Chair's update
The Group’s AGM is on the 8th June so it is timely to give a brief summary of our achievements over the last 12 months.
The Group has had a steady stream of new Associates from across the age range, helped by donations to the Group that have funded discounts for young drivers and there have been discounts for older road users that the Group has mainly funded. Some of our courses have had up to 10 Associates. From April 2016 to March 31st 2017 we generated 18 Tests with 16 Passes and 2 Fails. Eight of those who passed also achieved the IAM First. This is the most First Passes we have generated in any one year. This shows a high level of competency of our Observers in the delivery of our Courses. Since the Group began in 1985 up until May 2017, we have generated 625 Test Passes and 56 Fails, which is a Pass rate of around 92%. This is a testimony of the hard work put in by our Observers both past and present over this period.
The national re-branding to IAM RoadSmart and other changes have had a number of consequences for the Group. All of our Observers have had to become Institute of Motor Industry (IMI) qualified and as I reported in April we have achieved this well before the end of year deadline. In addition, our Observer team has had to become familiar with the new Associate booklet which is provided by IAM RoadSmart HQ. Since this booklet is now provided to each Associate, this has removed the time involved and cost of the Group producing Associate booklets.
Our new IAM RoadSmart branded website is comprehensive having information of value to both Group members and the general public. The Group’s bi-monthly newsletter has been streamlined (reducing production costs) but at the same time providing access to a greater amount of on line information via links. Paper copies are still sent to those who don’t have internet access. The new website has enabled most of the Group’s paper based forms to be replaced with on-line alternatives, thereby reducing Group administration and costs.
Well, that’s it from me. Safe driving and good observing.
Mark Farnworth
Group Chairman
