ensure you get to play out!  See you out and about – hopefully some of you will visit Autosport.  The year definitely feels like it’s ready to go – so ladies and gentlemen…………please START..YOUR..ENGINES!!!

Today (5 Dec) is International Volunteers day and so I say a huge thank you to all of you – Volunteers ARE Motorsport.  You should all be very proud of yourselves.

We had our final Council meeting of the year and AGM last Sunday at Milton Keynes.  Thank you to those of you who took the time to attend the AGM – it’s always good to see familiar as well as new faces.

My third year as National Chair comes to a rapid close – multiple circuit visits, training and AGMs mean I have managed to meet many of our members as well as maintain my signatures on my PRC!  I offered myself for re-election as required under Club rules and no-one objected – so I am here for another three years!

I made a few key announcements in my AGM report – full details of which will be published in due course so that you can read all of the submitted reports.  But here are the details of those announcements:

• We need to support our members to ensure that other issues don’t get in the way of your marshalling.  I am therefore really pleased to announce that we are implementing an ‘Employee Assistance Programme’ for all members.  Details will be provided in renewal packs in January but essentially this is a Confidential Helpline Service run by a respected external organisation available 24/7 to discuss any issues you have – health, finance, relationships as well as counselling required as a consequence of marshalling.  Some of you may be lucky enough to benefit from a scheme through your employment but not all.  Hopefully you will never need it but good to know there is something available to all.

• Next year marks a milestone for the BRMC and we are looking forward to celebrating the 40th anniversary starting with a new logo and branding to be launched at Autosport in January.  BRMC stand no 3545 is near the WRGB area and BMMC will have a new look stand too – no 2392 in the racing area of Hall 2.  So please come and visit and support if you can.

• We decided this year to support a charity at a National level and though this campaign has just started I am hopeful we will be able to raise some funds for Race Against Dementia throughout 2020.

• We have been without a Club President for over a year as we took our time to find a suitable replacement to Barrie Whizzo Williams.  I am now delighted to be able to announce that Ben Edwards, current F1 commentator for C4 has agreed to take on the role of Club President.  Ben, was in Abu Dhabi for the last round of F1, so unable to join us on the day but he looks forward to being active within and for the club going forward.

A number of individuals are stepping down from Council this year – and in no particular order I would like us to thank:

• Steve Malec, Grading Officer replaced by Rob Mugurian NW
• Pete Wilson, Recruitment Officer replaced by Jayne Poston Mids
• Mike Shorley, Speed and Hillclimbs replaced by Pete Lawton NW
• John Watson, NE Chair replaced by Lynne Kendall NE
• Ian Berry, Chair of Donington ES team replaced by Diane Hardy Mids

Between them a staggering number of decades on Council!  Steve, Pete, Mike, John and Ian have been given well deserved Life Memberships of the club and I thank them all for their amazing dedication and phenomenal support – all making the club run efficiently and providing such superb advice for our members.  I wish them all well and hope to still see them out and about ………Their successors have big boots to fill and I wish them every success in their new roles and ask you the members to support as necessary.

Our renewal process is not yet open for 2020 – many of our members take advantage of our direct debit scheme which is processed in early January.  All membership packs will be distributed early next year – so hang fire!  We will send out a reminder once the final quirks of our IT upgrade are ironed out.

Yes it’s early December but this is my last blog before the festivities – some of you may have already started (we had our works Christmas party on Friday!).  

So I will conclude by wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Safe New Year.

Early September we had BMMC Council meeting – twice a year the Regional Chairs meet and twice a year the full Council sit.  This gives us a chance to focus on the club and our strategies and plans going forward.

• We used recent donations to purchase training equipment for the regions and this was distributed during the meeting – looking forward to seeing the training days to match. Budgets are currently being requested from the British Motor Sport Training Trust (BMSTT) and hopefully we will have confirmation that training days can go ahead as planned by the regions. Watch out for your local newsletters for dates and timings!

• Our Ambassadors are being asked for updates and we look forward to announcing our new President in due course to support the raising of the profile of volunteer marshals within and outside the sport.

• We discussed our National awards and potential nominations to go forward for the Motorsport UK Marshal of the Year prize – looking forward to announcing the winners.

• I am delighted that we have adopted Race Against Dementia as our charity.  Such a worthy cause for a horrible disease.  We have a fabulous prize donated by Flick Haigh so don’t forget to donate to be in with a chance of winning (https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/BMMC)

• The BRMC new logo is almost finalised in all its forms – with an unveiling being planned for Autosport 2020.  I am really impressed with the ideas that have come forward and hope you all like the finished outcome!  Additional members added to the Brand team with skills put to good use too – welcome Jay.

