OXFORD DIOCESAN GUILD CITY BRANCH

Minutes 
Annual General Meeting – 9th November 2013
St Andrews, Headington

The Chairman began by thanking the ringers of Headington for their hospitality and for an excellent tea.

1.	Apologies for absence
These were received from Lesley Smith, Paul Lucas, Marika Haseldine, James Haseldine, Leon Thompson, Ron Burgess, Brian Lowe, James Champion, Tim Hillsdon, Rosalind Roberts, Michael Williams, Peter Lloyd and David Barrington.

2.	Approval of the minutes of the Half Yearly Meeting held at St Lawrence, North Hinksey on Saturday 11th May 2013

3.	Matters Arising
None

4.	Election of New Members
Roy Grant, Charlotte Louise Furneaux – Cowley
Juliet Vale, Adrian Coates – Wheatley
Anne Lloyd-Williams, Michael Lelkes, Eva McGrowder - Headington
Edmund Mottershead, Wilfred Lewis – St Aldates

These members were proposed by Katie Lane, seconded by Alice Longden and elected.

5.	Presentation of Certificates

6.	Reports from Officers 

Honorary Treasurer – Matthew Malek presented the results which are summarized as follows:
Income of £1,391 (mostly made up of subscriptions)
Expenditure of £1,147 (mostly payment of subscriptions to the Guild)
Surplus £244

Katie Lane suggested increasing the donation made to the Guild bell and restoration funds, considering the monies available to the branch. Currently the donation amounts to £72 each. Hugh Deam proposed (Jonathan Cresshull seconded) increasing the donation to £100 each, which was passed.

Enquiry was made as to whether the subscriptions would stay this same – Stuart Gibson confirmed that this is to be clarified at next Guild meeting.

Ringing Masters - Both Jonathan Cresshull and Hugh Deam spoke about the wide variety of ringing that had taken place across the branch over the year including branch practices and outings.

7.	Election of Officers
Before the elections commencing Roy Jones enquired as to whether people should be allowed to vote if they have been elected and not paid their subscription. On review of the rules, Roy Jones proposed that ‘a person who is elected into the branch and guild at AGM is allowed to vote at the meeting’. This was seconded by Robin Hall and passed.

a.	Chairman 
Simon Edwards stood down and Robert Newton presided.
Simon Edwards – Proposed Roy Jones, seconded John Pusey.
Elected. Simon resumed the role of Chairman.
b.	Deputy Chairman
Paul Lucas – Proposed Hugh Deam, seconded Andrew Dunn.
Elected.
c.	Treasurer
Matthew Malek – Proposed Alena Ptak-Danchak, seconded Katie Lane.
Elected.
d.	Secretary
Katherine Stonham – Proposed Katie Lane, seconded Jonathan Cresshull.
Elected.
e.	Ringing Master
A discussion was held on the role of the ringing master and the consensus was that it was to promote ringing within Oxford. John Pusey proposed that we should have just one ringing master and Dorothy Hall seconded this motion. This was voted upon and it was a tie. The Chairman cast the deciding vote and one ringing master is to be elected.

Jonathan Cresshull – Proposed Katie Lane, seconded Dorothy Hall
Hugh Deam – Proposed Roy Jones, seconded Susan King
Alice Longden – Proposed Wendy Austen, seconded June Steel

A vote was undertaken using the single transferable vote system and the votes were counted by Robert Newton and Stuart Gibson.
Hugh Deam was elected.

f.	Branch Representatives (x2) 
Matthew Malek – willing to stand but happy not to.	

Andrew Freer – proposed Matthew Malek, Dorothy Hall
Jonathan Cresshull - proposed Katie Lane, seconded Katherine Stonham
Both elected.

8.	Any Other Business

Dorothy Hall was proposed by Jonathan Cresshull and seconded by Simon Edwards as auditor. She was elected.

John Pusey reminded everyone of the Thursday evening practice St Thomas which is part of the advanced practices being held on rotation.

Matthew reminded everyone he had the cheque book if anyone had expenses they wished to claim.

Stuart Gibson expressed his thanks for the donation to bell fund and restoration fund.

Thanks were passed to Jeremy for playing the organ.