Page 40 - ALG Issue 3 2018

General
AGM – 2nd June 2018
Willows Suite, Wyboston Lakes Training Centre, Great North Road, Wyboston, Bedfordshire, MK44 3AL
Welcome
President Phil Gomersall welcomed everyone to the meeting and gave an emotional account
of his busy first year as President of the NAS. He added to the report below by saying that he felt that the management
board worked very hard, and that the organisation had moved on in leaps and bounds. He ended by thanking all the staff and volunteers and the people in the room who had been promoting allotments over the previous year.
“Being elected as your President was one of the proudest moments in my life, thank you for your confidence. I am trying my best to keep up my side of the bargain. I have been promoting and advising on allotments for over twenty years now but I think this has been my busiest year so far.
The week after my election I attended the Scottish Allotments AGM. I have always wanted to attend one of their AGMs and
it was especially important to me to give their allotments a higher profile and have a much closer relationship. I have continued to promote the allotment movement through shows, talks, presentations, radio broadcasts and through many gardening magazines, not forgetting Twitter and Facebook, which have proved to be a very effective means of publicity.
at the event was to see the commitment and backing received from their Parish Councillors. I did feel really bad as I have had to decline three invitations to present other awards. There was one presentation, however, I was very pleased that I could attend and that was to present City & Guilds certificates to some clients at Horticap in Harrogate. It is a charity which caters for people with learning or physical disabilities, and their activities are based around horticulture. If you visit RHS Harlow Carr, call in at their nearby Bluecoat Wood Nurseries. It is well worth a visit – good cakes and tea too!
“As you know, a huge amount of work has been involved to bring our Rules, Standards and Procedures up to date for today’s world. These efforts have continued, developing new Regional Constitutions, Standards, Procedures and Code of Conduct. Members of the Standing Orders Committee have been actively involved in both the NAS and Regional constitutional changes.
It was clear that, following the adoption
of new Rules at the 2016 AGM and the proposed adoption of the new Regional Constitutions through Regional 2018
AGMs, the role of the Standing Orders committee had to expand from the vetting of Nominations and Motions into that of general governance of the Society. This wider remit does not give the Governance Committee executive powers but does ensure that the actions of the Society are subject to scrutiny leading to greater transparency.
The Governance Committee met four times in 2017 and twice so far in 2018. Matters considered in these meetings included AGM Agendas, Nominations and Motions. Discussions focused on Regional Constitutions and their progression to adoption by Regions. Furthermore, initiatives to evaluate internal operating practices
by audit and to examine value for money with joint venture partners/suppliers were proposed.
The Governance Committee is appointed to oversee the running of the AGM and hereby present their report under the rules of the Society, which set out the duties and powers of the Committee. The Committee currently comprises: Libby Earle, Ronald Jones, Paul Merryweather and Alastair Watson”.
Apologies for absence
Mike Cantillon, Secretary Southern Region Sandy Bliss, South East Region
Karen Kenny, Eastern Region
Tony Urwin, Yorkshire and Humberside Region Sheila Pullen, Eastern Region
Shows: I have had
to stop producing
the allotment garden extravaganzas at shows due to my health and time commitments. I do, however, continue to create publicity stands solely in the NAS name now and mainly in my region. For a couple
A huge amount of work has been involved to bring our Rules, Standards and Procedures up to date for today’s world
Media: We had a request from Croatia Television to film UK allotments. I also spent a day filming with Raise the Roof Television for a presentation to the BBC. I’ve promoted allotments on Radio Lancashire, Radio Leeds, Radio York,
of days last year I did attend the Southport Flower Show though, alongside my friends and colleagues in the North West. A very successful and enjoyable experience it
was too. I am looking forward to attending BBC Gardeners World Live in Birmingham
in August of this year, where I will be on
the stand with the West Midlands Region.
I went as a visitor to Harrogate Autumn Show and got waylaid by Radio Leeds for an impromptu live interview.
Judging: I have judged an allotment site at Bracken Hill Allotments at Ackworth, but had to decline a return visit due to pressure of work. I also judged the Wilko best allotment competition; I am pleased to say it was one of our members from the Northern Region who won it.
Presentations: I was asked back to the Ackworth presentation evening with Tony Heeson. What was very interesting
Stray Radio, Talk Radio and BBC Radio 4. Well, you have all seen my scribblings in both ends of our magazine now, but many
of the pieces I submit are also published
in other gardening magazines. I have given many interviews relating to allotments, three profiles to press, and I am always being asked for quotes. I also put many allotment related features out on Facebook, Twitter and through the International Allotment Office. I would also like to appeal to members to put forward projects for
the International Awards and sites for the International Good Sites Guide”.
Governance Committee
Address and Report
Alastair Watson, Chairperson of the Committee, drew attention to the change of name from Standing Orders Committee to Governance Committee.
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