News archive

Thursday, 12 October 2006

The AGM held on October 10th 2006

The 2006 Annual General Meeting of the Newcastle RSPB local group was held at Northumbria University on 10th October, and attended by 37 members and potential members. The group was particularly pleased to welcome four members of RSPB staff from the Newcastle office.
Brian Moorhead, the group leader, opened the meeting, and gave an annual report which included the following points:
. Membership stands at around 170 people, although 70 of these are still to confirm their renewal for 2006-7.
. The fieldtrip programme is increasingly popular and successful. Graham Leslie had agreed to take over its organisation from Sheila March next year.
. After some difficulties earlier in the year, a successful newsletter is now being produced, with contributions from a number of members. More contributors will always be welcome!
. From October 16th the group will have a website provided by the RSPB. Clive Morphet will edit this website along with the newsletter. He gave a short presentation outlining progress to date.
. The indoor meeting programme has been of mixed success. Some meetings were very successful while others were poorly attended. The programme was under review by the committee. Mark Smith had agreed to take on the administration of the programme for the next year.
. The committee is still in need of a secretary.
. The group had made significant contributions to the RSPB, specifically to the Geltsdale project, and while such contributions would continue the committee was of the view that group funds should also be used to deliver an attractive newsletter, and programme of events, to existing and potential group members.
. Around 15 group members had assisted in March at the very successful RSPB 'Friday Night is Music Night' charity concert at the Sage, Gateshead
. The group hopes to extend a programme of presentations to community groups, and possibly schools, and will be seeking a lottery grant for equipment.
John Lambert, the group treasurer, described a healthy financial state, with over £2000 in the groups RSPB account, even after a contribution of £1500 to Geltsdale.
Brian Moorhead concluded by identifying and thanking all of the committee who had helped make the last year a successful one, and thanking the membership without whose participation the group could not exist.

Those present returned after a light buffet with wine and soft drinks, to participate in a Quiz devised and presented by Brian. As well as written questions, members were asked to try and identify recorded birdsong and a set of feathers. Brian's fears that lots of people would get all of the questions right and the prizes would not be sufficient, proved to be emphatically unfounded! Out of a potential maximum of 34 points, the clear winner had a total of 19 points!
The evening concluded with the drawing of the raffle. A number of prizes had been generously donated by members, and after the wine left over from earlier in the evening was added to the prize list, there were many winners!