COVID-19 - Early June Update

The OMC COVID 19 subcommittee held a further virtual meeting on Friday 5th June, unfortunately there is little to report back on as the situation with the lockdown hasn’t eased sufficiently to allow anything to change for us.

There is no change on the cancellation of all OMC summer activities at Oakley Club and the easing of lockdown and the new Government guidelines are not allowing us to arrange any ride outs. Yes, there are ways around the guidelines and different interpretations can be put to them, but we feel that as a responsible club we will not be organising any. This will be reviewed at the earliest opportunity when there is further lockdown easing.

With regards to Oakley Club and Thursday meets, the Government has indicated that easing MAY take place from early July with regards to hospitality and licensed premises. However, realistically, we don’t think we will be in any position to open our Thursday night doors as we cannot imagine that large group gatherings will be allowed and we all know that when the Sports & Social Club does eventually re-open, if we as a bike club re-open, we are likely to be overwhelmed with bikers. However, we will see what guidelines and legislation the Government produce and work with it.

We, as a sub committee, have proposed some financial implications to OMC regarding incentives to our advertisers which has now been agreed by the full committee. We have 17 business advertisers, many of whom have been with us a long time and we all know that the current situation has left many of them struggling financially with furloughed employees and possible redundancies. Their sponsorship pays for our website, the OMC magazine and much more.

OMC has carried over money year in year out, in the event of a “rainy day” which we believe is now upon us. Therefore we will not be invoicing our sponsors for this year and will not be asking for any advertising payment until 1st April 2021. Basically they will get this year free. We have asked them that for discounts to OMC members they accept 2019 in addition to 2020 OMC membership cards.

We have also organised through Sportsform the supply to members of logo’ed facemarks as these, I’m sure, will be playing a huge part in the future of events and travel. These are now available on our website for order, payment and posting out. We have agreed that it would be morally wrong for us as a club to make a profit on these during this pandemic, therefore they are cost price of £7.00 which includes the printed logo and postage.

Our latest magazine is in the final days of preparation and although we are not having a print run at this stage, it will be available to download from the OMC website. We will inform you when this is completed. Many thanks to our Magazine Editor Kirsty Eaton.

Please can I ask all members, where possible to use the services of our sponsors as they are and will continue to be a highly valued asset to OMC

Finally, I hope you and your families are all well and stay safe as this COVID 19 is far from over and I wish to see all our members again in 2021

Best wishes

Baysie

Roger Bays

Chair - OMC