Page 33 - Simply Veg Issue 3 2019

Chair’s Report
Let me introduce myself to those of you who don’t know me; -
I am Sandra and am married to Mark, (this man sat next to me) we have been members of the Society for many years I am at present the Chair of the Midlands Branch.
Focus areas for the future. So what’s next I hope to be leading the Trustees, and working on the following areas over the coming year.
• A strategy to generate standard publicity material, documents &
growing information etc to aid our hard-working Branches and
DA’s.
• improved membership administration with a potential new single
Membership Database
• continued modernisation, standardisation, reduction of
duplication and inclusion for all members.
• Greater focus on our growers (not just “showers”)
• Continued improved visibility and transparency at all levels
Sandra hall FNVS
by Malcolm Evans and Ivor Mace. And the many members who help out in the day.
Of the 14 members who sat the exam in October 2017, 12 passed; This was an excellent result and included one of our youngest new judges - Thomas Carpenter at @ only 22 years of age.
We wish them well in their respective areas and would encourage more members to come forward, learn more and become involved in this challenging but rewarding occupation.
The Judges exam is held once a year in October, (2018 is October 6th) and comprises of both a practical and theory exam.
Data Protection
As you should now be aware, new General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) came into force in May 2018. A great deal
of work has been carried regrading this. A formal compliance
review was conducted, the output of which was the creation of an implementation plan (including a legal review). Subsequently, the NVS created a Privacy Notice and Consent form, to support compliance of this new law.
I would encourage all members to fill out your consent form, if you haven’t already done so. (the forms were initially distributed in the Spring edition of the SV Magazine, it is also available on line (within the members section) and you will find another copy near the centre pages of your forthcoming October SV magazine too.
Publications & Documentation
Earlier this year, the latest in the “Getting Started” range was published. Getting started with cut flowers was solely funded and launched by the Northern Branch - thankyou.
Potential new topics will be considered again next year.
The NVS Judges & Exhibitors Guide, first amendment of edition 2, has been produced as a loose-leaf binder with revision controlled. Any future potential changes will be at a very low cost with replacement pages and index pages only be required to be updated.
Throughout 2017/2018 we continued with the production and upkeep of the NVS Directory, however, due to data protection feedback, combined with pages the new GDPR law, the Directory had to be taken off line. I am now happy to report that after a lot of hard work, the NVS Directory has now been released again.
In an effort to help standardise, UK wide, the use of the correct version of the various Judging stationery/aids that exist e.g. Scorecard, Judges Comments card, NAS card etc., it was agreed generate a PDF format of each item and distribute to Branches, DA’s and Judges (for whom we hold email addresses & consent for)
Although some of these items currently remain available to purchase from NVS stock, we are aware of the number of old photo-copied versions that have been appearing at shows in various formats. I would encourage everyone to ensure that you use the correct up to date versions to help promote a consistent up to date image.
The NVS membership application form was revised & enhanced and a new tri-fold form has since been generated. This now provides a standardised, up to date application form with a double page that a new member can retain, containing some helpful information. The Trustees would like to thank input and ideas from the Manchester & Cheshire DA’s, who helped initiate and assist in the update process. Volume qty’s will be printed after the AGM for each branch.
Sponsorship
Under the guidance of Gareth Cameron, the NVS has continued to strengthen the relationships we have with our existing sponsors whilst nurturing potential new ones. Sponsorship should be a two-way process and we must remember to be mindful of our sponsors plus provide feedback to our sponsors, for example growing information and results for the Marshall’s Gogorez Pepper and DT Brown’s Sebuto Globe beetroot.
This concludes the Trustee report for 2017/2018
Fiona Shenfield FNVS National Secretary, September 2018
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