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AGM 2006
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East Midlands Branch of the Open University Geological Society
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held at 11:00am on Saturday 28th January 2006 at BGS, Keyworth , Nottingham.
1) Present 24 members were present
2) Apologies Dave Spencer, Chris and Sue Hart, Rosemary Hain, Kenny Laing, Gladys Dinnacombe, Christine Hodgson, Jenny Cook, Dinah Smith, Tracy Atkinson, Barrie Armitage, Carol Hagan, Jackie Wardle, David Jones.
3) Minutes of the 2005 AGM held on Saturday 29th January 2005 These were proposed as a true record by Gerry Shaw and seconded by Cliff Bartlett. Glynis Sanderson signed a copy of the minutes.
4) Matters arising from the 2005 AGM None
5) Officers’ reports.
a. Webmanager Carol Hagan sent her report from Malaysia: 'Firstly, please accept my apologies for not being able to attend the AGM today. The past year has been erratic for the Branch web site. We started the year by continuing to use a sub-domain from Raunds Town FC site. However, when they chose to take up another hosting option, our pages had to be removed. This also co-incided with my move to Malaysia. I set up a basic site on Yahoo Geocities, with the intention that it would be an interim site, only containing the basics, until OUGS set its policy on location and ownership of Branch sites. At the time of writing this report, this matter is actively being persued and I await OUGS policy. To make the Geocities site a bit more interesting, I have included write-ups from 2005, but only those whose authors have given permission to do so. Each time Don publishes a copy of Rockhopper, I include those new items into our full web site, which is sitting on my PC, waiting to be published when all decisions have been made.
'With reference to the number if hits our sites have received since the last AGM, I was unable to retrieve the number from the RTFC domain before it closed. I have not put a hit counted into the Geocities site. Therefore, I cannot advise on the number of hits we have had in the past year. This will, I hope, be rectified for 2006-07.
'Early in 2005, I put together a cross-reference of a variety of web hosting options so that the Branch could make informed decisions as and when the OUGS decided its policy. Be assured that the Branch will have a current, up to date site for its members as soon as is practicable somewhere.
'I am happy to continue providing the web for the Branch, but should any member want to take it on, then I will happily forward the files to them.
'I have also maintained the Branch Events database, which is a list of all EMi events (as far as possible) since 1990, with details of leader, location, approx attendees, newsletter for write up.
'Should you have any question for me, please email, or give me a call'.
Thanks to Carol for her work.
b. Minutes Secretary Brenda Armitage reported that 3 committee meetings had been held during 2005. In February at BGS 6 members attended, in June at Bramcote 4 members, and in October at BGS 5 members.BGS meetings take place on Saturday mornings. Our thanks to Don Cameron for arranging them. Copies of Committee Meeting minutes were available for viewing.
c. Treasurer The 2005 branch grant was £890, an increase of £331 on the 2004 grant which was due to an increase in the amount given to branches per member from £3 to around £5. The balance in the branch bank accounts carried forward to 2006 appears to be much larger than the previous year. This is due to early payments made by participants for the Easter trip to Scotland. The average cost of the newsletter in 2005 is approximately £64 per issue, which is marginally less than the 2004 average. The detailed balance sheet is available for anyone to look at.
The report was accepted: proposed by Hilary Black, seconded by Peter Knuddsen. Thanks were expressed to Ian Clarke for auditing the accounts.
d. Newsletter Editor Don Cameron reported that for the December issue the font had been changed to Trebuchet, where the ‘i’ and ‘l’ are easier to distinguish.
If anyone has problems reading the newsletter a bigger font can be used.
Photocopying is charged by the minute, not by the sheet, and is reasonably cheap.
When revised postal charges are introduced we may have to change to an A5 format, as discussed at the 2005 AGM.
In answer to question:- Colour printing is not more expensive. At present a colour copy of the Newsletter is sent to those who have contributed and to Committee Members.
e. Branch Organiser Glynis Sanderson presented her report, highlighting a varied and very successful programme. As always we had tried to cover the whole of the East Midlands.
Visits made:
Future Events Visit to Peterborough to follow the Town Trail and visit the Cathedral and Museum on 12th Feb A week in Perthshire at Easter A Basic Geology day Symposium 2006 at Nottingham University, June 30th – July 2nd . Completed booking forms should be returned quickly, as day-visitor numbers are limited. Volunteers able to help should give their names to Glynis.
6. Election of Committee
7. Any other business Newsletter Editor. Muriel asked if Don Cameron was going to continue as Newsletter Editor. Don said that he was, for the moment.
Branch Library. Don raised the question of the Branch Library. There is a growing collection of maps, memoirs, local and regional guides, books, periodicals and pamphlets. They are put out at each meeting, but are very under-used, particularly the books, pamphlets and periodicals. Don said the BGS is helping to rebuild a library in Afghanistan, which had been destroyed. Perhaps we could contribute items towards it. It was proposed by Mary Holborow, and seconded by Gerry Shaw, that the committee discuss the issue and make decisions at the next meeting. Agreed unanimously.
Increased security. Security at BGS needs to know who is attending events, so that the gate-man can have a list. Security has become much tighter. If you want to use the BGS library you need a pass, and must phone the day before.
Glynis Sanderson retires as Branch Organiser. Glynis thanked all the people who do so much to make the Branch successful. Special thanks in recent years go to Don Cameron, Sam Aderson and Carol Hagan. Thanks also to the BGS for allowing us free use of their rooms for meetings. Being at such a prestigious location is beneficial to the group, encouraging attendance.
Gerry Shaw thanked Glynis and members, stating that they have developed a branch which is welcoming, pleasant and inclusive.
Harry Briggs formally proposed a vote of thanks to Glynis for ‘her inspirational work’.
Presentation to Glynis. Don Cameron spoke of Glynis’s contribution to the branch since joining in 1990. She became secretary in 1995 and Branch Organiser in 2001. Don recalled committee meetings at Glynis’s house in Spondon, where good food always featured. Now Glynis is moving on to ‘better things’, as she becomes National Events Officer. The OUGS could not have found a better person.
Don presented Glynis with two sandstone dishes.
Presentation to Muriel Wright. Glynis paid tribute to Muriel’s work for the OUGS and the EM Branch during 25 years of active membership. Muriel has attended Symposiums since 1979, when they were called conferences, and has hardly missed any of our AGMs in 25 years. She has been a committee member, acting secretary, Branch Organiser and treasurer for the Loughborough Conference in 1988. Muriel comes to many events and field-days, residential stays and talks. Indeed she gives talks, leads trips and writes articles, creates crosswords and takes photographs for the Newsletter. Our earliest Chippings (forerunner of Rockhopper) records her contributions:-
Spring 1989 Branch Organiser Spring and a half 1989 One of her ‘killer’ crosswords Summer 1990 Acting Secretary Helping with the S238 Summer School at Nott University Leading a half day field trip to practice graphic logging Spring 1991 Leading a full day trip to Cavedale High Summer 1992 Writing up the Laxfordian Complex on the Assynt trip
Muriel is still leading trips for us, and she will this year again lead ‘Basic Geology’. After today’s lunch she will be giving an illustrated talk on Santorini.
Glynis presented Muriel with a beautiful, engraved piece of Norwegian Larvikite (Labrador Blue Pearl) as a token of our appreciation for all she has done, and continues to do, for the society.
The meeting ended at 11:54am.
A buffet lunch was followed by an illustrated talk by Muriel Wright on Santorini.
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