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Message 5 of 5
Posted by member colin on Tuesday 24 March 2026

I am aware of some promising developments, which if come to fruition, could result in at least one hard copy magazine per year, possibly more? Additionally, some interest has been shown in replacement for the existing treasurers post held by Margaret for many years, (thank's Margaret!) additionally, other changes to existing roles are under discussion, so hopefully, the Club can move forward in a positive way and on a steady course!

This is still your time to express interest in whatever skills you could bring to the table regarding the Club, also any suggestions/ideas for consideration, this is yours/our Club, changes are taking place, or may even remain unchanged if that's possible.
If you have any ideas and would rather not put them on open discussion, you could always do as some members have done and contact any of the Club officials - contact details on the forum or on the inner page of the Club magazine direct!
This is our Club, lets keep it great or even make it better if that's even possible, more hands on deck are needed and all help is welcome. Perhaps even submit articles for the magazine along with pictures?

Regards

Col. (Club member)

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Message 4 of 5
Posted by member colin on Saturday 14 March 2026

Hi, I have consulted with Marie (Club Magazine Editor) also Angie (Club Membership Secretary and Webmaster) regarding this further post and have received their support for it's contents. (although Marie asked me to remove one piece regarding her outstanding and longstanding contribution and my nomination regarding recipient of the first Hardy Memorial Award, so I have done so in compliance!)

Firstly, I would start with a tribute to the great late John Hardy, I am sure we were all shocked to hear this sad news and our collective and heartfelt thoughts go to Tricia and their family, whom must be both incredibly proud of his achievements, but feeling his loss greatly!

Apart from a positive response from member Kenny (thank you Kenny) we have not received any further comments from members in relation to matters that need to be discussed so that we as, a Club, can move forward in a positive way that provides members with a Club that meets with their requirements.

Editor Marie has largely been the driving force of this Club for many years and has repeatedly expressed an interest in handing on her role as Editor to another member. To date, no one has expressed interest in taking over the role fully, however, at least one member has expressed a wish to help out as they have experience in the way the Club may need to move forward.

One thing is for sure, the Club cannot continue in the way it has when Marie steps down as Editor at the end of the season, this so far is the only definite thing! Without Marie’s tireless abilities and time, it is not likely that for example, a bi -yearly magazine (previously 3 magazines per year remember!) of the quality she has been responsible for can continue.

Many things are being discussed to determine how the Club moves forward, remains relevant to member’s wishes and requirements but needs to be achievable!

Any changes have to account for the amount of time unpaid volunteers who run and manage the club can be reduced to acceptable limits, so at the present, a number of things are being considered that may not be agreeable to all but may even benefit other members.

Such things are –

Reducing the Club magazine to one addition per year or stopping it altogether?

If the Club magazine continues, packages/services of how this can be achieved are being looked at to see if it’s possible and at what cost!

Moving the Club magazine to a ‘Digital platform’ or expanding the existing on line experience to include more?

The existing Club calendar is such a hit with members that it will almost certainly become a fixture and all members would receive a new calendar each year including new members? Marie will almost certainly continue with this role as she was responsible for it in the first place and frankly, there is no one better suited!

Awards given to members for boat repairs/refurbishment/endeavors/achievements to their Hardy craft over the year/s, as agreed by the Club officials? This could take the form of an engraved silver plate or tankard or lead crystal perhaps, or some other form of keepsake?

One could be the John Hardy Memorial Award and the other could be the Colin Mudie (RDI) Memorial Award to reflect these brilliant people’s achievements, after all, without them, there would be no Hardy Craft that we all love and enjoy. Of course these awards would have to be with the consent/permission of the respective families!)

Various things are being discussed such as Club official’s role changes, perhaps with the view of making them more attractive to would be new volunteers although it should be stressed that the compliance with unpaid volunteers will remain.

There are a number of things that could be considered; perhaps your thoughts and ideas could help with any future changes to our Club?

Please contribute your thoughts and ideas to this matter as without them, the Club officials will just have to go forward without if it's going to survive, this is your time to get involved! Would you like to contribute your expertise or volunteer in any way to help support our Club? Please either respond to this so we can all be involved or if you prefer, contact Marie or any one of the other Club officers with your comments!

Let’s hope this Club can continue to sail forward in a positive and dynamic way!

(thank’s to Angie the Webmaster for temporarily changing the code to allow this to appear as one message!)

Col. (fellow member)

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Message 3 of 5
Posted by member colin on Tuesday 24 February 2026

Hi Kenny, your positive response to this matter is very greatly appreciated, thank you !

I thought I may have to ask Marie to validate this discussion before anyone would respond, however, you bravely contributed the first reply, hopefully it will result in others voicing their opinions and suggestions in a similar positive way!

In an ideal world, things would just continue as they are, I would personally change nothing, however in the real world we live in, this cannot continue with the Club relying on the few stalwarts that have contributed their time and energies to maintaining the Club in the fantastic way they have over the years.

I really don’t think members realise just how much goes on behind the scenes (and that includes me!) especially regarding Marie, but all the current and past officers, despite some trying times faced in personal lives, they endeavoured to ensure our enjoyment of the Club continued without a hint of complaint or reduction of input.
I will admit, I would personally would have loved to try the on the Editor’s hat, however a number issues became apparent to me, firstly, how could anyone follow in Marie’s shoes and produce the standard she has achieved over her term in office? – just impossible!? (or could you try?)
Secondly I am not greatly computer literate!
Thirdly I am naturally lazy! (and ‘stoopid!)
Fourthly, My Wife is already covering two of the Officers positions of Membership secretary and Website co-ordinator, so it wouldn’t be right for me to cover a third, additionally, she would have to help me out on so much that she would end up doing most of it! She also has a demanding career as well as me to put up with!

