Welling

AGM Minutes 2022

Welling U3A Annual General Meeting

22nd June 2022

Westwood Centre, 168 Bellegrove Road

Welling, Kent. DA16 3RD

Committee-Present

Co-opted members

Apologies
Maureen Atkins
Eliza Benefield
Pat Pitney
Pauline Griffin
Marlene Harmer
Sara-Jane Ladbrook-Hutt
Dorothy Winter
Linda Hurley
Pam Wood
Elizabeth Crawley
Phil Hinton
Lisa Knightsbridge

68 members were physically present

Minutes

Maria welcome everyone to our 8th AGM.
She mentioned Pat Pitney who was in QEH and unable to attend.
She reminded members about health and safety, toilets, fire exits, phones to be turned off.
Apologies for absence were noted.

Members were provided with paper copies of the previous minutes.

There were no matters arising but Maria drew attention to the difference in finance from last year (£4,405) and this year (£2,980). The minutes were agreed unanimously.
Proposed: Liz Sampson Seconded: Janis Rudland

CHAIR’S REPORT - Key points
Maria reported another interesting year in her role as Chair, with COVID still impacting many activities and events. We still used Zoom online talks and online members’ meetings to give as many members as possible social activities and regularly communicated by phone, newsletters and via Beacon emails. It has not been easy to contact everybody about everything but the Committee tried their best to do so.

Our first face-to-face members’ meeting was in October 2021; it seems so long ago now. We had had to change the date of the AGM to later in the year, due to COVID restrictions and members concerns about attending a meeting in person. It was lovely to reconnect with members and catch up in person and have a good natter.

Our Xmas social event at St Stephen’s Church Hall was our last members’ meeting at that venue. It was an excellent event with great musical entertainment by Terri’s entertainment and fish and chips lunch, with refreshments. Much thanks to the committee and Irene Thorley and Lisa Knightsbridge for their fab catering organisation. Refreshing change from sandwiches and very tasty!

Then in January 2022, we started the year with a new venue for our members’ meetings- the Westwood Centre. The staff at the Centre have been very accommodating to our group and set up the hall before our meetings. Maria negotiated the use of an additional room to use for sign up and payment tables for events and outings. This has proved very successful. Refreshments are provided by the Centre, for a small charge, served to members by our catering team in another room. There were initially teething problems with seating enough of you and arrangements for the hall layout, but we think we have cracked this now. It was a major learning curve for Maria.

Various events and trips have been organised by Jill, Irene T, Kim B and myself - Quiz Night, Severndroog Castle, John Soane’s Museum, Pashley Manor Gardens, Eastbourne Seaside trip, Brick Lane Music Hall afternoon tea. Even a u3a Picnic in the Park to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the organisation is in the pipeline for August. There was applause at this point for all the hard work this involved.

Membership renewals in April proved very successful, with 161 members renewing. We have also gained new members, so it has been a busy time for Jill Thomas and Pat Perry who organised a very smooth membership meeting.

Thank you to the Group Leaders who have done so well to keep their groups active during this difficult year. Some have met in person; some have met online on Zoom meetings. There have been a few new groups starting up, so this has been very positive.

Maria has continued to attend London Regional Delegates meetings, LRU3A IT / Webmasters / Peer meetings, Network Link meetings, Communicators Peer Group meetings in my time as Chair, all still online. A lot of information is gathered from other branches so we keep updated as a u3a. All feedback has been given to our committee to help us. This has helped with liaising with other u3as regarding best practices and ways to improve our group.

Maria has sent many emails via Beacon and used it extensively to communicate with members very successfully. Pauline Griffin, as Beacon manager has also continually used Beacon to update and inform members at regular intervals.

Maria has produced the majority of the Risk Assessments for our interest groups and events, ensuring they are u3a compliant and meet our insurance criteria.

Maria thanked Marlene Harmer our wonderful President for all her support. She also thanked Irene Mitchell for her hard work as treasurer, and the many hours of hard work. Thanks, were also given to Pat Pitney for all her work as Vice Chair, Newsletter Editor and Groups co-ordinator, during this difficult time. Thanks went to all the post-holders for their hard work and commitment. Thanks also to Marisa Miller who manages the website; Janis Rudland for sending out get-well cards and thanks to Audrey Pitman and Janet Clayton for their efforts with our monthly raffle. More applause here.

Again, this year we have received a grant from East Wickham and Welling War Memorial Trust towards the hall rental.

Irene Thorley is stepping down from her role as Visits Co-ordinator. Lisa Knightsbridge is stepping down from her role as Social Secretary. Pat Perry has been our Secretary during this year, and Pauline Reed has the role of Speakers Secretary. Pat Pitney is looking to step down from her role as Vice Chair. Rose Dawson is our Accessibility Officer, ensuring that our hall is safe prior to our members arriving and checking if any members have other special needs we need to consider.

Again Maria has thoroughly enjoyed her time as Chair and this is because of the support of the wonderful committee She has had this year. She thanked all the members for their support during this time.

2022-2023 will hopefully be a positive year where we can enjoy each others’ company and continue to “ laugh, learn and live” together as the u3a motto says.

Treasurer’s Report
Combined assets for Social Account and the Main Account:
Cash at Bank- Main Account £2480.02 Social Account: £289.59
Cash in hand- £211.27 Total Assets- £2980.88 Copies of the profit and loss account could be found in the report which Irene suggested members read.

Standing Down of Committee Members
Post holders may only serve for 6 years in post but may remain on the Committee in other roles.
Lisa Knightsbridge – Social Secretary – thank you for her fantastic efforts with all the planning and of our catering and refreshments for events.

Post Holder Elections
Pat Sabine took over the meeting as the Committee retired (in place of Marlene Harmer, President; as she is on holiday).

Nominations for Chair – Maria Guest- Naharnowicz
Proposed –June Grout Seconded – Audrey Pitman
Carried unanimously.

Nominations for Vice Chair – None
Vacancy

Nominations for Secretary – Pat Perry
Proposed –Irene Mitchell Seconded – Pauline Williams
Carried unanimously.

Nominations for Treasurer – Irene Mitchell
Proposed –Moira Sollas Seconded – Kathy Dersley
Carried unanimously.

Remaining Committee Elections
Jill Thomas, Pauline Williams, Pauline Reed, Marisa Miller, Rose Dawson
Proposed – June Grout. Seconded – Jenny Chilcot
Carried unanimously.

Maria then took over the Chair and the meeting proceeded as normal.
Marlene’s clubs will restart in July –
Thursday Lunch Club 7th July @ Da Peppino, Welling , at noon. (First Thursday of every month);
History Group on third Monday – Monday 18 July, 2 pm Hall Place Café;
Grumpy Women/ Men 3rd Friday – 22nd July, George Staples, Blackfen at 2 pm.
Creative writing wants more members: - contact me or Pat Pitney or Pauline Williams.
Rah Rah concert next Tuesday 28th June at Barton Close, Bexleyheath £3.00 on the door. Interest list in small hall.
Eastbourne trip Thursday 7th July from Welling library, £16.00 to pay today. (9 tickets left)
Social – Wednesday 27th July at 2 pm, all tickets sold
Picnic in the Park, Wednesday 17th August, Danson from 1 pm.

More trips to follow...

The next AGM will be on Wednesday 28th.June 2023

Meeting finished at 14.40