AGENDA – VIRTUAL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 15TH NOVEMBER 2021
- Adoption of the 2020 AGM minutes
- Chairman’s Report
- Treasurer’s Report
- Membership Secretary’s Report
- Re-election of Officers and Committee
Due to the current level of Covid cases locally, a virtual AGM for Sissinghurst Flower Show Society is being held again this year. The Minutes from the 2020 AGM, the various Officers’ Reports and details of the re-election of Officers and Committee members relating to the listed agenda items are shown below.
We ask you to kindly review the Minutes and Reports shown and let the Society know if you have any comments or queries on them by 8pm on 15th November 2021.
The Minutes, Reports and the Re-election of Officers and Committees will be adopted as from the end of 15th November 2021 if no proposals to the contrary are received by 8pm on 15th November 2021. Anyone wishing to make a contra proposal should email SFSS@Mail.com by this time and date.
MINUTES OF VIRTUAL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 16TH NOVEMBER 2020
Due to the Covid situation in 2020, a virtual AGM for Sissinghurst Flower Show Society was held. The Minutes from the 2019 AGM, the various Officers’ Reports and details of the re-election of Officers and Committee members relating to the agenda items were put onto the Sissinghurst Flower Show Society website for review and comment by the members of the Society by 8pm on 16th November 2020.
A number of supportive comments were received from members but no objections or proposed changes to the paperwork were received by this time and date.
Consequently, the Minutes, Reports and the Re-election of Officers and Committees were adopted as from the end of 15th November 2021.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT – VIRTUAL AGM 15TH NOVEMBER 2021
It has been another unusual year for the Society but at last we had light at the end of the tunnel for the Autumn Show.
Both the Virtual Spring and Summer Shows went well and our Judges by then were used to the challenge of judging from photographs. It was good to see children and young people participating in the adult classes and finding their names amongst the prize winners. The judges are of course unaware as the entry cards show only the Member’s entry card reference number, no name.
The Autumn Show and a real show at last! As it was held in the School hall, Covid precautions prevailed with one way system, masks to be worn etc. It was most rewarding to welcome Members back with good entries. We very much missed the School pupils’ artwork and hope that next year will see a return to their usual interesting and colourful displays on the walls.
As you may have noticed, many of the 17 Village Troughs have been replaced by smart new ones. Jeremy Boxall kindly made 8 new ones and several of the older ones were repaired, all in time for the summer planting which he and Lynne Bancroft undertook. All troughs were emptied, refilled with compost and planted with summer flowers with additional help from Barbara Craig. It was a marathon task and we are most grateful to them. They also emptied them at the beginning of October and this time the Committee have planted for a colourful spring display
Our equipment of vases, tables, cups and saucers and other requisites for shows is housed in our shed which is located within the school grounds. During the winter the roof was repaired after showing signs of leakage and the shed is now dry and free from damp.
We were all very sad at Denis Hemsted’s death early in the year. He contributed so much to the Society during the many years as a Committee member with not only ideas and general help but also on the practical front. In his well equipped workshop he made quite a number of the Village troughs and advertising boards. He will be greatly missed by us all.
His family are donating 3 cups in his memory. There will be one for each show to be awarded to the best photographic entry from children and young people 15 and under. They will be known as the Denis Hemsted Youth Cup, a new class which we hope will encourage entries from that age group. Photography was one of Denis’ interests and we hope that with mobile phones which have good cameras we shall see an increase overall in the photography classes.
In spite of the difficult year, it has been very rewarding to see the effort members put into the Virtual Shows and several said it was good to be able to photograph their vegetables, fruit and flowers when they were actually at their best. So often, as we know to our cost, the Great British Weather has intervened during the week prior to Shows.
Thank you everyone for continuing to support us.
We look forward to 2022 with optimism to staging proper shows and organising much needed fundraising. Unfortunately our Secretary moved away and with a member or two feeling their ages now, we are very pleased to welcome two new Committee members to give us additional ideas and help.
May we finally see a return next year to Flower Shows and other annual events which are so much part of Sissinghurst Village Life.
The Chairman’s Report shown above will be adopted as from the end of 15th November 2021 if no proposals to the contrary are received by 8pm on 15th November 2021. Anyone wishing to make a contra proposal should email SFSS@Mail.com by this time and date.