Simple fact of the matter is, some of the officers feel they have contributed as much as they are able and it’s time for other members to take up the mantle!

I have little doubt personally that Marie will continue beavering away behind the scenes, doing what she does best to support this club, albeit in not such a ‘pressured’ or obvious way. She will likely retain her role as ‘keeper of the records’ relating to Hardy Craft manufactured by the John Hardy/Colin Mudie RDI collective genius over the years.

I really don’t see it likely us getting someone of her unique talents and we must therefore consider changes to the Editors position that will not be so intensive and time consuming. Digital is probably the only way forward here sadly!

Discussions are taking place to look at how best the club can go on forward as the alternative isn’t thinkable, well not to me and I am sure many others!

Some interesting possibilities are being discussed, hopefully some of which will result in an even better Club, if that’s possible.

Kenny, I thank you on behalf of other members for your contributions to the Club that makes it so good, indeed one of the best, we just need more to contribute and I know there are a lot of very talented members out there that could do so!

Please add your comments, everyone has a voice in this matter, as I see it, no member has any more say in how the Club is run than any other! However, It has to be both achievable and sustainable!
I repeat, I am a Club member and not one of the Officers but I believe I understand this matter correctly and the time is here to discuss how best for the Club to continue forward.

Col.

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Message 2 of 5
Posted by member Kenny Clark on Tuesday 24 February 2026

Colin,

Thank you for addressing this matter, which I consider to be one of the most significant topics in the history of the HOC.

I am pleased to have designed the Hardy logo that was selected for the Spring 2016 magazine issue, following extensive correspondence with Marie. This experience has reinforced my connection to the Hardy tradition. Over the past twelve years, I have actively participated in the message board, exchanging information, learning from others, selling on marine market and acquiring Hardy regalia.

My skills as a boater and in maintaining Hardy vessels have markedly improved due to the support and knowledge shared by HOC members. I sincerely appreciate the considerable dedication and effort required to sustain the club year after year, benefitting all members. I am profoundly grateful to those committed to the Hardy cause, especially the organisers:

• Marie – Editor
• Angie – Secretary and website coordinator
• Peter – Advertising
• Anita – Regalia
• Margaret – Treasurer

Without them, there would be no club to discuss. I want to give special thanks to Marie, our editor, who has taken the helm for countless years. It is easy to become accustomed to a well-managed club; however, it is important to recognise and value the ongoing efforts rather than take them for granted.

Getting back to your main point that the way in which our club will be managed may have to change. Further discussions may be needed to reach a consensus on HOC's future direction. I realise this is only the beginning of what's ahead. Here are a few suggestions for further consideration and discussion:

• Do club members want the same things as before, or are they looking for something different?
• Members survey or forum?
• Will a digital magazine help organisers/contributors save time?
• Annual hard copy HOC magazine to contributors’ time and control costs.
• How will the club be managed?

More questions than answers at this stage. At least it is a start.

Regards,
Kenny

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Message 1 of 5
Posted by member colin on Monday 23 February 2026

Ahoy fellow Hardy boat fans, owners and club members, sadly we seem to have reached a point where as club members, we really need to consider and discuss what we need as a Club to move forward and remain strong.
The club has been run by a small and dedicated number of unpaid volunteers who have done a brilliant job over the years, none more so than our brilliant Editor Marie who has been a steady hand on the helm of this club for more years than she would possibly be happy to admit to!

As is usual with a club, it’s down to a few member’s sterling efforts to keep the club running on an even keel, some for many more years than they intended as new volunteers have been short in supply despite repeated requests.
As you know, the club is run by members for the members, the club officials have busy lives, commitments and in some cases jobs as well as their club commitments.
Recently, it was decided to reduce the club magazine down from 3 to 2 hard copy magazines per year, I personally think that has worked very well and Marie has as usual produced a quality magazine we have all been lucky to enjoy.
Unfortunately, this takes up a lot of time and planning on behalf of the Editor and due to a number of factors we have reached a point where we must consider changes that may not be preferable but essential in order to carry on.

I stress I am not inviting discussion as a club official, merely as a member, however, I have seen some of the effort my wife Angie and other club officials (especially Marie) put in behind the scenes, additionally, Marie has announced to the club of her intention to step down as Editor at the end of this year!

This is entirely understandable, she has been inviting volunteers to take the brave step forward and take up the tiller of some of the officers of the club although Marie will be an impossible act to follow.

As I understand it, things that are being considered include moving the bi annual hard club magazine down to one issue a year, or/and possibly moving it to a digital format accessed on the computer.
Hard printing the magazine is costly but more importantly very time consuming for the Editor who has to do it! There may be savings that the club could pass onto members in other ways, the Club Calendar is another brilliant idea by the Editor that has been very popular with members and it would be hoped that it would continue alongside other ideas?

I realise this may not suit all members, especially those like me who are not greatly computer ‘savvy’, however I can navigate the club website and hopefully, if I can, most people will be able to! The advantage is that people could access the site/magazine contents on a number of devices including their i pads, mobile phones, etc.

This is important, maybe you could give this some consideration and provide any constructive comments and suggestions you may have to help keep this club one of the best (if not the best) I have ever been a member of ( a few) over the years.
Grateful thanks to Marie and all the Club officials who have tirelessly officiated this club over the years, time for change now appears to be thrust upon us!

Please add your comments, we all have a voice, it’s our club!

Col.

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