Report on the National AGM for 2007

 Year by year, the National AGM attendance gets smaller and smaller despite the attempts to persuade/attract folk into going to what is an essential and very important part of the Club year where serious Club issues are discussed and put to rights and this year was no different with a grand total of only a little over 130 members being present (23 Midland Section).

Those of you who don't visit the Club forum would most likely have been unaware of the concern expressed by some regarding the Club accounts, particularly with regard to the non compliance of having independent inspectors examining them - these issues have been discussed in great depth within the forum. If you haven't seen the discussions there is no point looking now as they've been removed but because of this there was a little tension at times within the meeting....

Because of the above issues, Derek Johnson was quizzed in greater detail than normal but the accounts were accepted by the meeting although DJ couldn't answer Jeans Cox's queries over a discrepancy regarding his figures on Regalia income (if memory serves, the discrepancy was in the region of £2,000 and I assume that this matter will be looked into).

To comply with the current rules, two independent members were appointed from the meeting to ensure that, in future, paperwork regarding the accounts may now be checked. The two inspectors appointed were Ann Wray and Andy Raggett who are both long time Club members and it was agreed that the details of actual responsibilities would be decided at the next NCM in April. Hillier Hopkins were again approved as the accountants for next year.

It was agreed that Club subscriptions will remain unchanged for next year.

There were no surprises with the officer positions as the only one in dispute was that of Nation Social Secretary. Those standing were Tony Robson and Richard Lamprell with Tony being the winner in a close run contest. Both gave a short address which you can see in the two video clips below (not great).

Trophies were then presented to their recipients

Item 13, to restrict membership to over 18's was carried.

Item 14, to move the AGM to a Bank Holiday weekend was rejected.

Item 15 was withdrawn as irrelevant due to the failure of the previous proposal.

Item 16 regarding a change of rules on the issue of two independent accounts inspectors was deferred for future consideration but was not so important once it had been agreed to appoint the inspectors as the rules currently state anyway.

Item 17 regarding the way in which section monies are determined was lost.

Item 18 regarding a restricted term of office for the President was lost.

Item 19 regarding reimbursing expenses for  National officers spouses, guests etc was objected too in no uncertain terms by one or two officers on the basis that it the wording only included the 'top table' and if applied it should read members so that it applied to all. I have to admit that they had a point which I'm sure hadn't been considered and I'd guess that a reworded proposal will be back next year.

I won't apologise for the vagueness of my memory on a couple of items - if it's important to you, you should have attended....