North Costa Blanca Branch of the Royal Air Forces Association

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING held

11.00-12.00, 13th February 2016, at the Hotel Mediterraneo, Benidorm

0. Present

Gaby FerenczyPresident

Robert HuntChairman

Colin McNaeVice Chairman & Webmaster

Brian Flowers Secretary

Maggie DennisTreasurer &Welfare Officer

Alan GillEntertainments Officer

Shane MartinWings Appeal Officer

Stephen LemonFlyer Editor

1. Welcome by Chairman & President - Dedication and Prayers

  • The Chairman opened the 2016 AGM by welcoming 46 North Costa Blanca Branch members and 3 members of the Costa Blanca Branch.
  • The RAF Association dedication was read by Maria James. The Chairman then asked everyone to remember in their prayers those from the Branch who had passed away since the last AGM, namely, Rommy Baker, Pat Charles, Peter Sharp and Pat Townshend.

2. Apologies

  • None

3. Approval of the Minutes of the 2015 AGM

  • Approval of the Minutes of the 2015 AGM was proposed by Len Hewitt, seconded by Cameron Gair and approved unanimously.

4. Matters Arising from the Minutes of the 2015 AGM

  • There were no matters arising.

5. Consideration of Reports from Committee Members for 2015

a.Vice Chairman.

  • The Vice Chairman summarised his report (see Appendix B).

b. Secretary.

  • The Secretary reported that the NCB membership on 1st January was 124, namely 15 Life Members, 44 Ordinary Members and 65 Associate Members. Linda Osborn joined as an Associate Member in mid-January 2016, so NCB membership was now 125.
  • The Secretary summarised his 2015 report (see Appendix C).

c. Welfare Officer.

  • Maggie Dennis had taken over as Welfare Officer from John & Meri Snell in March 2015. She had succeeded in obtaining UK Attendance Allowances for two UK expats, which was a first for the branch welfare service.
  • Maggie summarised her report (see Appendix D) and she wished all NCB members a healthy 2016.
  1. Entertainment Officer.
  • The Entertainment Officer summarised his report, detailing the social activities of the Branch during 2015 (see Appendix E).

e. Wings Appeal Officer.

The Wings Appeal Officer thanked the Branch members for their generous support for the many raffles and other fund-raising initiatives that enabled the NCB to contribute £3,000 to the Association’s Wings Appeal in 2015. A special ‘thank you’ went to Colin McNae for his sponsored parachute jump, which had raised about €500 for the Wings Appeal. Also, the Masonic Home of Valencia had made a donation of €1,000 to the Wings Appeal at the 14th December Branch Meeting, which would be carried forward to FY 2016.

  • After 6 years as the NCB Wings Appeal Officer, Shane was handing over to Sue McNae, who had kindly agreed to take over this post.
  • The Wings Appeal Officer’s full report is attached (see Appendix F).

f. Flyer Editor.

  • The Flyer Editor thanked Members for their contributions to the Branch Newsletter. He was particularly grateful to Pauline Flowers for proof-reading each edition.
  • The Flyer Editor was now standing-down and he would be replaced by Steve James with assistance from his wife, Maria.
  • A copy of the 2015 Flyer Editor’s full report is attached (see Appendix G).

g. Webmaster.

  • The Webmaster, Colin McNae, had maintained the NCB website each month; 2,396 hits were recorded in 2015.
  • Colin had been obliged to create a new website address from January 2016 as follows:
  • The Webmaster’s Report is attached (see Appendix H).

h. Chairman.

  • The Chairman thanked all Branch Members for their support and participation in Branch activities. He was especially grateful for the continued support given by all Committee members and those who worked in the background.
  • The Chairman thanked the Committee Members who were relinquishing their posts after several years of service, namely Shane Martin after 6 years as Wings Appeal Officer, Stephen Lemon after 6 years as Flyer Editor, and Brian & Pauline Flowers, who will relinquish their posts on 31st July 2016 after 12 years as Secretary and Membership Secretary respectively. Replacements for these two key posts would be required.
  • A copy of the Chairman’s report is attached (see Appendix A).

