 It was wonderful to see so many members at the village hall for our AGM. Chairman Sybil Saunders opened the formal part of the meeting by calling on President Peter White to welcome everyone. Peter thanked the committee and others who had helped run the club during the year. In her Treasurers report Joan Sims thanked Desmond Thomas for once again auditing the accounts which she explained were in a 'healthy' state. The branch keeps just under a third of member's subscriptions, the rest going to the head office of Arthritis Care which is a national charity. We then add to our funds through the monthly raffle and sales table and this year were very grateful for a donation of £300 from Buy In Grayshott following the Christmas Eve Carols In The Square.
We then moved on to the Chairman's report ; Sybil telling us that we now had 59 members and thanking a number of them, not on the committee, who regularly helped, including Jean and Iris on the raffle table. Brenda Petrie was welcomed back after a spell of ill health. Then followed the 'Election of Officers and Committee'. Each year 3 committee members have to stand down and this year it was Chairman Sybil Saunders herself, Treasurer Joan Sims and Elizabeth Hastilow. All 3 had decided not to stand for re-election but will continue as members, Mary Soar was elected onto the committee and will serve as Treasurer, Edna Calton will join and help with catering, Jacqui Prendiville will be our new Chairman. Sybil thanked all retiring members and presented Joan with a voucher as a token of appreciation of her many years as Treasurer.
As new Chairman Jacqui Prendiville presented Sybil with a garden voucher and hoped that she would be able to 'fill Sybil's shoes', adding that members ideas are always welcome. Pam Browne thanked the committee on behalf of all the members and Sybil closed this part of the meeting by reading a very amusing story about a little boy and his boots.
Our Speaker this month was member Angela Haine who gave a very amusing and sometimes daunting account of her life in the Solomon Islands in 89-92. Considering she hadn't wanted to leave Swaziland to go there we all though she survived very well from arriving during a riot, getting to the nearest decent shop on nearby islands in a 25 feet metal canoe to coping with a limited variety of food.
Her talk was packed with fascinating anecdotes on life on Kolombangara, the ways of the islands and the people, the scenery and facilities. At the end of her stay she had felt very privileged to have lived in this 'unforgettable place'
On Tues 6 April Roger Saunders will entertain us with 'Music FromThe Movies'. An early reminder that our Summer Lunch this year will be on June 1st, more details at the April meeting but please put the date in your diary now as tickets must be bought in advance.
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