EGM and AGM 7th November 2020
by Diana Rayner, Secretary
A sociable and active weekend (incorporating the AGM) in early November – all planned at Plas y Brenin in North Wales – had to be dismantled at the end of June when we realised that the pandemic was not going to be over by the autumn. We were sad that we wouldn’t be climbing, biking and scrambling around Snowdon but, for the formal part of the weekend, Zoom was the way to go, and the Club’s officers and admin staff embarked on a bit of a learning curve, including two dress rehearsals, to make sure the meeting would be a success.
A 52-page booklet of reports, accounts, resolutions, statistics and other information was sent to the 85 members who registered to attend the virtual meeting. On the day, 63 members logged in; comfortably above the quorum of 40. Our tech team, Cat Mittins and Jessica Peer (sitting suitably socially-distanced in the office), ran a pre-meeting training session for anyone who wanted help with Zoom. Then, while we waited for the meeting to start, a series of beautiful mountain photos was shown.
Tony Cooper, Chairman, welcomed everyone and we practised electronic voting before turning to the agenda. Proposals were approved allowing the Club to include under-18 members in activities; this initiative is now being taken forward by the Alpine Team. Questions were raised in relation to Directors’ Reports, the Risk Management Audit Report, and the Financial Report, and members were told that the Board was working to minimise any effect on 2021 membership renewals of the uncertainty over public liability insurance due to Brexit. Guidelines for upland and lowland walks, covering all necessary advice including first aid capability, were close to being finalised. The Treasurer also confirmed that 2021 subscription rates were the same as 2020 except that full-time students in AAC(UK) families, as well as children, would be free.
Three new volunteers were voted onto the Alpine Team – Chris Loy, Jennifer Roberts and Stefania Rosso. Two directors had left the Board: Diana Penny Sherpani and Trevor Smith. Paul Marginson and Dave Brown had stepped down from the Alpine Team. Honorary Life Membership was approved for Diana Penny who had given wonderful service to the Club over 50 years, and had recently been Alpine Representative as well as running most of the Club’s communications and, since resigning, she had spent many generous hours working with new volunteers to ensure a smooth handover. The President, Jacky Brown, also gave a vote of thanks to Paul Marginson for his tremendous contribution of wise and positive advice as well as much practical support, to the Club, most recently as Calendar Coordinator and Editor of e-news.
Tony, who had kept the meeting ticking along from his home computer, acknowledged the sterling work of Cat and Jessica, who had organised the meeting in a new virtual environment, had given a friendly welcome to members who were unsure about using Zoom, and had demonstrated cool and calm professionalism throughout.
Snowdon from Crib Goch
Photo by Martin Haydon
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