Page 7 - Simply Vegetables Winter 2024/25

News from the Trustees
MICHELLE NIXON
The main news from the Trustees is that the 2024 AGM was held on Saturday 21st September at Hapstead Hall, Ardingly. The venue was a short walk from the National Championships and there was good attendance.
Following the formalities, including a minute’s silence for all departed members, the meeting moved to the election of officers as listed in the published agenda. The post of President has a one- year tenure, and we are happy to report that Medwyn Williams was re-elected. The posts of Chair, Secretary and Membership Registrar were also due for renewal for the period 2024-2027, with Sandra Hall, Fiona Shenfield and Norman Dickinson being re-elected. Andy Wall, who was co-opted into the role of Webmaster in October 2023, had his appointment formally ratified. Our long-serving National Treasurer Jean Forrester retired, and Ian Mackenzie was voted in as her successor. Finally, it was reported that that two members had expressed an interest in the vacancy for Social Media Officer, and interviews would be held in early October.
The full minutes of the 2024 AGM will be published as usual in the Summer 2025 edition of Simply Vegetables, prior to the 2025 meeting. In the meantime, if you have any questions about this year’s meeting, please contact the Assistant Secretary at asstsecretary@nvsuk.org.uk.
Next, the Trustees’ fourth meeting of 2024 was held on the 15th of October via Zoom. The minutes have been distributed to Branch representatives for information.
One of the topics discussed was the nomination of new members to the Judge’s Panel, which is responsible for overseeing the training and examination of new judges and advising on changes to exhibition rules and guidelines. At the time of writing, new candidates have been nominated from Southern, Northern and Midlands Branches, with Ivor Mace (Welsh Branch) and Jim Williams (Scottish Branch) continuing to lead the panel.
Sponsorship Officer Chris Spree reported that he continues to work with the Society’s sponsors and partners throughout the year. Thanks go to all our partners who support us in so many ways, providing generous discount codes, raffle prizes and free seed, as well as giving talks and donating prize money at Branch and National levels. This all makes a huge difference to the society and our members. We appreciate the hard work Chris does, as well as the time the sponsors’ representatives make for him in their very busy schedules.
The Society’s gift aid claim for 2023 was processed by HMRC in July 2024, resulting in an overall claim of £16,644 with £4255.22 now received. Thank you to all who have ticked the gift aid box on their membership renewal. The money raised by gift aid is distributed to each Branch according to the number of its members taking part in the scheme.
Use of the Society’s two Facebook pages was discussed. We run a formal public news page, but there is also an informal group for members to use for their own news, questions and discussions. Andy Wall pointed out that currently 25% of
users of the informal page are not actually NVS members. The decision was taken to restrict access to members, we well as the Society’s official sponsors and partners. A valid membership number must be provided on application to join the group.
Since the AGM, retiring Treasurer Jean Forrester has been working closely with her successor Ian Mackenzie, to ensure a
smooth handover. Ian has a wealth of financial experience in large organisations, and we discussed several ideas he has to continue work to modernise the Society’s administration.
Finally, whilst the winter programme of Zoom talks has been immensely successful, we are aware that since the pandemic, options for members to meet in person are reduced. Therefore, the Branches are looking at options for running annual seminars, along the same lines as those currently presented by Scottish Branch and Medwyns of Anglesey.
One more meeting is planned this year, on the 12th of November, to review the 2024 National Championships, and to start planning for the 2025 National which will be held in August, at Ayr Racecourse.
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