Committee Members Present: John Garratt Jim Gardner Tessa Hucklesby
Biddy Roche
Fiona MacKenzie Kate Kershaw Robert Robarts
PSBG Members Present: Pat Garratt Shaun Smith Tony Henri Steve Peberdy
Andrew Warde Jane Warde Lawrence Alderson
There was a total of 14 members present.
1. APOLOGIES
Sheila Wellman, John & Norma Sanders, Jean-Mary Crozier, Norman
& Michelle Jones, Esther Perks, Steve Gould, Justin Coke
2. MINUTES
OF LAST MEETING
The Minutes of the last AGM, which was posted to all members prior to
this meeting, were agreed.
3. CHAIRMAN’S
REPORT
Our Chairman, John Garratt outlined a number of points that appear in
his report with the first being the approval of the revised Constitution
which now makes it more straight forward to change such things as the
Breed Standard, and quite recently the date of the Financial Report,
so that it now ties in more appropriately with the AGM. The agreement
made at the last AGM to spend some of the Breed Group’s accumulated
funds on improving the website. This has now been achieved and John
thanked Tessa, Fiona and Jo Jones for all the hard work in getting the
new website up and running. The Breed Stand has also been an asset to
the Breed Group, and this year had won first prize at the Three Counties
Show in June, having been taken there by Michelle and Norman Jones with
the help of Tessa Hucklesby. Michelle and Norman had also taken the
Breed Stand to Sheep 2008 at Malvern. In August Tessa and Fiona MacKenzie
had taken the Breed Stand to the Festival of Native and Traditional
Breeds at Brinkworth House. Tessa has brought the Breed Stand to Melton
Mowbray this weekend and from here Jim Gardner and Justin Coke will
be taking it to the Dairy Event at Stoneleigh next week. Getting the
Breed Stand to the right place at the right time is thanks to the hard
work of the people mentioned.
The event at Hogchester farm was a great success and a further event
will be organised for the coming year. Status documents have now been
updated. John voiced his disappointment in the disbanding of the Combined
Flock Book Membership Panel, which had only been set up earlier this
year. (Please see Chairman’s Report for further details on this).
John thanked the Committee and everyone else for the support he has
had over the last three years.
The Chairman’s Report is attached to these minutes and will also
be posted on the website.
4. SECRETARY’S
REPORT
Our Secretary, Tessa Hucklesby had informed the meeting that it had
been a very productive year. The revamping of the website and the updating
of the Status Documents were very satisfying. We can now update show
lists, judges etc by word processor and email or post these to Committee
members. The website has also been a great success, and Tessa thanked
Fiona MacKenzie and Jo Jones for all their hard work. More photos, articles
and suggestions please for the website. Tessa is stepping down as Secretary
but will carry on with further improvements to the website and also
the ‘shows and events’ side of things with a view to building
a good relationship with show organisers. Tessa mentioned the importance
of these events in promoting Portland sheep to members of the public.
She also will support our new secretary in very way she can. She thanked
everyone for their support over the last 4 years.
5. TREASURER’S
REPORT
Everyone had been handed a copy of the Audited Accounts. There is no
comparison with last year because this year the accounts were only for
nine months. This was to bring it in line with the AGM. There was an
overspend of £126 which is similar to last year. There are 128
members, 14 in the north, 18 central, 20 east, 16 southeast, 18 south
and 42 west. The membership looses and gains around 20 members in a
year and membership numbers are similar to last year. There is a better
membership spread than in the past with more members north of the M4.
Cheque no. 246 made payable to the Cart and Horses had not presented
probably due to them changing hands. Andrew Warde asked if we had listed
the stock. Jim confirmed that the stock was mainly for members and was
only in the region of £70. We do have a list of assets including
cups etc., which are present in the Status Documents. The Audited Accounts
reflected mainly a Profit and Loss account. It was suggested by Andrew
Warde that a list of assets appear with the audited accounts and those
present agreed that this should be done.
6. NEWSLETTER EDITOR’S REPORT
Our newsletter editor Sheila Wellman was unable to attend the AGM but
asked the Secretary to speak on her behalf. Sheila would like to thank
all members for their input and also for getting articles etc to the
editor on time. As always more photos and articles etc gratefully received.
Once again any person wishing to receive the newsletter by email would
save the Group around £3 per copy.
7. ELECTION
OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE
Though the Committee members had already been nominated for the new
Committee, Andrew Warde’s offer to become a member of the Committee
was welcomed and will be discussed in more detail how this can achieved
at the next meeting.
The new elected officers were as follows:
Chairman: Fiona MacKenzie
Secretary: Andrew Jenkins
Treasurer: Esther Perks
New elected members were Robert Robarts and Steve Gould.
The meeting was then taken forward by Fiona MacKenzie our new Chairman
who thanked John Garrett for all his hard work in revising the Constitution,
Jim Gardner for his knowledge, good sense and long service as Treasurer
and Tessa Hucklesby for her input into the website and the updating
of the Status Document. She also hoped that they would still be able
to contribute to the Breed Group in the future.
8. ANY OTHER
BUSINESS
The timing of the AGM was discussed and suggestions of holding it at
the Annual Event were mentioned, as there is always a high attendance
at these events. However, the timing of the Annual Accounts was limited
by the date that the bank statement is received by the Treasurer, and
Jim informed the meeting that a charge of £10 was levied for an
unscheduled statement. This put limitations on the timing of the AGM.
The possibility of changing the date for receiving this particular statement
will be looked into by Tessa.
Fiona mentioned to the meeting that there was no fleece competition
at Melton Mowbray this year. It was suggested that this could perhaps
be held at an event where there was a higher concentration of members.
This will be discussed further at the next Committee meeting.
Tessa suggested that there should be a nominated person who would promote
Portland sheep by displaying the Breed Stand at local shows and events,
as there will be fewer people in the foreseeable future available to
do this. They need not necessarily have sheep but knowledge of the breed
and an enthusiastic approach would be an asset. However, travelling
costs may need to be met. Robert Robarts informed the meeting that there
was an older breed stand in existence but it was out of date and in
poor condition. This matter will be discussed at the next Committee
meeting.
Tessa also
brought up the question of updating the Breed leaflet, as some of the
information was now out of date. This will be discussed further at the
next Committee meeting.
MEETING ENDED
AT 7.11pm
