Not necessarily the most exciting meeting of the year but one of the most important.
An AGM is required by our Constitution (as a branch of Warwickshire BeeKeepers Association our Constitution is the WBKA Constitution) and we have to reach a quorum so that we can take some of the important decisions. We hold the AGM on the date of the February 2nd Monday meeting, which this year was 13th February 2023.
Once the Secretary had confirmed we were quorate, based on the membership numbers from 12 Feb 2023 provided by the Treasurer and Membership Secretary, we moved fairly swiftly through the Agenda. The draft minutes (they are approved at next year’s AGM) contain all the key decisions of the AGM and will be made available on this website but it’s worth noting here some key Committee personnel changes:
- Paul Baines stepped down as Chair after his 2-year turn and Ray Pearce took over as the Chair of Shipston Beekeepers.
- Douglas Nethercleft stepped down as Secretary and David Kelleher subsequently took over.
- Mike Cherry resigned from the Committee but will continue to be the Shipston Beekeepers Swarms co-ordinator.
- Steve Woolf was confirmed as a new Committee member.
- Julia Neal was also confirmed as a new Committee member.
The Committee thanks…..
Certain Committee roles receive an honorarium, as approved by the AGM. At the end of the AGM the Committee wanted to acknowledge the help and support given to the Committee and indeed to Shipston Beekeepers by a number of members who don’t get an honorarium. As a token of the Committee’s thanks a bottle of Prosecco was given to:
- David Blower, Shipston Beekeepers’ Training Officer
- Carolyn Kramer, for running the 100 Club
- David Jones for running Members benefits
- Chris Paxford for taking delivery of, and providing storage space, for all the Members benefits items until their collection by members.
- Mike Clarke, for his maintenance of the Training Apiary grounds and facilities
- Mike Cherry, for running the Swarms Collectors
- Graham Newton, for setting up and managing the Shipston out apiary at St. Edmund’s Church, Shipston.
Break and talk
Once the formalities of the AGM were over had a break for a lovely buffet and drinks; the Committee had agreed the provision of a buffet, wine and beer.
Once appetites had been sated and thirsts slaked we had a fascinating talk by member James Taylor on a trip he and Mike Cherry made to Nepal in 2022 combining some hill walking with work for Bees Abroad.
