Trip reports
33rd ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the NORTH WILTS RSPB LOCAL GROUP - 6 June 2006
Tuesday, 6 June 2006
Present: 26 members. List of names attached to official copy of these minutes.
1. Welcome: Derek Lyford, Group Leader, welcomed all present.
2. Apologies: Vic Austin, Vera Raymont.
3. Minutes of 2005 AGM: These minutes were approved.
4. Group Report: Kathleen Wyatt thanked everyone who had made the year yet another enjoyable one, with a special mention of people whose work is unseen by the majority, such as admin, and shopping for the items needed at events. With many members playing their various parts in organising events, and the events being well supported, we had a very successful year in all respects. We currently had 112 members. The Tuesday evening talks had taken us just down the road to the River Ray and as far away as Oman and the Seychelles. The field trips had taken place in Oxfordshire, the south coast and many places in between. Work was progressing at Brook Meadow and on the farm projects. Kathleen anticipated that next season's programme would be just as good, and reminded everyone that some events arranged by other organisations - such as village fetes, Christmas fairs, etc, where we may be invited to hold a stall - would not be in the newsletter because these events were notified to us at short notice.
5. Treasurer's Report: Ray Thatcher produced copies of the audited accounts, which were circulated to all present, and thanked everyone for their hard work in achieving these good results. He thanked David Bavin who had audited the books for the first time, having taken over from Nick Adams last year. No list of projects for annual donations had been produced by the RSPB HQ this year. Derek said that because of uncertainly about a possible new road at Normanton Down he thought we should not send more money for that project at the moment. It was therefore agreed to hold in abeyance our decision about the amount and destination of this year's donation until more information was available. A copy of the accounts is attached.
6. Election of Committee for 2006/2007: There were no new nominations, so the existing members of the committee, including changes in their responsibilities made over the past year, were re-elected en bloc. This was proposed by Sue Camburn, seconded by Bob Painting, and carried unanimously. The committee for the coming year is therefore as follows:
Group Leader and Newsletter Editor Derek Lyford
Treasurer Ray Thatcher
Secretary and Membership Kathleen Wyatt
Talks Organiser Vera Raymont
Field Trips Vic Austin
Birdseed Sales Sylvia Pilot
7. Appointment of Community Talks Organiser: Brian Timbrell was re-appointed.
8. Appointment of Web Page Manager: Bob Philpott was re-appointed.
9. Appointment of Auditor: David Bavin was re-appointed.
10. Close of Meeting: Derek Lyford declared the meeting closed at 8.30 pm.
After the interval, Bob Philpott gave us an illustrated talk on some of the "behind the scenes" work of the RSPB, including his own work as a member of the RSPB Council.