QCA Annual General Meeting 2018 – MINUTES
The Penn Club, London
Saturday 5 May, 2017
- Number attending: 16
- Advices and Queries #7 was read during opening worship
- The minutes of the 2017 AGM were accepted.
- The following appointments to and resignations from the Committee (standing at 5 members) were confirmed/accepted
- Ann Johnson (newsletter) has stepped down, effective Feb 2018. We are grateful for Ann’s long and faithful service.
- Martin Layton (first triennium) until 2020 (non-Officer – social media, in/outreach, development)
- Julie Hinman (first triennium) until 2019 (non-Officer – social media, in/outreach, development)
- Jane Stanley extending as Treasurer until 2019 and as Membership Secretary until 2019
- Thom Bonneville extending as Clerk until 2019
- We warmly welcomed Liz McDermott, QCA Advocate for South Wales AM, through 2021 (non-Officer)
The Committee stands at five members.
- Accounts
- The summary of 2017 Income & Expenditure was circulated and reviewed, along with a list of 2017 donations.
- The Treasurer summarised the background with respect to the preparation of our annual accounts; the comments we received from the Office of the Recording Clerk regarding our methods in the course of QRB review; and the decision the Committee has subsequently taken to have our accounts independently examined. Friends attending were in agreement with the Committee’s approach and the felt that Independent Examination is needed to ensure transparency in the preparation of our accounts.
- Changes to QC;A Constitution
- The Clerk read out the existing articles – circulated to the membership in advance, via email – for which amendments were proposed.
- The AGM agreed the following amendments:
Section 9 The Treasurer
It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to have custody of all the Society’s funds and to present to the Annual General Meeting of the Society in every year a true balance sheet and an account of the receipts and expenditure of the Society during the previous calendar year, duly audited by the Auditor. The Treasurer shall also account for the Society’s funds to the Executive Committee and perform all other duties as pertain to his/her Office as Treasurer.
Amended to read:
It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to have custody of all the Society’s funds and to present to the Annual General Meeting of the Society in every year a true balance sheet and an account of the receipts and expenditure of the Society during the previous calendar year. These accounts shall be audited or independently examined each year, with the Examiner or Auditor to be appointed by the Treasurer with the Committee’s minuted approval. The Treasurer shall also account for the Society’s funds to the Executive Committee and perform all other duties as pertain to his/her Office as Treasurer.
Section 5.b. Annual General Meetings
The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be to receive and consider the Executive Committee’s Report and the Accounts for the year to the previous December 31st, to appoint the Clerk, Treasurer and members of the Executive Committee for the ensuing year; to appoint an Auditor for the ensuing year, and to transact any business appropriate to an Annual General Meeting.
Removed:
“to appoint an Auditor for the ensuing year,”
Sections 11.a. And 11.b. The Auditor
Removed:
11.a. The Auditor shall be appointed by the Annual General Meeting of the Society and shall hold Office until the next Annual General Meeting, but shall be eligible for re-appointment.
Removed:
11.b. Any casual vacancy in the Office of Auditor may be filled by the Executive Committee, but any Auditor so appointed shall hold Office only until the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Society, but without prejudice to his/her re-appointment.
Sections 12-19 have been accordingly renumbered , 11-18
- The AGM heard the newsletter report from our Newsletter Editor and an appeal for engagement with The Collateral Damage Project’s poppy-making project.
- The Clerk recounted a list of ‘highlights’ of QCA activity and happenings since the time of the last AGM.
- We discussed the legacy received in 2015 and the Committee’s decision to set up a Members’ Projects Fund, as per the 4 page outline circulated in advance to all members via email and enclosed herewith. The Clerk read out the list of example projects in order to get the conversation flowing.
- There is strong support for the funding of a campaign to address the puppy farming problem. We will work together, members and Committee, to give shape to an application for funding such a campaign. Greyhound exploitation is another issue that has raised strong concern amongst our members. Travelling ministry and film screenings were also discussed as possible candidates for funding.
The Committee will give further consideration to the administration of the MPF but for now are happy to receive ideas from members by whatever means.
The Clerk closed the AGM at 12.30 pm.