Minutes of Open Meeting: Monday 5 March at Rosemary's flat.
Chair: Rosemary (115)
Minute taker: Jean (82)
Present: Bob (117), Jane (118), Rosemary (115), Sue (255) Jean (82),
Apologies: Caroline (228), William (252), Sandra (261), Bill (262), , Valerie (258), Barbara(208) Carmela (263)
Matters Arising
Publicity: Jane will take some leaflets into Natures Harvest.
Cyclos/email group: Jean reported that Rory is looking into the possibility of a new email group for members to post offers and wants, or publicise events. (This is because members have had problems using Cyclos marketplace, and that if members reply to Cyclos messages, instead of to the sender, they disappear!)
Cyclos/email group: In preparation for a new email group Bob has contacted all members asking if they are happy for their email addresses to be circulated to members. So far no-one has objected to this.
Questionnaire: Jane had written a report about the questionnaire for the newsletter.
Newsletter: In response to Jean's request for volunteers Valerie had agreed to produce the newsletter and Dave had offered to organise distribution (now complete)
Membership: Bob to draft a new application form to include a Members Agreement and present it at the AGM along with revised Members' Handbook. Jane suggested it would also be useful to include a question asking how the new member heard of letsbuzz.
Officers’ Reports and buzzard expenses
Facebook: Sue (255) has continued to post Letsbuzz events and photos on Facebook. She has asked for 4 buzzards for this.
Membership: Bob (117) reported we have had one new member since the last meeting: Carmela (263) and also a membership enquiry from someone living in Bedford. He has asked for 4 buzzards for his work.
Contact person: Jean (82) claimed 2 buzzards for contact person work.
Newsletter: Valerie (258) had just asked for 'the going rate' for producing the newsletter. Those present suggested 12 buzzards. Dave (77) had not requested any buzzards for newsletter distribution but we agreed to pay 6 buzzards.
Buzzard Treasurer: Joan (156) sent in a report (below) and has asked for 6 buzzards for her work as buzzard treasurer.
Treasurers Report for LETSBuzz Open Meeting, 5.3.18
|
Description |
Period 30.10.17 to 17.1.18 |
Period 18.1.18 to 3.3.18 |
|
Total Number of Trades during periods shown |
188 |
145 |
|
Value of ALL Trades during periods shown |
376 Buzzards |
527 Buzzards |
|
Number of trades, non-membership / officer fees |
23 |
21 |
|
Value of non-membership / officer trades |
97 Buzzards |
325 Buzzards |
|
Value of membership fee transfers & payment for shared meal in period Jan to March 2018 |
147 Buzzards |
154 Buzzards |
|
Value of trades for Facebook / Hosts / Minute Takers |
70 Buzzards |
38 Buzzards |
|
Number of trades for Facebook / Hosts / Minute Takers |
11 |
7 |
|
Balance of Organisation Account |
-7600 Buzzards |
-7494 |
All buzzard expenses listed above were agreed. Jean to forward details to Joan and request payment.
Sterling Treasurer: Jean reported that Sonja had resigned from this post on 1 March as she has now started a new job in Shropshire and she and Andrew will be leaving Leighton Buzzard. They will remain as letsbuzz members for the moment as they will still be coming back here each weekend. Caroline (228) is still a signatory on the account and has kindly agreed to cover this role until the AGM.
Results of the Questionnaire
We had another
look at the questionnaire results to see if any action was needed. As mentioned
above it's clear that a number of members are unhappy with aspects of Cyclos
and would prefer an email group. Most members are happy with the number and
type of social events even if some are often too busy to attend. The majority
of those who replied had heard of letsbuzz through an existing member so it
seems talks might be more effective
than leaflets (our three newest members all joined after the talk given by
Rosemary and Sue) .
Events
Caroline (228) organised a lunch time meal at the Raj on 4th March. This was a success: fourteen people attended . Five of us also joined Caroline for a wintry walk before meeting up with the others at the Raj.
Future events
Saturday 28 April AGM, 2.00-4.00pm Friends Meeting House.
We discussed and agreed some items for the AGM agenda. Jean to circulate a draft AGM agenda to all members and ask for any additional items. Jane will ask Lizzie if she can provide scones and jam for the cream tea. Bob and Jane agreed to provide cream for the scones, and tea.
Sunday 6 May, 11.00am - 4.00pm - lunch and bluebell walk in Ashridge hosted by Janet (102). Number to be confirmed by 1 April. Jean to send out a reminder email and inform Janet of any bookings.
We agreed to set dates for autumn and winter events (including a Quiz, and a Plant & produce trading day; wine tasting evening), at the next Open meeting in June. We agreed to not plan any summer events as in the past these have not been well attended due to holidays etc.
Any other Business
Newsletter: Jean will send a message asking for a volunteer to produce the May newsletter and someone to distribute it .
Jane will draft some guidelines on letsbuzz newsletter production (eg information to be included in each issue, print format, etc).
Publicity: Jean to send a message asking members for suggestions of any groups that might like a talk on letsbuzz, and asking for any volunteers to give a talk.
Future meetings
Wednesday 13 June, 8.00-9.30pm Open meeting at Bob and Jane's house
Tuesday 24 July, 8.00-9.30pm Open meeting at Rosemary's flat
The meeting closed at 9:05pm
Thanks to Rosemary for hosting.
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