As I won't be present, I cannot complain about any final decisions but here are some points that I would probably raise. If you wish to consider the following points, it is entirely up to yourselves?
What is the strategic purpose of the group?
1. An informal cycling collective of local audaxers of like minded individuals
2. Incrementalist growth
3. A formalised club that encourages wider participation of cyclists to adopt audaxing.
4. A formalised club limited to existing audax riders.
Activity
1. Does it exist simply for Audaxers to ride together at events?
2. Does it support existing audaxes within the region?
3. Does it organise and deliver Audax Midland events?
4. Does it organise/promote activities that are additional to audaxes, for example, club runs, 12/24h time trials, TCR.
5. Social evenings?
Constitutional
1. Is it constituted formally?
2. Does it have a formal membership if a club?
3. Does it charge a membership fee?
4. Club/rider insurance.
Promotional
1. Webpage presence
2. Club kit
3. Branding
4. Advertising audax events and activity.
Knowledge transfer
1. Speak to AC Bristol or equivalent on 'warts and all' experiences.
And the old chestnut
1. Who does what and making it a reality!
I think the second point is the most important to me.
Frankly, I can do without the politics and the idealism, but I can't do without a meaningful reason to exist. There is more demand than there is supply of events in the West Midlands and that should be self explanatory.
Personal opinion at the mo is to initially keep it very informal. I think it’s ACH which just say, be a member of AUK. Put the club down as your club in AUK. You’re a member.
If we start doing club runs then we’ll need to start looking at insurance, constitutions and other formal stuff.
It would be great to support local events and run our own as well.
For comms, I’d suggest a Facebook page is probably the easiest/ cheapest way of doing it at first. Maybe one public for advertising events and enquiries and a closed one for members to arrange sharing lifts/ hotels etc.
Just some initial thoughts.