31st October 2020. Despite the continuing challenges of the Covid-19 restrictions, the National Coastwatch Institution  was able to hold the annual Station Managers meeting with an online conference, This was followed by an Extraordinary General Meeting to vote on a change to the charity’s  constitution.

 Planning for this meeting had started in early September and included Microsoft Teams training (supported by Cosmic UK) for the NCI members who have a diverse range of equipment and experience. On the day of the meeting, Ray Rigg and the NCI IT team managed the technical aspects of the meeting, with the help of our colleagues from Cosmic.

 On the morning of 31st October, the  NCI Trustees and Officers,  together with fifty-three Station Managers from across England and Wales,  met 'virtually’. Following an introductory address by Chairman Lesley Suddes, there were presentations on Fundraising by Ian Whalley and Operations by David Crozier. The Station Managers meeting concluded with a session that discussed matters raised by the various Small Group meetings held around the country over the last few months. After a short break, there was an Extraordinary General Meeting that had been called to allow a vote on several changes to the charity’s constitution.

 Despite it being held on Halloween weekend, the event wasn’t scary at all and proved to be a  very successful meeting that ran to schedule,  thanks largely to the organisation, preparation and management by the IT team.