TREASURER’S REPORT – VIRTUAL AGM 15TH NOVEMBER 2021
2020 was a challenging year financially with no flower shows being held and overall a reduced income. The decision to increase our membership subscriptions from 2021 has greatly contributed to getting us back on an even keel in 2021 and we still believe that membership, with all its benefits, is excellent value for money.
Our other substantial source of income has been some very generous donations, for which we are very grateful, and a grant from our Parish Council.
As a result we have been able to replace most of our village flower boxes and also carry out a significant repair to our storage shed which is within the school grounds. Again specific sponsorship donations have helped us to keep the flower boxes looking cheerful.
We are very fortunate to receive so much support from our members.
Most of the expenses for our three shows were for judging costs, although holding a real show in the Autumn also incurred a caretaker charge from the school. However, this real show did enable us to collect donations and run a raffle. We have maintained our affiliation fees to horticultural associations and these have remained fairly stable as have our insurance costs.
Last year we sustained a loss of £500 on our current account, but our reserves meant we remained in a good financial position. In 2021, we have had some discretionary spend but our increased income has meant we have recouped our loss of last year and go forward in a strong financial position.
The Treasurer’s Report shown above will be adopted as from the end of 15th November 2021 if no proposals to the contrary are received by 8pm on 15th November 2021. Anyone wishing to make a contra proposal should email SFSS@Mail.com by this time and date.
MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY’S REPORT – VIRTUAL AGM 15TH NOVEMBER 2021
The Flower Show Society received £1,020 for membership fees for 2021 plus donations of £45 at the time of renewing memberships. The membership is made up of 128 single members, 40 families and 4 life members making a total of 172 households as members of the Society. This is an increase of 20 households from 2020 and we thank our new and existing members for their support.
Membership fees had been increased in the year to £5 per person or £10 per family and this generated much needed extra funds for the Society at a time when it was unable to operate shows as normal or have other fundraising opportunities.
We were very glad to have been able to have a real Autumn Show at the school in September and we hope to have a full year of shows in 2022 and look forward to our members joining us at them.
Membership rates for 2022 are as follows:
£5 per person or £10 per family.
If you wish to renew your membership it would be extremely helpful for the Society for you to make a payment either electronically or by posting an envelope with cash or a cheque made out to Sissinghurst Flower Show Society into 10 Broadview, Sissinghurst along with your contact details. Broadview is on the left hand side of Common Road as you go towards the school.
If you wish to make a direct payment, the bank account details are as follows:
Sort code: 60-06-18
Account No: 59031948
Account name: Sissinghurst Flower Show
Please use your surname and road name as the reference.
Schedules and membership cards will be distributed in early 2022.
New members are very welcome. Any resident of Sissinghurst Ecclesiastical Parish and those who have existing links with the Parish or Sissinghurst C of E Primary School are eligible to join. Other prospective members may join at the discretion of the committee so please contact us if you are interested in joining.
Thank you for your support in 2021.
The Membership Secretary’s Report shown above will be adopted as from the end of 15th November 2021 if no proposals to the contrary are received by 8pm on 15th November 2021. Anyone wishing to make a contra proposal should email SFSS@Mail.com by this time and date.
RE-ELECTION OF OFFICERS – VIRTUAL AGM 15TH NOVEMBER 2021
We are very pleased that not only the existing committee is willing to stand again for 2021 but that we have two new committee members, Charlotte Crabtree and Emma D’Ali, to join us. Charlotte has been a long standing supporter of the Society who has helped with the hard work of setting and dismantling shows and Emma, although a more recent member of the Society, will play in a key role in liaising with the school going forwards.
The Officers and Committee that are standing for election for 2020-21 are as follows:
President – Mrs A Bunyan
Vice-President – Mrs P Stearns and Mr G Grounds
Chairman and General Secretary – Mrs M Newsom
Minutes Secretary – Mrs P Stearns
Treasurer – Mrs S McAuley
Vice Chairman and Membership Secretary – Ms L Bancroft
General Committee:
Mrs C Crabtree
Mrs M Cumberland
Mrs E D’Ali
Mrs K Goodsell
Mrs H Ivinson
Mr M Newsom
Mrs P Stearns
Mrs N Thomas-Davies
Sissinghurst Flower Show Society 