Minutes of ASL AGM 25-June-2024

PRESIDENT: LADY SHUTTLEWORTH

The Arts Society Lunesdale

Minutes of Annual General Meeting, Tuesday 25th June 2024

at 2.15 p.m. in Borwick and Priest Hutton War Memorial Hall

1 The Chairman, Dr John Houghton, welcomed everyone.

Apologies were received from: Pauline Aldous, Caroline Baker, Kaye Bibby, Lesley Boyer,

Veronica Butler, Gil Caley, Graham Caley, Rose Clarke, Huston Clements, Janet Clements,

Catherine Davenport, John Davenport, Cathy Dayton, Sally Ewens, Gwyneth Fry, Richard

Gargini, Alison Grant, Sandy Grant, Alan Hale, Dawn Hancock, Alison Harry, Chris

Heginbotham, Linda Hibbs, Jackie Houghton, Gill Howarth, Judith Jones, Roger Jones, Gil Kay,

Pam Kojder, Rob Kojder, Vanessa Livesey, Janet Lush, Gwenda Major, Vivienne Matthews,

Geraldine Mitchell, Ingeburg Nesbitt, John Nesbitt, Pauline Nicholls, Margaret Owen, Edward

Mason, Sarah Mason, Alison Page, Lynne Pritchard, Helen Pugh, Virginia Rastelli, Lynne

Rodgers, Thomas Rothwell, Angela Royle, Dorothy Scaife, Michael Shafe, Judith Van Dam,

Susan Wakeford, Sara Wallace, Anthony Williams, Elizabeth Williams.

2 Minutes of AGM, 2023: (circulated beforehand)

Resolution that the Minutes of the Annual General Meeting, 27 June 2023, are a true

record, proposed by Martin Gillibrand, seconded by Mike Fisher. Agreed unanimously.

3 Matters arising: None.

4 Chairman’s Report: The Chairman referred to his report for the past year, already circulated

and copy attached hereto. The society continues to thrive, with a membership of 188.

Attendance at lectures has risen and the improvements in ambiance, parking and safety,

resulting from the two session format, are appreciated by members. We can accommodate

more people, and members are encouraged to take an active part in recruitment.

The Chairman extended his, and the whole society’s, thanks to Judie Graham-Clegg, who has

been a tireless and efficient Membership Secretary for the last seven years. Judie is

now standing down from the role, but will remain a member of the committee for the time

being. She was presented with an orchid as a token of thanks and appreciation.

Mary Frankland organised a most enjoyable new members’ morning at the Judges’ Lodgings

in Lancaster, and the outing to Dumfries House, arranged by John Wilson was a great

success. A new departure was the pen and wash watercolour workshop, led by the

artist John Harrison; the chairman was grateful to Jackie Houghton for organising this. The

society is fortunate to have a competent and dedicated Treasurer in Margie Dixon, and

Richard Gargini continues as our much-valued audio-visual expert - this year he has been

responsible for sourcing a new state-of-the-art projector. Martin Gillibrand’s experience has

been invaluable, especially in formulating and monitoring our risk assessment.

John Parkinson has served on the committee for a number of years but is now standing

down and thanks are due for all he has done for the society. David Whiteley and Keith Hyde

have kindly volunteered to step in to assist with the audio-visual equipment in his place.

The chairman also expressed thanks for help from non-committee members. Sue O’Brien

has continued to support the committee informally and Jenny Fisher ensures that morning

sessions and all practical arrangements for our venue run smoothly. Our stalwart car

parking stewards – Mike Fisher, John Wilson and Roger Frankland – ensure everyone parks

safely. Althea Gillibrand and her wonderful team of ladies provide welcome refreshments

before lectures and on other occasions, including our Christmas mulled wine and mince pies.

Financially, the society is surviving but to keep pace with Inflation and increasing lecturers’

fees the membership fee will increase to £75.00 for 2024/25, and the guest fee to £7.00.

There was a good response to the questionnaire circulated to all members; the vast majority

of members are happy with how the society is run and a number of constructive suggestions

were made. A significant number of members offered their help to the committee.

The Chairman welcomed Ian Royle and Liz Duggan to the committee; they will take over as

Membership Secretary and Secretary respectively. He concluded by thanking our President,

Lady Shuttleworth, for her continuing encouragement and support, and repeated his

thanks to the committee and volunteer helpers and to members for their loyalty.

Resolution to adopt the Chairman’s Report, proposed by Judie Graham-Clegg, seconded by

Martin Gillibrand. Agreed unanimously.

5 Treasurer’s Report and Annual Accounts: The Society Treasurer, Margie Dixon, tabled the

Financial Statements, which had already been circulated to members. She explained that the

society is just keeping its head above water, but subscriptions from 189 members fell short of

expenditure by approximately £500; a membership of 200 would ensure a comfortable

financial position. For the third year £2,000 has been transferred from the Scottish Widows

Deposit Reserve Fund, leaving £4,000; the money from South Lakes Arts Society stands at

£4,890, none having been used during the year as it is ring-fenced primarily for Young Arts

and community projects. Total reserves stand at £8,900. Running costs amounted to

approximately £10,000, plus increased recharge fee (formerly affiliation fee) of £4,000 paid to

The Arts Society. This has now been reduced by £440, which means that it is expected that

by next year income and expenditure will break even. A major one-off outlay during the year

was the purchase of a new projector, which cost £1,114.

Resolution to receive and approve the Annual Accounts, proposed by Margie Dixon, seconded

by Gillian Mawby. Unanimously agreed.

6 Lady Shuttleworth, our President, then conducted the committee elections. She preceded

this by referring to John Houghton’s comprehensive report on the stimulating and enjoyable

activities of the society, and on behalf of all the membership thanked him for the excellent

job he has done as Chairman for the last four years, keeping his finger on the pulse and

steering the society through challenging times.

Resolution to elect John Houghton as Chairman, proposed by Judie Graham-Clegg, seconded

by Mike Fisher. Unanimously agreed.

Resolution to elect Margie Dixon as Treasurer, proposed by Jennifer Fisher, seconded by

Angela Pape. Unanimously agreed.

Resolution to elect Ian Royle as Membership Secretary, proposed by Judie Graham-Clegg,

seconded by Martin Gillibrand. Unanimously agreed.

Resolution to elect Elizabeth Duggan as Secretary, proposed by Jenny Fisher, seconded by Sue

O’Brien. Unanimously agreed.

Resolution to elect Committee Members (en bloc) – Judie Graham-Clegg, Mary Frankland,

Richard Gargini, Martin Gillibrand, Jean Paton and John Wilson, proposed by Fiona

Humphreys, seconded by Angela Page. Unanimously agreed.

7 Resolution to appoint Steven Smith as Independent Financial Examiner for the ensuing year,

proposed by Cathy Hartley, seconded by Peter Mawby. Unanimously agreed.

8 There was no other business.

9 The Chairman announced that the next AGM will be held in June 2025, date and format to

confirmed, he thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 2.55 p.m.