Minutes of Olney - Newton Link Annual General Meeting
at St Peter and St Paul 's Church
on
Wednesday 18 th April, 2007 at 7.30 p.m.
In attendance were Brian Lintern, Rachel Lintern, Philip Davies, David Danskin,
Graham Mabbutt, Tricia Selwood, Rena Partridge, Elizabeth Knight, Isobel Coli,
Sheila Woodhead, Claire Lintern, Sheila Ware, Sheila Watts, Chris Hardy, Val Fowell, Dawn Turner, Jeff Bowden, Sarah Dewey, Janet Shipton, Laura Jeary, Susan Heron.
1. Welcome
Rachel Lintern welcomed everyone to the first AGM of the Olney - Newton Link and explained that as we hoped to hold the AGM every year in April it had been necessary to hold this one in April too, although it was only seven months after the inaugural meeting (The first AGM must be held within 15 months of the inaugural meeting)
2. Apologies
Ed Fowell, Alison Taylor, Gill Hurley, Liz Brewster, Rachel Lewis, Andrew Betts, Debbie Sanders, Rod Wayland, David Sands, Marguerite Stephenson, David Dewey.
3. Chair's Report
Rachel Lintern delivered her report, a copy of which will also be on the web site www.olney-newtonlink.co.uk
Highlights of the seven months, which had been a very busy period, were:-
• Achieving Charity Status
• David and Sarah Dewey's visit to Freetown and Newton
• 70 houses completed. The fund-raising leading up to Christmas was geared to this so thanks all who were involved with the Christmas cards, conventional and e-type, Carol singing, Buy-a Present, and donations.
• Skills Day which raised over £800 for the Skills Centre in Newton
• Books sent out and gifts exchanged with Olney Infant School
• Lions Project has continued to provide furniture
• Sue Heron raised funds to provide Solar Lights
• Sandra Farr knitted scarves and raised funds to provide a generator and some fuel for the clinic
• Sutcliff Church 's Sponsored walk which has raised over £800 for the Skills Centre
• Laura Jeary ran in the Pancake Race and raise £243
• Establishing the Friends Group and the Newsletter
• Developing a new Web Site
Future projects will include a group of five Olney residents visiting Newton in the Summer.
4. Treasurer's Report
The treasurer presented her report and answered queries. The cost of sending cash and goods to Newton was highlighted. The balance in the bank is currently £1,165.14.
5. Members' Reports
Lions Report - the Lions have recently donated the third instalment of £500 to the Link for equipment in the schools. The total donated (excluding the three houses) is now £1,500. The final £1,000 will be donated over the next two years.
Cowper and Newton Museum – Graham Mabbutt explained that he would be the link person for the Museum as from the AGM.
Olney Infant School – Janet Shipton explained that the Infant School have an African week in October each year, which is supported by the PTA. This brings African culture into the school. She also attended a linking meeting and schools have been identified for Olney schools to link with. Individual pupils may eventually visit.
Olney Middle School -One of the teachers from the school will be visiting Newton in the summer.
Saints Together – Isobel Coli highlighted the board in the church which contained an article from The Times. After Rena Partridge's visit to Sierra Leone last year a friendship link was established between St Peter and St Paul's' Church in Olney and St Mary's Church in Newton. Seven people from Olney and 12 from St. Marys worked on the aims and objectives of the link which began in July 2006.
Funding has been provided to help St Mary's run an Alpha Course, following a request from them. The course started on 25 th February 2007 and five churches are involved with this. Claude is the main link in Newton . Hopefully this is the start of a long and developing friendship.
Sutcliff Baptist Church – Sarah Dewey said that the death of Brima's wife in her early thirties had cased reflection on the mortality rates in Sierra Leone . A written report from the church accompanies these minutes.
Friends Group – Sheila Ware reported that 29 people had signed up as Friends and had donated £469 to the Link. Many lived outside of Olney so it was a useful way of receiving news via the four newsletters a year that are sent out to Friends. The next newsletter is due shortly. Members and Trustees also get a copy. A plea was made for all to actively recruit more Friends. The chair also thanked Sheila Watts for making such an excellent job of the first newsletter.
The St Johns Ambulance Brigade is interested in becoming involved with the Medical Centre.
A plea for unused mobile phones was made so that these could be sent out to Newton .
6. Election of Trustees
All existing Trustees had expressed a willingness to stand again. Rena Partridge proposed and Isobel Coli seconded the proposal that all be re-elected as Trustees for the coming year. This was voted on and agreed. The Trustees being Philip Davies, David Danskin, Graham Mabbutt, Rachel Lintern, Tricia Selwood,
Claire Lintern, Rachel Lewis, Sheila Woodhead and Sheila Ware.
Andrew Betts from Advantage Africa had also expressed an interest in becoming a Trustee. Sheila Ware proposed and Philip Davies seconded a proposal that Andrew become a Trustee. This was voted on and agreed.
7. Election of officers
Rachel Lintern was proposed as Chair by Sheila Woodhead and this proposal was seconded by Tricia Selwood
Sheila Woodhead was proposed as Secretary by Rachel Lintern and this proposal was seconded by Graham Mabbutt
Tricia Selwood was proposed as Treasurer by David Danskin and this proposal was seconded by Sheila Ware
This was voted on and agreed.
8. Appointment of Auditors
As the Link has an income of under £10,000 a year we do not need to have the accounts audited. However it was agreed that someone should check the accounts and as St Peter and St Paul's Church has three accountants in its congregation it was decided to ask one of these if they would be prepared to check the accounts. Sheila Ware also had contact that could be pursued.
9. Date of Next Year's A.G.M.
It was agreed that this should be on Wednesday 23 rd April 2008
10. Visiting Speaker
The A.G.M was followed by Mr Collins Boakye-Agyemang, who gave an interesting and informative talk about the work of UKOWLA ( UK One World Linking Association )