The full transcript of the 2011 minutes follow the key points or you may click here to jump straight to the full version.
Key Points Arising from the 2011 AGM
- Rob Chappel was unanimously elected to serve for another year as Chairman. All but three of the members of the retiring committee were prepared to stand for re-election and three new members stood. All were elected, unopposed, unanimously.
- The award system was to be reinstated with full details published in time for the Spring exhibition.
- There had been a significant increase in the numbers of hits to the Society's website over the past 12 months.
- The Lordleaze project had been flourishing, with a steady increase in interest and in sales.
- The workshop year had been very successful with almost 100% of the places filled. The fee was to be increased to £20 for members and £22 for visitors to cover rising expenses.
- The meeting agreed to an increase of the annual subscription to £20.
- The date of the next meeting was arranged for Wednesday 12th December 2012.
this is subject to ratification at the 2012 AGM.
of the
AXMINSTER ART SOCIETY
held on
WEDNESDAY 14th DECEMBER 2011 at 2.15 PM at MUSBURY VILLAGE HALL
The meeting was attended by 47 members and friends. The Chairman opened the meeting by welcoming everybody.
Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence had been received from Meg Archer-Thompson, David Allen, Ann Anderson, Rosalyn Cox, Wendy Fountaine and
Joan Garner.
Minutes of the 2010 Annual General Meeting
The minutes of the last meeting were taken as read and it was unanimously approved by the members that the minutes of the AGM held on 8th December 2010 be signed by the Chairman as being a true record.
Matters Arising
The Chairman confirmed that the Committee had decided in principle to reinstate the giving of awards. The details were to be finalised in time for the Spring exhibition.
Chairman's Report
The Chairman thanked committee members, and those outside the committee, who had supported the Society in a variety of ways over the past year. He also thanked the Presidents, Howard and Wendy Jones, for their help and encouragement. He reported statistics on the Society's website and thanked the webmaster for her work on this; hits had almost doubled since the site was revamped in 2010. He regretted the standing down of three committee members, Rosalyn Cox, Rita Sugden and Patrick Stow and thanked them particularly for their contributions.
The Chairman commented on the exhibitions, advising that Trinity House had confirmed the booking for the Spring exhibition but acknowledging that the Axe Vale remained our most important exhibition of the year. The rolling exhibition at the Lordleaze Hotel was proving a steady source of income and was welcomed by the hotel management. Financially, the workshops had also proved very successful, partly because they were almost fully booked, there was one extra during the year and the anticipated knock on costs due to increases in fuel and VAT had not yet impinged on the figures. Whilst the profit and loss account showed a healthy profit, he pointed out that subscriptions should rightly cover demonstrations, hall hire and running costs and hoped the meeting would agree to an increase. The Committee had given this careful consideration and, mindful that there had been no increase for two years, recommended an increase of £2 bringing the subscription to £20.
Treasurer's Report
The Treasurer tabled the Profit and Loss Statement, a copy of which is attached to, and forms part of, these minutes. She reported a total income of £6,909.36 and total outgoings of £6,118.98, giving a profit for the year of £790.38. She confirmed that the accounts had been audited and approved and thanked Don Hendy for his services in this respect.
Appointment of Honorary Auditor
His willingness to act as auditor for the following year having been confirmed, it was unanimously agreed that Don Hendy be appointed Honorary Auditor.
Election of Committee
The Chairman stood down and the President conducted the election of a Chairman. Rob Chappel being prepared to stand for re-election, and there being no further nominations, it was unanimously agreed that he be elected to continue serving as Chairman.
Howard Jones stood down and the Chairman conducted the election of the committee. With the exception of the three resignations all the members of the retiring committee were prepared to stand for re-election. Three other members, Janet Bagguley, Kathryn Harding and Diane Jakobson also stood for election and it was unanimously agreed that all nominees be elected en bloc.
The Programme Secretary's Report
Rita Sugden reported on the success of the year's workshops, having achieved near 100% bookings, bringing the profit on workshops alone to £598. This represented an increase on the previous year's workshop profit as one extra workshop was held and none had to be cancelled, however, the average cost per workshop showed a decrease as costs had risen but the charge to members had remained unchanged for several years. She anticipated this trend would continue unless the charge was raised and recommended an increase of £2, making a workshop £20 to members and £22 to non members.
There had been a full programme of demonstrations over the year and, again, the Programme Secretary anticipated a shortfall in covering costs in 2012 due to increased tutor costs and fuel surcharges; she therefore supported and commended the Committee's recommendation that the annual subscription be increased.
She advised that a full programme of demonstrations and workshops had already been booked for 2012, saying that she had made a conscious decision to book local artists in order to keep travelling costs to a minimum. She finished by saying how much she had enjoyed the rôle of Programme Secretary and thanked members for their support and friendship.
Any Other Business
The Chairman asked the meeting to consider the proposed rise to the level of the subscription. Don Hendy questioned the need, given the apparent healthy profit. The Chairman reiterated his fears on forthcoming inflation together with the effects on our various activities of the widely predicted financial constraints to come. He added that current savings should not be eroded as these were used to purchase capital equipment. Roy Biggs pointed out that a comparatively modest increase this year was likely to preclude a major increase next year, which carried the risk of deterring members from renewing their subscription. The meeting voted by a significant majority to accept the increase.
The Presidents' Address
Howard Jones, speaking on behalf of both Presidents, thanked the membership and the committee for their services throughout the year. He suggested a few changes to the Society's website, including featuring an "artist of the month" on the home page. He thought the inclusion of a history page was a unique feature and questioned whether the history of this Society went back further than shown, possibly even to the 1880s. He wondered whether an afternoon meeting might be off-putting to those who disliked driving in the dark. He congratulated the Society on the success of the Lordleaze project and Wendy Jones, joint president, praised the members for the quality of the paintings that had been brought along as part of the Christmas party activities to follow the meeting.
The meeting applauded the services of the past Chairman, Patrick Stow and he thanked members for the many warm messages he had received through his recent illness. The Chairman closed the meeting by thanking the members themselves, without whom the Society would cease to exist.
Date of Next Meeting
The next Annual General Meeting was to be held on Wednesday 12th December 2012 at Musbury Village Hall.
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