Minutes of the AAJLR Comrades Association
Annual General Meeting
by Mike Owsley
| Held at the Min-Y-Mor Hotel, Barmouth, Wales | ||||
| Saturday 29th. March 2014 at 1735 hours | ||||
| 43 Members Present | ||||
| Apologies for Absence: | ||||
| The following tendered their apologies:- | ||||
| Bruce Watson | Terry Scriven | Tommy Brady | ||
| Eddie Nuttall | Dave Reeve | Brian Simpson | ||
| Alan Tolcher | Eric Wood | John Larkam | ||
| Ian Boyd | Roy Carman | G. Moody | ||
| Lenny Kalter | Len Haddow | Alf Fulcher | ||
| Stan Moore | Peter Jennings | Barry Davis | ||
| Lee Tilson | Trevor Gibbons | Martin Turner | ||
| Rene Dee | Ivan Scott-Lewis | Richard Rothwell | ||
| Peter Wooldridge | Mel Smith | Tom Silverside | ||
| Gus Boag | Tom Gracie | Larry Smith | ||
| Opening Address | ||||
| The Secretary opened the meeting at 1735 hours with the following: | ||||
| Apologies from the President, who was in the Far East. | ||||
| The Secretary welcomed everyone who made it to Barmouth in particular those who are attending for the first time, and those who have only been able to attend infrequently, including: | ||||
| Andy Dewar Mike Whitehouse Chuck Pettit Keith Ring Alan Frost. |
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| He also restated that decisions made by members at this meeting are binding. | ||||
| The Secretary asked members to stand to remember the comrades who have passed on since our last reunion, including: | ||||
| James Chippenham David Chaffey Alan Young A. Milne Ron Smithies Ken Bott Robert Simpson Bob Savage and our Vice President Lt. Col. David Paterson |
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| Minutes of the Previous Meeting | ||||
| There were no comments on the minutes. | ||||
| Proposal: That the minutes be passed as read. | ||||
| Proposed By: Herbie Slaughter Seconded By: Sam Gribben |
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| Carried | ||||
| Secretary’s Report | ||||
| As promised from the previous year the Association had carried out a survey with the idea of tidying up the address and email lists. This survey was placed on the AAJLR website under Reunions, on the site Forum, and also on the Association Facebook page. It included questions relating to venue and time of year for future reunions. In order to achieve the widest circulation the Secretary also sent out three hundred letters, receiving forty replies. There were also a number of calls from the wives of members who had passed away. In addition four members chose to leave the Association. | ||||
| The general consensus was that the membership are happy with both the location and the timing of our annual reunion. | ||||
| There were forty-three returned emails and eight returned posted letters. | ||||
| Included in the replies was one from a member who requested that a donation be made to the local Mountain Rescue Organisation. Mention will be made of that in the Treasurer's Report. | ||||
| In completing the survey it was noted that a number of members live in the North East, therefore the Secretary will try and organise a mini reunion in the North around September. | ||||
| The Secretary made the point that our association was not of the usual military reunions type, i.e. one where there is segregation by rank, 'top table' etc., but rather that we have always been - and will continue to be under his and the Treasurer's stewardship - an all inclusive, social group where rank or status plays no part whether one was permanent staff, a Junior Leader or a civilian; the common denominator is that all were associated with Tonfanau. | ||||
| Treasurer's Report | ||||
| The Treasurer circulated the 2013/2014 Accounts and reported that there is currently £316.87 in our account, though of that £35.00 is currently earmarked for Combat Stress. Any cheques received since the report was produced are to be banked after the reunion weekend. | ||||
| Monies are held in a simple Nationwide Treasurers Book account which produces about a couple of pence a year interest; details are recorded on an Excel spreadsheet as circulated. There is no legal requirement for audit. Copies can be supplied to any member requesting one at any time throughout the year by e-mailing the Treasurer. | ||||
| The Treasurer explained that entries in red were obviously payments out of the account, and that entries in blue indicated where members had paid in excess of the five pounds annual subscription the surplus then being carried over to the following year, or even years. Unless specifically stated the surplus has never up to now been taken as a donation. The Treasurer said that whilst this is very generous it is not really necessary to pay in advance. To aid accounting going forward if the Treasurer receives monies in excess of the five pounds annual subscription - and it isn't for previous years' catch-up - it will be taken as a donation, and sums over five pounds will no longer be carried forward. The Meeting raised no objection to that decision. | ||||
| The Treasurer mentioned ‘Shop’ items (Association tie, plaque and lapel pin badges) and reminded the members that these are available from the Secretary, and further - for those who were unaware - that the badges are purchased for two pounds each, but sold for five pounds; the surplus going to our chosen charity. | ||||
| Envelopes were circulated with the request that if paying annual subscriptions, buying shop items or making a donation that those envelopes should be used for the purpose, marked clearly with name and for what the money is intended. This cuts down the likelihood of money going astray, or of not being able to work out from whom it derived. | ||||
| The Treasurer said that such is the nature of the Association there is no insistence that those attending reunions have to be fully paid up members; but that sums cannot be given to military charities or meet occasional costs without sufficient funds. To that end he requested that those who have not paid their subscriptions for 2014/2015 – due on 1 April – should do so by means of the previously mentioned envelopes. | ||||
| In conclusion the Treasurer reminded those present that the cost of accommodation and for the buffet, in the case of those staying elsewhere to this hotel, must be paid directly to the Min-Y-Mor and not to the Association. | ||||
| Charities | ||||
