Minutes of the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 19th Jun 2024 at 8pm at the Chorleywood Arts Centre

 

Present:  see end of minutes                                                                                          

 Apologies: see end of minutes

1. Welcome from the Chair (Mockie Harrison)

Mockie Harrison opened the meeting and welcomed everyone present.

2. Acceptance and Approval of the minutes of the 2023 AGM.

The Minutes of the 2023 AGM were approved, proposed by Sonbol Perfitt and seconded by Caroline Jennings.

3. Chairman’s report (Mockie Harrison)

"First of all I would like to thank everyone, too many to name, who volunteer their time and their energy to the gardening group, the potters who keep the firing system going, group leaders, everyone else that gives their time in the Centre and to the Trustees committee. We really would not be able to continue without all the efforts that go into keeping this place happening! In particular my thanks go to Morag as Treasurer who invests a lot of her time into CCAC, Lesley McHale, who does a stirling job recording meeting minutes and Bob Wooley who looks after Premises who this year ensured a successful structural repair to the pottery studio plus decorating!

This year we said farewell to the Monday textile group, however there was a 3 week Embroidery for Beginners workshop as a gap filler. Through the year we’ve organised workshops for kid’s painting, paper collage, lino cutting and Gelli printing. If you as a member want more and are willing to help organise one then please do step forward. They are not onerous, we have a template to follow, plus support. There’s also been portrait and collage workshops organised by Rickmansworth and District Arts Society. Last but not least, we’ve welcomed a new Art group on Wednesday morning, tutored by Tara Mullane.

One of the biggest changes this membership year has been in the way we operate. As we’ve only existed on flat levels up to now, i.e. the trustee committee and the members, there was nothing in between and that wasn’t a great way to hear voices from groups. With the introduction of a pottery forum and art forum, I believe we’re starting to address that. My thanks go to Beki Moreau for chairing the pottery forum and to everyone who attends and plays their part.

We only had 89 members of CCAC 3 years ago, now we’ve got 127, and we’re facing space and mobility access challenges, so we’ve started a feasibility study into solving this problem. If you have time to help with this, it would be warmly welcomed. One of people who has stepped forward is a new member of the committee, Marion Clayfield, an architect, who is looking over old plans drafted by our ex Chair, Ken McArdle.

My thanks go to all the members for their continuing support. I wish you all a great 2024/25."

4. Treasurers Report (Morag Watkins)

“I have distributed the accounts and am pleased to report that we have a surplus this year. Before we get carried away spending it I should point out that we had a hefty donation, close to £4000 from Nadfas when the Chorleywood Branch closed and we had almost £1600 from hall hire. Both of these are income that we cannot rely upon. The hall hire was when the British Legion Hall was closed and so the dancing and yoga classes came here instead for a few weeks.

The increase in income also reflects the larger number of members and the extra painting groups. I am also pleased to report that the clay payments are getting better, I still think not all clay is paid for but it is certainly an improvement. Group leaders perhaps you could get involved in ensuring that all clay is paid for.

As a result the Chair and I have examined all the figures and we do not need to put up the fees this year. We are tweaking the drop-in fees just to make things fairer, and creating a slight advantage in paying annually as it reduces the work, but nothing else need change. I don’t mind the work so please pay by whatever method your cashflow allows.

<Annual accounts were made available to those present, to be included>

6. Fees for 2024/25

Distributed via July/August newsletter to all members.

7. Election of officers

The committee stood down. All committee members were thanked for their contribution. At the AGM three officers of the charity are appointed for the year. The following members were proposed for election as Officers of the Executive Committee.

  • Mockie Harrison was elected as Chairperson proposed by Amanda Welch, seconded by Mandy Berman

  • Morag Watkins was elected as Treasurer, proposed by Karen Thomson and seconded by Sonbol Perfitt

  • Lesley McHale was elected as Secretary, proposed by Sonbol Perfitt and seconded by Caroline Jennings

 There were no objections and the officers are appointed. The following members will continue to sit on the committee

  • Caroline Jennings

  • Bob Woolley

  • Sophie Flynn

  • Sonbol Perfitt

  • Beki Moreau

  • Marion Clayfield

  8. Any other business 

 Barney Jackson asked whether solar panels could be used at the Centre. Bob Woolley (Premises rep on the committee) responded that he is already looking into this.

 9. Close of meeting

 Mockie thanked everyone for attending and the meeting was closed.

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Attendees:: Stephen Oliver,Pip Jacobs,Chris Brock,Sandie Holland,Sue Wharton,Adrian Woolford,Jenny Long,Brenda Gabriel,Amanda Welch,Sonbol Perfitt,Robert Southall,Donna White,Marion Barnaby,Mike Burton,Heather Wears,Lorrice Douglas,Toni Walker,Fiona Ryan-Watson,Marlene Read,Elena McBride,Liz Hudson,Barbara Burrows,Elaine Pollecoff,Mandy Berman,Richard Berman,Jane Jackson,Bob Wolley,Elizabeth Waddington,Karen Thomson,Cindy Marlow,Mick Flynn,Barney Jackson,Caroline Jennings,Mockie Harrison,Morag Watkins

Apologies: Bridget Adamson,Debbie Edwards,Jette McCowen, Chris Plumb, Alun Morgan, Stephanie McDowell, Beki Moreau,David Matyus Flynn,Barbara Jorgenson,John Coleman,Hillary London,Deborah Blackmore,Marty Kristian,Jude Howton,Helen Bey,Fenella Mowbray,Wendy Reus,Natalie Jenkins,Christine Jones,Cindy Kane,Ann Taylor,Steve Benham,Judith Schoffren,Hazel Salmon,Shirley Johnson,Annie Cunningham,Carol Stein,Sophie Tobin,Vesna Cramer,David matyus Flynn,Susannah de Fere,Christine Plumb,Jenna Gray,Fiona Kelly,Carol Freeman,Patricia Barrett,Christine Stevens,Janet Galpin,Christine Dowling,Christina Woodward,Nigel Coates Brown,Karen Fielding,Jenny Carpenter,Manju Rahim,Avril Spence,Lynda Herity,Sue Mander,Sophie Tobin,Deborah Wallond,Jocelyn Creighton