Norwich Meeting - 14 April 2010
Simon Best - IAM Chief Executive.

45 members and guests signed in to the Norwich meeting on 14th April to hear IAM CEO Simon Best talk to the group.

Simon began by explaining some of the news from IAM House:-
* IAM Surety has been expanded to include non IAM family members and now covers from age 19 to 79
* 6 Further Skill days are planned with the possibility of more at different venues
* The website has been updated to include polls
* Skill for Life price will remain the same for 2010
* IAM Cycling was launched on 28 April and will allow IAM to speak to school groups as part of their cycling
proficiency days and therefore inform children of the IAM from a young age.
*IAM's Commercial Businesses (Drive and Survive & IAM Fleet) have been relaunched.

Simon then went on to explain that 2010/2011 was a period of re-focus and investment to prepare for the future. This will include reviewing the organisational structure and investing in the network of groups and observers, the products offered, the head office staff and the computer systems used.

There are new membership tiers being introduced to complement the current associate and full membership levels that are currently used. These would be Special Assessment Member, Scooter Member and Cycle Member.

There will also be a range of new customisable posters available from the website for groups to use.

IAM will also be carrying out more research to develop new products and will launce new campaigns to raise public awareness.

The recent bad weather had generated a lot of press enquiries, seeking practical driving advice from the IAM, thus getting the IAM's name more widely known.

Simon then took questions from the floor.

• Why is the IAM not proactively putting themselves in the media?
  Journalists do not historically come to the IAM when they want an article so it is difficult to break into the media, however a new press and PR team at IAM House is looking to change that.
• Jeremy Clarkson is a well known figure in the press to do with motoring could he not be brought onboard?
  Jeremy Clarkson has been approached but has declined.
• Is there a way to give a level of membership to people who have passed, for example, a recognised County Council training course?
  Yes, there are accreditations for suitable outside courses.
• Is there going to be any different training for hybrids as these require a different way of driving to be effective?
  At the moment there is no-one to deliver this different training.
• A lot of Skill For Life's are sold and not taken up. There was talk that these details would be passed to groups to follow up, is this happening?
  It was trialled, we are looking to change the way we deliver our whole customer experience and pass all Skill For Life details to the local group from the outset.
• Is there a case for lobbying to get a new driver to carry a green 'P' plate for a set amount of time and impose certain restrictions?
  It may cause further problems by forcing new drivers onto smaller roads (where more accidents occur) and away from Motorways.