| The Treasurer reported that since 2007 the Association has supported a number of military charities, donations going to Help for Heroes, the Army Benevolent Fund, Blind Veterans (formerly St Dunstan’s), SSAFA Forces Help plus two donations to Outward Bound Wales Mountain Rescue. However to date our main charity has been Combat Stress to which we have sent a total of £3,322.00. In addition this year, as can be seen from the circulated accounts £50.00 has been paid to Outward Bound Wales Search & Rescue. | ||||
| Aside from charitable giving the only other costs of note were £7.50 for postage of the Cadair Plaque to the Visitors' Centre, and £198.48 for twelve AAJLR wall plaques, which as previously stated the Secretary has for sale. | ||||
| Also the sum of £50.00 was sent to Ken Hart, who we are delighted to have with us this year, to assist in the running of our excellent Association website. Over the past two years that sum has not been withdrawn from funds but were personal donations from members. The Treasurer asked if it was the wish of the members present that we provide Ken with a further £50.00 this year towards his endeavours on our behalf it should be indicated by a show of hands. That proposal received the unanimous support of the meeting. | ||||
| The Treasurer told the meeting that this year he had changed the format and rather than offer a list of possible military charities for consideration by the members for our chosen recipient in the forthcoming twelve months, it would be for those present to propose/second such and the suggestions would be put to the vote by a show of hands. | ||||
| As previously recorded in the Secretary's Report, the Treasurer again said that a member in written suggestion had mentioned the Mountain Rescue Service but after a brief discussion with those present the proposal was not seconded, and therefore not put to the vote. | ||||
| Other proposals were BLESMA (Proposed by Herbie Slaughter. Seconded by John Sabini), SSAFA Forces Help (Proposed by Brian Marjoram. Seconder - not recorded), and Combat Stress (Proposer/Seconder - not recorded). All proposals were put to the vote and the overwhelming number of the members present chose Combat Stress to be our designated charity for the year 2014/15. | ||||
| Any Other Business | ||||
| Changes of Address | ||||
| It was suggested by Herbie Slaughter that when members changed their telephone, mobile numbers and email addresses they should notify the Secretary as a matter of priority. | ||||
| Civilian Staff | ||||
| Herbie Slaughter also proposed that any who were Tonfanau civilian staff should be included - if they wished - as full members of the association, and eligible to attend the AGM. This has been discussed during the past year by the Secretary and Treasurer (the Chairman and President being copied into our email correspondence) and is very much in line with the thoughts of the Committee. Members present concurred unanimously. The Treasurer said that some, notably Barbara Parry and Carol Moore had been paid up members of a year or more, and would be invited to attend the AGM in future years. | ||||
| Re-election of the Committee | ||||
| The Secretary reported that the Committee are willing to continue in their roles so are standing for re-election for the coming year, but that if anyone wished to propose alternatives they should do so at this point. The status quo was proposed by John Sabini, and seconded by Geoff Brown. | ||||
| Carried | ||||
| Election of Honorary Padre | ||||
| Graham White, currently serving in a Parish in the North East of England, was one of the last to serve at Tonfanau graduating in January 1966, and he has volunteered to take on the role of Honorary Padre for the Association. The acceptance of Graham's offer was proposed by Mike Owsley, and seconded by Herbie Slaughter. | ||||
| Carried | ||||
| Election of Vice President | ||||
| Following the death of Colonel David Patterson a vacancy for Vice President has arisen, and following a Committee request Peter Rogerson kindly accepted the invitation. This appointment was proposed by Richard Abraham, and seconded by Sam Gribben. | ||||
| Carried unanimously with the meeting wishing Peter well in this role. | ||||
| Other Reunions | ||||
| The Treasurer advised those present that other gatherings/mini-reunions are held throughout the year, most of which to date have been held in London, though there was one earlier this year in Wolverhampton. The annual St Fagg’s Day Luncheon this year is on St George's Day, Wednesday 23 April, at the Civil Service Club, Great Scotland Yard, London. The Joint AAJLR/ICCY (Inns of Court & City Yeomanry) Luncheon, to be held at the Rifles Club, Davis Street, London, will most likely be in November. Both of these excellent occasions are arranged by John Sabini and the Treasurer suggested that if anyone present would like to be kept informed about either event to let John have their e-mail addresses and/or contact numbers. | ||||
| Website(s) | ||||
| The Treasurer said that in his opinion our own website is underused, especially the Forum, and that Ken continues to put a lot of work into the site so it is a pity that so few of our members appear to use it. Those present were encouraged to use the site more frequently and if not currently using the Forum then an email to Ken requesting a password, which sadly is necessary to avoid misuse by others than our members, which he would provide. | ||||
| Further that the Facebook page which Mike set up is also an excellent way to communicate, put stuff on and have some fun. It does not, nor was it ever intended to, replace Ken’s fine website but to compliment it. | ||||
| Closing Notes | ||||
| The Secretary again thanked those who attended and reminded members that the next reunion would take place at the Min-Y-Mor Hotel, Barmouth over the weekend 27th. to 28th. March 2015, with the Annual General Meeting on Saturday 28th. March at 5.30pm. | ||||
| There being no further business the meeting closed at 1838 hours. | ||||
| Addendum to Minutes for information. | ||||
| From the Treasurer: | ||||
| 1. Apologies for omitting some of the names proposers/seconders in relation to the charities section but some notes were lost following return from Barmouth. | ||||
| 2. A cheque for £50.00 has been sent to the Webmaster. | ||||
| 3. The sum of £500.87 has been sent to Combat Stress. | ||||
| Mike Owsley | ||||
| Honorary Secretary | ||||
| AAJLR Association | ||||
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