AGM 2017

 

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting

held on 20th February 2017 at 7pm

 

1. Apologies: Janet Jones, Mary Helby, Gaynor Shaw, Sonja Cheadle, Martin and Brenda Burt, Joice Williams, Pru Cooper, Janet Moore

2. Minutes of 2016: The minutes of the AGM 2016 were read and signed as a true recor Annie Inman. This was proposed by Tessa Thompson and seconded by Mary Boon.

3. Matters Arising: None

4. Chairman’s Report: It has been another good year for the Society. We have enjoyed eight interesting talks on varied subjects ranging from the ‘Isles of Scilly’ to ‘Double Primroses’ to ‘Medicines in the Garden’. Our two shows, with David Winter as our Show Secretary, were well supported and colourful with an increased number of entries. Some small changes in the schedule had produced some imaginative entries. Revd John Weir was our Guest of Honour and Michael Parle ‘kindly computed’ the voting.

A Wild Flower Walk was a new innovation and we all enjoyed seeing different types of wild orchids near Postbridge, despite a deluge halfway through the afternoon propelling all participants towards the cream tea!

The two Outings were also enjoyed, arranged by Janet Jones. The coach outing was to Pinsla Nursery, where we had a charming welcome from Claire Woodbine and good plants to buy and then to Trelissick above the River Fal. The half day visit to Coombe Trenchard included a detailed talk about the Arts and Craft House (some were disappointed not to see the disappearing wall in action!) and a wonder around the Edwardian garden. The weather was beautiful for tea on the terrace. Our summer Social evening in David and Poppet Wixon’s beautiful garden was much enjoyed. Many thanks to them.

We had members’ plants for sale at the May meeting and committee members manned the plant stall at the Meavy Oak Fair. Plants for that are very generously donated by Peter Argles of Champernowne Nursery and we received a donation from the Oak fair.

Michael Parle helps enormously with the MGS part of the Meavy Village website and Kay Moore liaises with him with sending e-mails about our forthcoming meetings and activities. We are grateful to Stephen Pine who often writes reports on our events for the Tavistock Times. Please let us have your e-mail addresses as it is a good way to communicate .

On the committee front we have welcomed Gill Knight as a co-opted member and we thank Mary Helby for all her support. Mary is stepping down from the committee. I discovered that we had actually had one more committee member for a year or two than our constitution states. We are meant to have eleven. However, as Mary is stepping down that actually brings us to the right number. We are allowed to have up to 3 co-opted members as required. That means we shall ask Gill who we very much welcome to remain co-opted!

Martin Burt is stepping down as Treasurer and has also handed over part of the Publicity to Patrick Drennan who has kindly taken on the job of liaising with village magazines. Thank you to Patrick for taking this on, and to Martin a huge thank you for all your enormous contribution to the Society. Martin and Brenda are continuing to deal with the posters. Sylvia Gokhale has nobly offered to take on the treasurer’s role.

Subscriptions remain unchanged this year.Most importantly of all your committee are very hard working and I would like to thank them all for their wonderful support.

5. Treasurer’s Report: Copies of the accounts were available for members to read. David Winter read the report in Martin Burt’s absence. The report concluded that the society is currently in a good financial position, thanks to a variety of fund raising efforts by committee members , donations from Joyce Williams, the Meavy Oak Fair Committee and Society Outings. The accounts were accepted unanimously.

6. Election of the Committee: Cyril Sparey spoke on behalf of the members to express thanks to Annie and the Committee members for all their hard work. He proposed the re-election of all the Committee members if they were willing to stand again. This was seconded by Kirsty Winter. All were willing with the exception of Mary Helby who was standing down. The committee was the re-elected en-bloc. All were in agreement.

Annie noted a thank you to Mary Helby for her contribution over the years. Gill Knight will remain a co-opted member.

7. The Year Ahead: Programme of talks – ‘Nerines’, ‘Alliums’ , ’Fancy Foliage’, ‘Rejuvenating a Tired Garden’, ‘History of the Tulip’, ‘Bees’, ‘Stone Lane Gardens – it’s history and the trees within it’. Thank you to Gaynor for her efforts.

Members plants for sale – at April and May meetings.

Spring Fun Show – 20th March – schedules, Quizzes, Finger Food and Raffle.

Oak Fair – Saturday 17th June. Plant Stall.

Outings. Thorn House Garden on Wednesday 10th May in cars £13. 2pm. Tour and cream Tea. Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens Thursday 7th September £25 Full day coach outing.

Social Evening Monday 5th June at Byleat. 6pm Kind invitation of David and John Stratford.

8. AOB: A member asked if the visit to Champernowne Nursery had been arranged yet. Annie replied that she hoped to phone about this soon.