Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 3rd December at the Comrades Club.

Present: Harry Foren, Brenda Hennessey, Shirley Brown, Nina Collier, Alan
Hooker

Apologies: Bonnie Hooker

ACCOUNTS

Alan had 3 cheques to sign,
1 Lottery £17.50 for next years prize draw. It was decided to defer this as it is not usually paid until after the AGM and the discussions re the future of the prize draw being unconcluded.
2 £470 Bulley Davey. This was associated with the new accounting requirements. Alan to check whether this was a one off fee or recurring.
3 £500 to W.G.R. This is a donation to fund the 11% local contribution needed to release funding from the landfill which will pay in the main for new updates to the play equipment on the recreation ground.

Nov 5th

The accounts for Nov 5th were examined and showed a healthy profit of £2464.25, thanks in part to the demise of the Brampton show due to health and safety issues. Everyone present voiced their approval at the success of the event, with the public passing comments at the perceived improvement in quality of the actual fireworks (no different but with a few larger additions enabled by the extra bit of cash!) Special note was made of the £70 taken at the back gate, a vast improvement on previous years, and the positive effect lighting had on the area. It was felt the front gate needed re-thinking to increase through flow, possibly with an extra table to pay at with a separator system to channel people into lines at the various entry points. Consideration will need to be given to the issue of stewardship. We do need more people with the specific task of being free to handle people on the ground in the event of a problem. This could involve more walkie-talkies and coats, and obviously MORE VOLUNTEERS!

Alan felt that the pyrotechnic team would benefit greatly from the addition of headsets to the existing walkie-talkies to free up hands. Also a set of clip-on torches would free up hands as well.

Bridge

Bridge magazine revenues where still short by a few payments, reminders will be sent to those we have addresses for. Maybe the people involved in booking the add could do a personal chase up and report back as to the current situation.
OUTSTANDING:
£110 Peter McQuire £38 Beauty Salon
£110 wedding gift £65 Nicola Rule

The balance sheet shows a deficit of £123.95 at the moment for the magazine. Accounts will need finalising at Christmas ready for the AGM

PICNIC IN THE PARK

Alan reported that the Picnic in the park committee had held their first meeting and a general plan had been laid down with feelers currently out for costs / availability of the elements under consideration. It has been confirmed that the Town Council has agreed to provide £6500 of funding towards this year's event on the understanding that the majority of the increase is spent on upgrading the quality of acts on stage. There then followed a general discussion on various topics including the need for a more proactive approach to recruitment for the committee. It was felt we were missing the inclusion of new young family blood, with the exception of Claire and Stuart. Most of the past momentum of the association came from the old hands when they all had young families. This sector of the community seems thin on the ground within our ranks. Ideas put forward were a purpose made display stand for setting up at events such as gala day / picnic / school events / church bazaar etc. A set of display boards for permanent use at local pubs / clubs / schools / notice boards etc. Both these items could have the theme showing what the results of our
efforts have been balanced against a blank piece of paper representing the town without us.

It was suggested that some people might be put off making their first contact at an AGM. It was also noted that when we do get new bodies involved we need to allocate them to a 'buddy' to show them the ropes. By the AGM most of the groundwork has been done for the following year by way of necessity leaving a fairly long gap for anyone eager to get stuck in and involved.

It was felt that with the low committee turnout there was not much more progress to be made and the meeting was closed at 9.30.

NEXT MEETINGS:

THURSDAY 13th DECEMBER 2001, EXHIBITION, 8PM

THURSDAY 10th JANUARY 2002, COMRADES CLUB, 8PM, Pre- AGM meeting

MONDAY 14th JANUARY 2002, COMRADES CLUB, 8PM, Picnic in the park meeting

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