• As well as Autosport we will be represented at WRGB at Oulton Park this week / Silverstone Motorsport Live at the beginning of November and Race Retro in February.  Are there any other events we should be attending to showcase our role and attract more volunteers?

• A number of new items are being added to the Regalia catalogue so your Regalia Officers will be updating you soon once they are available.

Motorsport UK updates

• Marshals Working Group also took place in September with Hugh Chambers CEO able to join us for part of the meeting and provide an update.  Hugh is aware that the National Governing Body has previously not done enough to recognise Volunteers and the importance of their role and we need to act quickly to resolve this.  We have created a couple of sub groups to look at Recruitment and Retention / Recognition and the results of their discussions are being further developed to support all marshals in the future.

• The marshals grading scheme has been created as an interactive document to make navigation a little easier.  This is a work in progress with potential tweaks to the schemes, training programmes and PRCs all being planned for 2020.

• Volunteer Officials Committee and Race Committee are both meeting this month so I will be attending both of these and will report back any updates.

• Motorsport UK are at the moment deciding who will be sitting on their groups and committees – if you’ve applied you should hear soon.  Let me know the outcome as I won’t get told.  Just hope I am selected going forward so that I can continue to represent marshals and the BMMC at all levels!

And if anyone wants to be involved in the running of the club please contact me directly or your Regional Committee.

The beginning of the month was a difficult weekend in our Motorsport world with the sad loss of Anthoine Hubert and significant injuries to Juan Manuel Correa at F2 in Spa plus news that a rally marshal died in France.  A sad day and a reminder that ‘Motorsport is dangerous’ and life is fragile.  

It’s important that you take care of yourselves and each other #OrangeFamily

It’s that time of year to renew your registration with Motorsport UK.  This is not automatic – so you either need to log on to their website or contact them directly.

Don’t forget that you are declaring that you have enough attendance and training signatures to maintain your grade.

‘I can confirm that I have complied with the maintenance criteria (where appropriate) as stated in Motorsport UK’s Grading Scheme document(s) to enable me to apply for my requested Marshal Registration grade(s).’

If you can’t comply then contact them directly to confirm your grade and renew accordingly.  

The recent PRC checks produced some interesting responses…….which warrant some clarifications:

‘Motorsport UK has records of my attendance why do I need to provide them’ 

1. Motorsport UK do not keep records of attendance at events
2. Motorsport UK are sent details of number of marshals attending but not their names
3. This is for training days and events
4. Organising clubs retain details
5. These are all in paper format and not electronic therefore manual to scrutinise

‘I don’t get my PRC signed but here’s a list of events I have done’

1. How can Motorsport UK verify your list? (See above)
2. It is your responsibility to maintain your grade
3. It is easier to check your details if they are in the same format as everyone else i.e. in a PRC

‘I don’t do that duty any more but still want to retain my grade’

1. If you don’t perform a duty why do you want to keep the grade?
2. If you are doing other duties are these above your current grade? – if so then signatures for these days count!
3. If you hold multiple grades then maybe you need to decide which ones to retain – and good for you if you can do enough days in all grades / disciplines you hold!

Grading may be something you see as a competition and race in itself to see how far you can get and how quickly but don’t forget to pause and ask yourself a few questions:

1. Have I gained enough experience to perform my new grade?
2. Can I look after trainees now I have progressed?
3. Can I manage a team and do they have trust in me to look out for them?
4. Would I be able to perform my role as well at another venue that is unfamiliar?

There’s no rush! Above all you MUST consider your safety and that of those around you.

My biggest concern is for the number of people who are being asked to perform duties above their training. If you volunteered to be a flag marshal and you are handed a radio you are not suddenly qualified to be a Post Chief. You can make reports if you feel able but really you are given the radio for Race Control to communicate to you or for you to ask for help.

The worst case scenario would be that your decisions could be questioned.  You should only ever react based on the level of training and experience you have received.  So do not feel obliged to do a duty if you have not had any training previously.

Above all safety is paramount – yours and your team.  And this is a hobby so enjoy yourselves!

‘I declare that I am physically and mentally fit to carry out my duties and that I will inform the organisers immediately should any change in my condition occur which I have reason or ought to have reason to believe would affect my ability to carry out my duties.’

Did you know this sentence forms part of the declaration that you sign every time you volunteer?

In training we are told to look after ourselves, our buddies, drivers and then worry about the cars. So be selfish and make sure you are ok before you even get to the event – and if you are not well enough then don’t battle on but send your apologies to the Chief marshal. No one will thank you for carrying on if you later require medical attention or put someone else in danger.

