The Chairman, Mr Stephen Morley was in the chair.
AGENDA
1. Welcome.
Stephen Morley welcomed the Members and hoped we would like the format of the meeting. He welcomed the Speaker, Geoff Pilliner and thanked him for coming.
Apologies were received from the President, Michael Baron, who is indisposed and from Members Ted and Ann Winfield, John and June Bucknole, Ralph and Judy Pointer and Nancy Webb. He then handed over to the Treasurer who gave his report on the previous year’s financial situation(see item 4).
The Treasurer, Steven Johnson, then read the nomination of Stephen Morley as Chairman for 2022-23. This was proposed by Janet Pooley and seconded by Shireen Coghlan. The nomination was unanimously passed by the Members and the evening’s proceedings could continue.
2. To approve the Minutes of the 2021 AGM.
Copies of the Minutes for the 2021 AGM had previously been distributed to Members and were available on each table. Since no one had any objections or alterations, the Minutes were adopted unanimously.
3. To Receive the Chairman’s Report on the Society’s Year, 2021.
The Chairman, Stephen Morley, remarked that it had not been a full year since his last report, owing to the ongoing disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, but that the meetings that had gone ahead had been well attended. He thanked Ted and Ann Winfield for once again hosting a garden party when COVID rules made that possible, and noted that we were looking forward to a fuller schedule in the coming year, including trips, outings and the return of the Annual Supper. He finished by saying that, owing to increasing work and family commitments, he would be retiring at the next AGM.
4. Vote of Thanks to Retiring Committee Members.
The Chairman, Stephen Morley, proposed a Vote of Thanks to the retiring member, Peter Tudor, who was Treasurer for many years. He was presented with a token of appreciation from the Committee.
5. Adoption of the Financial Statement and Examined Balance Sheet to 31 December 2021.
The Treasurer, Steven Johnson, had provided Members with a copy of the audited Accounts for 2021. He remarked that the financial situation had been fairly stable because of the lack of activity due to the pandemic; there was less revenue from membership fees or the Alresford Agricultural Show, for example, but little expenditure on items such as the hire of the hall and speakers’ fees. He offered to answer any questions posed by Members, either at this Meeting or by email. The Financial Report was proposed by Stephen Morley, seconded by Janet Pooley and unanimously adopted.
6.To Elect Officers and Committee.
A list of proposed officers and Committee Members was distributed before the meeting. The office of Chairman was agreed earlier in the proceedings (see item 1.). The nomination of Steven Johnson as Treasurer was proposed by Stephen Morley, seconded by Peter Tudor and adopted by the Members. The nomination of Shireen Coghlan as Secretary was proposed by Stephen Morley, seconded by Janet Pooley and adopted by the Members.
Vivienne Isemann agreed to stand for the Committee and was formally proposed by Stephen Morley and seconded by Benny Brundish. The nomination of the remaining Committee Members en bloc was proposed by Stephen Morley and seconded by Janet Pooley. The nominations were:
Janet Pooley, Benny Brundish Ann Winfield Dympna Swinney Val Ramshaw Vivienne Isemann,
The nominations were approved without comment by the Members.
The Chairman, Stephen Morley, said that Michael Baron, though unable to take an active part in the running of the Society, would like to remain involved. He suggested that Michael Baron should be made Honorary Life President. Members agreed to this and showed their appreciation for Mi- chael Baron’s work for the Society.
Janet Pooley has agreed to act as Vice Chairman this year.
7. To Appoint the Honorary Examiner of Accounts.
Mr Keith Brundish has agreed to continue in this rôle for another year.
8. To Present the Flower of the Month Award.
Unfortunately, not enough meetings had been held to make this award possible this year.
9. AOB.
Although not strictly Society business, Janet Pooley told Members of an upcoming trip on March 1 by the Valley Gardeners to the Orchid Festival at Kew Gardens. They had only a few seats left on the coach and interested Members needed to let Janet know immediately.
10. Votes of Thanks.
The Chairman, Stephen Morley, thanked everyone for coming and closed the formal part of the AGM.
This was followed by an interesting talk by Geoff PIlliner from Alresford Country Market, explaining how Country Markets began in this country and how they are run. He concluded his talk by inviting members to consider contributing produce, crafts, etc.
To end the evening, everyone joined in a buffet meal, with food provided by the Members and served by the Committee. Everyone seemed to enjoy the partial return to ‘normality’ that this provided.
Alresford and District Horticultural Society Proposed Officers and Committee 2023/2024
| Office | Member Elected at the 2022 AGM | Nomination | Proposer | Seconder |
| Chairman | S Morley | J Pooley | A Winfield | S Coghlan |
| Treasurer | S Johnson | S Johnson | S Morley | P Tudor |
| Secretary | S Coghlan | S Coghlan | S Morley | J Pooley |
| Committee | J Pooley B Brundish A Winfield D Swinney V Ramshaw P Tudor | S Morley B Brundish A Winfield D Swinney V Ramshaw V Isemann | J Pooley | S Morley |
| Examiner of Accounts | Mr K Brundish | Mr K Brundish | S Johnson | S Morley |
NB Additional duties not covered by elected officers to be shared amongst Committee members
Additional nominations welcome for Committee members.
Please contact the Chairman at 7 Nursery Road Alresford SO24 9JW e-mail hortic@allthemorleys.co.uk
Phone: 01962 733524