Here's the highlights of the Canoe Wales AGM 2022!

The evening started with an introduction from the Canoe Wales Chair, Kerry Chown and a run through of the agenda. Dechreuodd y noson gyda chyflwyniad gan Gadeirydd Canŵ Cymru, Kerry Chown ac amlinelliad byr o’r agenda.

The new Canoe Wales Environment and Sustainability Lead, Mike Raine, then gave an informative presentation which pointed out some of the fragile and significant natural environment in which we paddle. These range from the Celtic Rainforests which surround rivers like the Tryweryn to the environments habited by seals and other marine wildlife which sea paddlers surround themselves with. Yna rhoddodd Arweinydd Amgylchedd a Chynaliadwyedd newydd Canŵ Cymru, Mike Raine, gyflwyniad llawn gwybodaeth oedd yn tynnu sylw at rai o’r amgylcheddau naturiol bregus ac arwyddocaol yr ydym yn padlo ynddynt. Mae’r rhain yn amrywio o’r Fforestydd Glaw Celtaidd sy’n amgylchynu afonydd fel y Tryweryn i’r amgylcheddau y mae morloi a bywyd gwyllt morol arall yn byw ynddynt y mae padlwyr môr yn eu hamgylchynu eu hunain gyda.

The normal business of the AGM came next, and viewers received an update on the Canoe Wales Board. Daeth busnes arferol y Cyfarfod Cyffredinol Blynyddol nesaf, a chafodd y gwylwyr ddiweddariad ar Fwrdd Canŵ Cymru. Cawsant hefyd drosolwg o’r enwebeion ar gyfer y swyddi etholedig gwag a throsolwg o gamau nesaf yr etholiad.

Kerry Chown then gave her Chair’s report where she focused on three priorities; namely Inclusivity, Governance and ‘Set for the Future’.  Alistair Dickson, CEO, followed with an update of all functional areas of the organisation and some detail as to what has happened since March 2022 (following the year being reviewed via the AGM). Yna rhoddodd Kerry Chown ei hadroddiad Cadeirydd lle canolbwyntiodd ar dair blaenoriaeth; sef Cynwysoldeb, Llywodraethu a ‘Barod am y Dyfodol’. Dilynodd Alistair Dickson, Prif Swyddog Gweithredol, gyda diweddariad o’r holl feysydd swyddogaethol o’r sefydliad a rhai manylion am yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd ers mis Mawrth 2022 (yn dilyn y flwyddyn yn cael ei hadolygu drwy’r Cyfarfod Cyffredinol Blynyddol).

Andy Booth, Canoe Wales Finance Director, then followed and gave a detailed picture of the financial picture of both Canoe Wales and Canoe Wales Sales and Services.  Votes were taken where the accounts were approved as presented and Azets Audit Services were reappointed for 2022-23. Yna dilynodd Andy Booth, cyfarwyddwr Cyllid Canŵ Cymru, a rhoi darlun manwl o’r darlun ariannol o Werthiant a Gwasanaethau Canŵ Cymru. Cymerwyd pleidleisiau lle cymeradwywyd y cyfrifon ac ailbenodwyd Azets Audit Services ar gyfer 2022-23.

Kerry then gave an overview of the Hugh James Report relating to the governance of Canoe Wales.

Kerry explained that Hugh James is a top 100 UK law firm with offices in Cardiff, London, Southampton, Plymouth and Manchester.  They are an expert in governance and work with a wide variety of organisations, particularly non-profit and charities.  Canoe Wales were contacted by Sport Wales who offered NGB’s a free consultation and review of their governance documents.  Hugh James provided a report which was published as a pre-read to the AGM. Yna rhoddodd Kerry drosolwg o Adroddiad Hugh James yn ymwneud â threfn lywodraethol Canŵ Cymru. Esboniodd Kerry fod Hugh James ymhlith y 100 cwmni cyfreithiol gorau yn y DU gyda swyddfeydd yng Nghaerdydd, Llundain, Southampton, Plymouth a Manceinion. Maent yn arbenigwyr mewn llywodraethu ac yn gweithio gydag ystod eang sefydliadau, yn enwedig rhai dielw ac elusennau. Cysylltodd Chwaraeon Cymru â Chanŵ Cymru gan gynnig i’r CRhC ymgynghoriad ac adolygiad rhad ac am ddim o’u dogfennau llywodraethu. Darparodd Hugh James adroddiad a gyhoeddwyd i’w rhag-ddarllen cyn y Cyfarfod Cyffredinol Blynyddol.

