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OXFORD DIOCESAN GUILD CITY BRANCH

Minutes 
Annual General Meeting – 15^th November 2014
St Aldates, Oxford

1.	Apologies for absence
These were received David Barrington, John Beale, Alison Reid, Stuart Gibson, Beatrice King, Lesley Smith, Michael Williams, Matthew Malek.

2.	Approval of the minutes of the Annual General Meeting held at St Andrews, Headington on Saturday 9^th November 2013

3.	Matters Arising
None

4.	Anthony Hughes spoke about the life of Roy Jones and Brian Lowe spoke about the life of Carole Lowe.
Members stood to remember Roy, Carole and Joan Beale.

5.	Election of New Members
Iris Geens – Cowley p. Lindsay Powell s. Roy Grant
Adam Rebick, Ulrich Mania, Paul Vincent, Emma Vincent, Elaine Vincent, Matthew Beardsall – Headington p. Claire Fairbairn s. Paul Lucas
Leah Stead, David James – St Aldates p. Jonathan Cresshull s. Katie Lane (also transferred from another branch - Clare Dyer)
Owen Daley, Nora Tarczynovac, Jesús Añonuevo – Kidlington p. Ron Burgess s.Phil Sampson
Elizabeth Edmondson – St Giles p. John Pusey s. Andrew Freer
Sandra Bailey – Wolvercote p. Jonathan Beale s. Hugh Deam
Judith Godfrey – Iffley p. Catherine Godfrey s. Mary Carroll

These members were elected.

6.	Presentation of Certificates

7.	Reports from Officers 

Honorary Treasurer – Matthew Malek provided the following report in advance of the meeting:
‘As of this writing, on the 11th of November, the City Branch membership for 2014 consists of 154 members. Of these, there were 150 fully paid members, two non-paying members, and three members who paid only Branch subs, as they are Guild members through another branch. With the exception of 30p interest, our income for the year has been derived entirely from these subs, which totalled £1329.

As a reminder, the £9 subs breaks down as follows: £3 for the Guild, £3 for the Branch, £2 for insurance, and a £1 voluntary donation to be split between the Bell Fund and the Restoration Fund.

Thus, our largest expense for the year was a £750 cheque to the Guild, covering Guild subs and insurance costs for the 150 fully paid members.  We also made donations of £70.50 each to the Bell Fund and to the Restoration Fund. This was funded by the £1 voluntary donation that was paid by all members except from one tower, which has elected to discontinue this practice. Finally, three cheques were written, at £25 each, to Branch members to cover course fees for the Steeple Aston and Radley courses.

Summing this all up, our total expenses to date for 2014 are £966. (£750 to the Guild, £70.50 to the Bell Fund £70.50 to the Restoration Fund, and £75 for course fees).
With a gross income of £1329.30 and a total expenditure of £966, the Branch is currently £363.30 in the black for 2014.  

Last year, we were also operating in the black and spontaneously decided at the AGM to donate an additional £100 each to the Bell Fund and to the Restoration Fund.  We can do something similar with our surplus again this year, particularly since the City Branch is one of the smallest contributors to these funds. Alternatively, we can sit on the money and save it for when one of our own towers needs work, just as we gave £500 to St. Giles in 2011. The money is yours, and the choice is also yours.

As another reminder, those who wish to have their course fees covered by the Branch are eligible to have a lifetime total of £80 paid, with each course being covered no more than once. To receive the subsidy, one needs to make the claim at the AGM or half-annual meeting. In advance of this meeting, I received two such requests. These cheques have been prepared and can be collected from Paul Lucas after the meeting.

If there are any questions on our finances, please feel free to e-mail me.  A final summary of the 2014 finances will be presented, as usual, at the Branch finance meeting in February.

Finally, I would like to say that, after serving as Branch Treasurer for four years, I shall be stepping down in January, after the 2014 accounts are finalised. I want to thank you all for electing me to this role. It has been an honour and a privilege to serve the Branch, and I wish you all well.’

Katie Lane enquired about the £100 donation to the Bell and Restoration fund as it appeared the agreement from last year’s AGM was to make our donation up to £100 but from Matthew’s writing it appears to be additional. The meeting agreed to enquire what actually happened.

There were no cheques available at the meeting for course expenses and these will be chased up.

Ringing Master – Hugh talked briefly about his time as ringing master, his continued enthusiasm to carry on with mini-outings and his anticipation of the new ringing master.

8.	Election of Officers

a.	Chairman 
Simon Edwards stood down and Paul Lucas presided.
Simon Edwards – Proposed Paul Lucas, seconded Katie Lane.
Elected. Simon resumed the role of Chairman.
b.	Deputy Chairman
Paul Lucas – Proposed Brian Lowe, seconded Bernard Masterman.
Elected.
c.	Treasurer
Dorothy Hall – Proposed Jonathan Cresshull, seconded John Pusey.
Elected.
d.	Secretary
Lindsay Powell – Proposed Katherine Stonham, seconded Katie Lane.
Elected.
e.	Ringing Master
Katie Lane – Proposed Simon Edwards, seconded Paul Lucas.
Elected.
f.	Branch Representatives (x2) 
Andrew Freer – proposed Paul Lucas, seconded Simon Edwards.
Jonathan Cresshull - proposed John Pusey, seconded Andrew Freer.
Both elected.

9.	Any Other Business

Katherine Stonham was proposed by Robin Hall and seconded by Andrew Freer as auditor. She was elected.

Paul Lucas enquired about whether the branch was happy with Hugh’s News and also whether it should be continued under its current name. Katie Lane suggested that it continued a Hugh’s News and there was general consensus from around the room. Paul reminder members that contributions are very welcome.

 Ron Burgess enquired how the two Guild funds, the Bell Fund and the Restoration Fund, differ and also what work they covered. Guild Master, Hilarie Rogers, responded that the bell fund covers work on bells (not towers) and the restoration fund covers augmentation projects. 

Dorothy Hall notified members of the Ringing World National Youth Contest which is being held in Oxford this year on the 11^th July.

Continued thanks were given to Andrew Dunn for his work as webmaster and to Paul Lucas for his work on Hugh’s News.

Thanks were given to the minister and vergers of St Aldates, Andrew Dyer for playing the organ and the providers of the tea.