Fund raising Family Treasure Hunt in aid of Cowes ILB and the RNLI on Sunday 30th May 1600 hours. Starting venue is Readers forecourt, Place Road Cowes, £5.00 per car. All welcome. You can join an interesting activity, search for treasures together with your friends or family. If you want to help us with such events or create your own quest, but are worried about the lack of inspiration or funds, contact mba essay writers to have a great project to attract investors or like-minded people. Contact Helen Lewis on 295290 for further information or tickets.

Report of the Annual General Meeting held at Island Sailing Club on Wednesday 28th January 2004, attended by members and guests.

The minutes of the previous A.G.M. had been circulated and were agreed at the meeting to be a true record.

The Chairman delivered his report of the overall activities of the Unit during 2003 ( see below ) and thanked the outgoing committee for their continued support.

The Treasurer presented the Final Draft Accounts for the year, which were adopted.

The Boat Officer then presented his Operational Report for the year, which highlighted the Unit attended 37 incidents assisting 101 people before outboard motor problems forced the boat off service at the end of November.

The election of Officers and Committee took place as follows:-

Chairmans Report 2003.

The Unit had a busy year as always, attending 37 emergency callouts going to the aid of 101 people in need of assistance, a slight increase of that of last year. Additionally patrols were carried out most Saturdays and Sundays. Cowes Week was hectic with patrols organised for at least a 6 hours per day over eight days. Other events were also covered such as the International Powerboat Event in Late August.

Crew membership remains constant with most committed to helping raise the necessary funds to maintain the Service at its highest standard.

Fundraising during the year has been highly successful due to the hard work of dedicated fundraisers from both operational and non-operational members of the Unit. In addition to various fundraising activities during Cowes Week several other major events took place, which included donations at Marks and Spencer car park, a second highly successful evening with our Patron, Alan Titchmarsh at Medina Theatre and a sizable donation for safety coverage at Newport Harbour for the duration of the Isle of Wight Music Festival in June. The Unit also continued its search for a Corporate Sponsor to relieve the burden on local fundraising but as yet to no avail.

Public awareness of the Unit as an Independent Lifeboat Organisation has also risen this year. The Unit was represented at the Isle of Wight County Show and the Garlic Festival together with good press coverage whenever possible. The Unit's 4 employees of the Isle of Wight Council were also featured in the Authority's Wight Insight Magazine designed to give good publicity for the Organisation.

I was particularly proud to be one of the eleven members honoured at a reception at the Royal Yacht Squadron where we were awarded The Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal for services to the lifeboat.

The Units commitment to crew training and development continued with various members of the team attending R.Y.A. courses, setting as always high standards.

The elected Committee met on average every 6 weeks, meetings being always well attended. At every meeting the Treasurer was able to report the exact financial state of the Organisation and I take this opportunity to thank David Whittaker for all his hard work throughout the year.

Crew Meetings followed the same pattern organised by the Boat Officer keeping the crew well informed of future events or requirements. I thank Dave Lewis for his dedication to his duties as Boat Officer, there was never an occasion last year that I did not find the boat looking anything other than in first class order.

Unfortunately, the year has ended with the boat suffering major outboard motor problems resulting with the Unit coming off service until the situation can be resolved, hopefully within the next few weeks. However, the Committee and Crew have worked hard and I remain positive for the future of Cowes Inshore Lifeboat as an Independent Lifeboat Organisation.

Lastly as Chairman, it is my pleasure to thank the membership of the Organisation for their contribution throughout the year especially the Crew for a job well done and I hope like me we all look forward to the year ahead.

Chairman.
28th January 2004.

Photograph courtesy William Payne Photography