As part of the recommendations, Canoe Wales was recommended to update their Articles, Member Regulations/Byelaws and create a new Director’s Handbook. All documents were circulated as a pre-read with a vote taken to agree the changes to Canoe Wales’ Articles of Association. The changes were passed with 69% of those eligible to vote, voting in favour. Fel rhan o’r argymhellion, argymhellwyd fod Canŵ Cymru yn diweddaru eu Herthyglau, Rheoliadau/ Is-ddeddfau Aelodau, ac yn creu  Llawlyfr Cyfarwyddwyr newydd. Dosbarthwyd yr holl ddogfennau fel rhag-ddarllen gyda phleidlais i gytuno ar y newidiadau i Erthyglau Cymdeithasiad Canŵ Cymru. Pasiwyd y newidiadau gyda 69% o’r rhai oedd yn gymwys i bleidleisio yn pleidleisio o blaid.

The formal AGM was then closed and an informative and interesting presentation from Llangollen Canoe Club followed. Marc Owen from Llangollen CC talked through their understanding of diversity and inclusivity and then talked through some of the initiatives they have been running more generally as a club. Hannah Vineer followed and talked through some of the impact the #ShePaddles Champion Club programme had brought to the club which has seen their female membership proportion increase to 43% of the total membership (from 21% originally). Yna daeth y Cyfarfod Cyffredinol Blynyddol i ben a chafwyd cyflwyniad llawn gwybodaeth a diddorol gan Glwb Canŵ Llangollen i ddilyn. Siaradodd Marc Owen o CC Llangollen am eu dealltwriaeth o amrywiaeth a chynwysoldeb  ac yna siaradodd am rai o’r mentrau y maent wedi bod yn eu rhedeg yn fwy cyffredinol fel clwb. Dilynodd Hannah Vineer a siaradodd am rai o effeithiau roedd y rhaglen #ShePaddles Champion Club wedi dod i’r clwb sydd wedi gweld eu cyfran aelodaeth fenywaidd yn cynyddu i 43% o gyfanswm yr aelodaeth (o 21% yn wreiddiol).

The evening finished with an open Q&A to Board members present before Kerry closed the meeting just before 9pm. Daeth y noson i ben gyda sesiwn holi ac ateb agored i aelodau’r Bwrdd oedd yn bresennol cyn i Kerry ddod â’r cyfarfod i ben ychydig cyn 9pm.

Canoe Wales would like to thank all members who participated and engaged in the AGM. We understand some members were not able to join due to the increased security settings installed by Zoom in the days prior. We would like to apologise to anybody who was unable to attend due to challenges relating to these settings. We will ensure we advertise a technical helpline next year and notify members of these challenges as soon as we hear of them. Hoffai Canŵ Cymru ddiolch i’r holl aelodau a gymerodd ran ac a weithiodd yn y Cyfarfod Cyffredinol Blynyddol. Rydym ni’n deall nad oedd rhai aelodau yn gallu ymuno oherwydd y gosodiadau diogelwch cynyddol a osodwyd gan Zoom yn y dyddiau blaenorol. Hoffem ymddiheuro i unrhyw un nad oedd yn gallu bod yn bresennol oherwydd heriau sy’n ymwneud â’r gosodiadau hyn. Byddwn yn sicrhau ein bod yn hysbysebu llinell gymorth dechnegol y flwyddyn nesaf a rhoi gwybod i aelodau am yr heriau hyn cyn gynted ag y byddwn yn clywed amdanynt.

All documents have now been published on our AGM Page. Mae’r holl gyflwyniadau bellach wedi’u cyhoeddi   >click here to view< 

If you'd like to watch the AGM meeting as a recording on YouTube, please click on any of the images of the presentation.