Be prepared for the weather – another essential training point. Your welfare is your responsibility – so make sure you have waterproofs, sun cream, hat and food and fluids for the day. Put extras in the car and if the organisers provide something see it as a bonus not an entitlement. A number of events provide water bottles but that’s not great for the environment so reuse them where possible!

We are all volunteers – we are not paid but sometimes get freebies / vouchers / raffle prizes from organisers. These should be gratefully received but not expected! I for one do this as a hobby anything extra is a bonus. I keep my raffle prizes and save them up to buy new kit!

You should be given permission to get extra supplies from your superior – even if someone stands in for you when there is no break in proceedings! Be ready for any eventuality and plan accordingly – check the weather report and plan for the opposite too. We are in the U.K. after all.

It is really important that you look after yourself but what about your buddies. We like to think of ourselves as one big family so check up on each other. And this means mental health as much as physical health.

Georgina O’Hara Smith wrote a thought provoking article for SE newsletter Page 4 – Mental Health, Motorsport and me http://tiny.cc/civxaz

Ask someone who is acting out of character if they are ok? Is there someone you haven’t seen for a while? Can you give them a call?

We have elected MIND as our charity at my workplace. The numbers are quite staggering: ‘Three in five young people have experienced a mental health problem or are close to someone who has’. MIND can help with all sorts of situations and we should help remove the stigma of mental health. It’s ok not to be ok. Thanks Georgina for opening up about this topic.

I would also like to remind all members that there is no place in the club for verbal or physical abuse, harassment or bullying of any kind. This will not be tolerated and will be dealt with accordingly. Please respect each other – opinions, decisions and outcomes all can lead to disagreement but there is no need for this to lead to anything more serious than a healthy and lively debate.

Take care of yourself and each other #orangefamily

As a reminder there’s a prize draw each month so don’t forget to check the website to see if you are a winner!

How many of you have questions about the grading scheme?  What does it mean?  What’s the process?  What is in it for me?  Who do I ask for help.

The grading scheme was originally created by the BMRMC (as we used to be called) and Dave Scott (now MSVR Race Operations Director) helped Motorsport UK adopt it as a National scheme for all marshals and now for other disciplines.  So we were the forerunners and continue to input.

Primarily the scheme recognises an individuals’ experience and training to ensure that they are able to manage the duty they are assigned.  The PRC for each discipline was introduced to enable a record to be maintained in one handy booklet.  A number of iterations to the schemes have taken place and potential further adjustments will be made as new ideas and suggestions are forthcoming.  The ownership of the scheme sits within the Marshals Working Group who work with the Training Working Group to recommend enhancements to update the training modules too.

So what can you do to gain signatures?

• Part fill the appropriate line in the card so it’s easy to know where you want it signing 
• Ensure you hand your card in to your Chief at the appropriate time (normally first thing when you arrive)
• Ask your Chief for feedback – if you are the Chief write something appropriate!
• Remember feedback is to help you – it should contain learning points and or reflections on duties performed 
• If the day didn’t go so well – make sure you know what needs improving for next time
• And if you had a great day – remember for next time

[Chiefs – don’t be afraid to put the truth!  Your comments could determine someone’s upgrade – if there are issues you must say. You can’t later complain if someone gets upgraded who you don’t think is good enough if you are not prepared to put an appropriate comment on their card!]

When looking for assessments make sure you have enough attendance and training signatures in place beforehand – remember it’s a minimum number and no maximum. Assessments are for your benefit – once you are ready only.  An assessment is to check your learnings – Knowledge, Attitude, Skills and Experience. Again if you are not quite ready then the Examiner can advise additional experience or training required before being re-assessed.  (Examiners – you don’t have to pass someone if they are not ready – help them to understand what’s missing)

Once you’ve got all your signatures then send your PRC to your Regional grading officer – don’t forget to take a photocopy first of all the appropriate pages (maybe do that every so often in case the dog decides to eat it!).  They will ensure it’s completed correctly – you can always check with them first if you are not sure!  Our National Grading Officer will then send it to Motorsport UK after another check.  We know this may seem a little bureaucratic but honestly we have very few returned on technicalities as a result of our grading teams attention to detail.

Motorsport UK circulate all upgrades to a panel from various clubs (except rally) to ensure adherence to the scheme.  Potentially another club may object!  So hold off sewing on those badges until you’ve had confirmation from Motorsport UK….just in case.

Most importantly though there should be no compulsion to upgrade.  This is a hobby after all – so enjoy it and maybe pick up some experiences along the way.  Help your fellow marshals to gain the experience they want and need.  But most of all stay safe!

As a reminder there’s a prize draw each month so don’t forget to check the website to see if you are a winner!