Annual General Meeting

This year, of course, we had to hold our AGM online.

In his opening remarks President Francis Whitbread said he could imagine himself being remembered as the first President AH (After Hamptons, our last meeting there being held at the beginning of this calendar year) and the last President BC (Before Coronavirus). He saw the Rotary Showcase as being the highlight of his year. Other regular events had gone well and he and his wife, Jackie, had enjoyed the District Conference.

On a sadder note, his year also marked the death of four members and Honorary Members: Chris Burr, John Parkinson, Ray Shaw and Tony Stubbings.

In the business part of the meeting the minutes of last year’s meeting were approved and members agreed to leave the annual subscription at £135. The Chairs of this year’s committees gave their reports and the membership of the incoming Council approved.

There was some discussion as to whether or not the Club should participate in the purchase of Rotary-branded snoods by the Chelmsford Clubs. Stan Keller’s wife, Sheila, showed us what they were and how they worked. We agreed to pledge £200 towards the purchase.

President Francis closed the meeting by playing a song by Flanagan and Allen which, after some initial hiccoughs, we all managed to hear via the Internet.