AGM Minutes

NETHER STOWEY TWINNING ASSOCIATION ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

2 FEBRUARY 2007

Attendance: Terry Abbiss; Mark Baker; Abigail and Alex Ballinger; Eric and Heather Coates; Sue and Dave Davison; Bob de Barr; Jill Goodwin; Judith and Peter Greig; Rhu Griffiths; Sam Harcombe; Dennis Harkness; Ann Hill; Thelma Hoare; Alison Jarah and Mike Johnson; Bob and Rosie Keene; Kate O’Byrne; Michelle and Tim Tribe; Molly Thompson; Susan and Jordan Marks; Sandra Sidaway.

Apologies: Louise & Duncan Peaster, Jane Taylor & Barry Parsons, Jean and Peter Higginson, Kate Hammond

Minutes of the last AGM. These were approved.

Matter Arising. There were none.

Chairman’s Report

Theillay had visited Nether Stowey over the Easter weekend in April. About 40 visitors from Theillay had taken part in the trip our visitors enjoyed an excursion to Dunster and a Barn Dance on the Saturday, and an afternoon of silly games on Sunday. Nether Stowey’s 2007 trip to Theillay had been arranged for Easter weekend.

By the end of 2006 membership had stood at 51, 12 of which were individual subs, the rest family. The original youth membership were growing and the Committee had been working hard to attract new members among the families at Nether Stowey school, but without success. It was felt that changing lifestyles might be a contributory factor in this.

Jean Higginson was thanked for her work collecting Membership subs every year.

The committee had been running for the past year without a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman, which had made life difficult for the committee and was not a good indicator of the health of association. It was hoped that this year these posts and that of Secretary would be filled.

A calendar of events had been produced for April 06-Feb 07 and distributed to members. It was hoped that the website would be valuable as a means of publicity and communication, both internally and with Theillay, but was not operational at present. Only 4 members did not now admit to an email address and members were kept up to date with twinning events by a combination of email and hand-delivered printouts.

Events of the past year included a very successful Car Boot Sale in May, which raised over £200 for the Association and a Boules Match in September. The Barn Dance in November raised more money than the previous year’s but was not well attended, due to a clash of events locally. The quiz nights, organised by Sue Davison, continued to be successful and a good source of income, as did the Safari Supper, organised by Alison Jarah, which raised £367. Sadly a few events did not come to fruition, namely the Quantock walks and the Garden Safari. The association welcomed suggestions by members for possible events and active steps had been taken to ensure that more foodie events could be properly supervised.

Treasurer’s Report

Judith Greig presented the accounts. Funds had been increased by £577.73 as a result of fundraising activities in 2006, Judith noted that some fundraising activities cost more to run than others, for example the Safari Supper required minimal financial outlay compared to the Barn Dance. Income from membership subs totalled £450, a significant increase on previous years, but it was not clear how much of the increase was due to higher membership fees and how much to increased membership. The major financial commitment for 2007 was the trip to Theillay. The quotation from Berries coaches for coach and ferry was £2860 plus whatever number of cabins required at £69.

Election of Officers

Abigail Ballinger was standing down from the Committee having served two years as Secretary; Kate Hammond was also stepping down from the Committee. Judith Greig stood down as Treasurer but was elected as Vice-Chairman (proposed by Rhu Griffiths, seconded by Ann Hill). Jill Goodwin was elected as Treasurer (proposed by Heather Coates, seconded by Judith Greig). Rhu Griffiths was elected as Secretary (proposed by Mark Baker, seconded by Abigail Ballinger), with Peter Greig and Heather Coates being co-opted onto the Committee to assist with secretarial duties as required. Eric Coates was elected onto the Committee (proposed by Judith Greig, seconded by Sue Davison) and would have special responsibility for the website. The remaining members of the committee were re-elected en bloc. Abigail was thanked for her work as Secretary.

The Future of the Association

There was some discussion about the difficulties of getting young families involved in the Association – a problem which it emerged was common to many other organisations, both nationally and locally (eg other twinning associations, the Brownies, Cubs and the PTA). Everyone was more pressed for time than in previous years and also French was no longer compulsory at Haygrove School. Tim Tribe suggested that grandparents should be encouraged to take grandchildren on the trip, if parents did not have time. Sue, Bob and Ann had given a presentation about Theillay and the Easter trip to the relevant years at Nether Stowey School the day before which had been enthusiastically received by the children. It was hoped that this direct approach would yield some family bookings on the trip. Bob de Barr raised the idea of organising smaller, more specialised trips to Theillay and getting other local associations involved, eg a garden themed trip for the Gardening Club, Theillay/Nether Stowey football match. Bob Keene suggested publicising the trip and the association via a special display board in a local shop and volunteered his graphic design skills.

Any other business. There was none.

Date of the next meeting. February 2008.