6. Consideration of the Treasurer’s Report, the Statement of Accounts for the Financial Year 2015 and Auditor’s Report.

  • The Treasurer, Maggie Dennis, had prepared the NCB 2015 accounts, which had been approved by the Independent Auditor, Mr. John Faulconbridge.
  • A copy of the NCB balance account document had been sent to all NCB members.
  • The Chairman asked the meeting to approve the 2015 accounts. This was proposed by Cameron Gair, seconded by Alan Page and approved unanimously.
  • Copies of the 2015 Accounts and the Treasurer’s report are attached (see Appendix I)

7. Re-appointment of Branch President.

  • Gaby Ferenczy informed the meeting that he was happy to continue serving the Branch in the role of President for a further year, which was approved unanimously.

8. Election of Committee Officers

  • The election of the following committee members was proposed by Yvonne Keir, seconded by Cameron Gair and approved unanimously.

a.Chairman-Bob Hunt

b.Vice Chairman-Colin McNae

c.Secretary-Brian Flowers – (until 31st July 2016)

d.Treasurer-Maggie Dennis

e.Welfare Officer-Maggie Dennis

9. Election of Additional Members of the Committee.

  • The election of the following additional members of the committee was proposed by Len Hewitt, seconded by Jo Patmore and approved unanimously.

a.Entertainments & Social Officer-Alan Gill

b.Wings appeal Officer -Sue McNae

c.Deputy Wings Appeal Members- Yvonne and David Keir

d.Deputy Welfare Officer-Mick Dennis

e.Newsletter Editor-Steve James

10. Appointment of Financial Auditor

  • The Chairman advised that Mr. John Faulconbridge was happy to continue in his role as Independent Auditor for NCB Accounts. As the NCB was a charity, he would not charge for his services. The reappointment of Mr. Faulconbridge as the Branch Auditor was approved unanimously.

11. Nomination of Branch Delegates for Annual and Area conferences in 2016

  • The following Branch members had volunteered to represent the Branch at the forthcoming 2016 Annual and Area Conferences:

a.Annual Conference - Blackpool - Margaret Hunt

b. European Area Conference - Blackpool-Margaret Hunt

c. European Area Conference - Malta-Colin McNae

  • This was proposed by David Keir, seconded by Pauline Flowers and approved unanimously.

12. Consideration of Resolutions forwarded by Branch Members

  • The Secretary advised that no resolutions had been forwarded by Branch members.

13. Consideration of Any Other Business

  • The Chairman noted that last December, RAFA-CHQ had distributed by post to all overseas members forms inviting them to pay their 2016 membership fees by bank transfer to RAFA-CHQ. Members could, of course, make their membership payments in this way if they so wish. However, the procedure whereby the Membership Secretary collects membership fees in cash from NCB members was still in operation.
  • In view of the present Euro/PS exchange rate, it was proposed to use €1·25 = 1 PS for calculating membership fees in Euros for 2016. This was proposed by Alan Page, seconded by Hugh Stewart and approved unanimously.
  • Cameron & Corinne Gair were organising a visit to the Gandia Fallas on 16th March.Their daughter would be present to translate if required and Cameron would prepare an information sheet. A restaurant will be chosen according to the number of participants.

14. Date of Next AGM

  • The next AGM would be held during February 2017 on a date to be advised.

(Brian Flowers - Rev.1 - 20th February 2016)

List of Appendices:

Appendix 1 - Treasurer’s Report and Balance Account

Appendix A: Chairman’s Report

Appendix B: Vice-Chairman’s Report

Appendix C: Secretary’s Report

Appendix D: Welfare Officer’s Report

Appendix E: Social & Entertainment Officer’s Report

Appendix F: Wings Appeal Officer’s Report

Appendix G: Flyer Editor’s Report

Appendix H: Webmaster’s Report