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AGM 2012 - Minutes

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on Wednesday, 25th January 2012 St. Peter’s Church Petersfield

Those present:  John Callaghan (Chairman), Karin Antonini,  Judy Barrow, Michael Barrow, Judith Bee, Sylvia Bovington, Evangeline Bowen, Sue Bowen, Linda Cawsey, Janet Colby, Rosemary Davies,  Emma Dean, Brian Edwards, Steve Field, Paul Heselton, Peter Hollis, Will Hughes, John Ide, Elizabeth Lynam, Brian Keys (Secretary), Ruth Keys, Di Mackarness, Anderson Marsh, Helen Mason, Sylvia Parnell, Joyce Perry, Kate Perry, Linda Read, Patsy Robinson, John Studd, Liz Studd, Monica Taylor, Terry Thraves, Ken Tottle, Olivia Tottle, Christine Tully (Treasurer), Barbara Ward, Lindy Young

1. Opening prayer:  John Callaghan opened the meeting with a prayer.
   
   
2. Apologies for absence:  Joanna Farrell, Audrey Hollingberry, Simon Mason, John Owen, Jeanette Richardson
   
   
3. Minutes of the 2011 AGM and matters arising:  the minutes were approved unanimously and signed by the Chairman.   There were no matters arising.
   
   
4. Chairman’s report:  John Callaghan introduced a slide show of photographs taken by John Studd showing the wide variety of events that had taken place during the year including the introduction of a Town Chaplaincy.   He emphasised the continued success of the revamped Holiday Club and Messy Church.
   
   
5. Treasurer’s report:  Copies of both sets of accounts had been circulated.  Christine Tully pointed out that PACT’s major expenditure had been on the Christmas and Easter cards.   She drew attention to the reduction in Holiday Club costs, which was due to the reorganisation undertaken by Helen and Emma.   She thanked Christopher Town for examining these accounts.
   
   
6. Election of Officers:  In accordance with the Constitution, the current Vice Chairman, Rosemary Davies, becomes Chairman for 2012.   The Reverend Anderson Marsh had been nominated as Vice Chairman and was unanimously elected.   Christine Tully had agreed to stand for re-election as Treasurer and was unanimously elected.   John Callaghan thanked her for all the work she puts in.   Brian Keys was standing down as Secretary.   John thanked him for all his efforts and presented him with a book.   In the absence of other nominations, John agreed to take over as Secretary for the time being.
   
   
7. Report from John Studd on the PACT website:   John Studd stated that the website gives details not only of what is planned but also what has happened.   Over two hundred have signed up and there is wide variety of e-mail groups available for different information.   During the year around seven thousand visits were made each month to the website.   The Chairman emphasised how much work John undertook to ensure all this information was available and thanked him for all his efforts.
   
   
8. Reports from Partnership Organisations, comments and questions:   full reports from the organisations are available on the website.  

• Petersfield Housing Association (a linked organisation):  Paul Heselton, the Housing Manager, was present and reminded everyone that the Association had been formed by PACT members in the 1970s.   Currently 93% of the two hundred and seventy five properties are compliant with the government’s Decent House Standards.   The Association now works within a thirty minute drive of Petersfield and has expanded as far as Alton and Havant though only seven staff are employed. 
• Unity Bookshop:  Di Mackarness spoke of the splendid response that had been received to the request for funding.   The Trustees had considered closing the bookshop but now, with help from individuals and some churches, she was delighted to advise that the shop will remain open for the time being.   She urged everyone to make use of this Christian resource to enable it to continue.   A special service of thanksgiving was planned for the summer to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the shop’s opening.
• Social Concerns Group:   Joyce Perry spoke of the success of the Christmas Day lunch, thanks to new volunteers and to Christine Rushton who had taken over the organisation for 2011.   More helpers and an organiser were required for 2012.   Joyce also commented on the success of the food bank, organised by the Salvation Army, the PACT card deliveries and the PACT prayer group, revitalised by Linda Read.   She advised that she intended to retire from leading this group after the March meeting and asked for any volunteer to take over.   The Chairman thanked her warmly for dedication and long service.
• Petersfield Voluntary Care Group (a linked organisation):  Evangeline Bowen thanked all the new volunteers who had enabled the Group to continue to offer transport to hospitals, clinics, etc., and asked the churches to promote this service.
• Petersfield Town Chaplaincy:  John Ide advised that although this was only launched in November, following its institution as a charity and training sessions, the visits to shops in the town had been well received.   More volunteers were required to enable to scope of the service to be widened and to assist as trustees or on the administration side.   The Bishop of Portsmouth and Paul Hoddinott are Patrons.   John asked for any donations to assist with the Chaplaincy to be sent to the Life Church Petersfield, 62 Station Road, Petersfield, GU32 3ES – cheques should be made out to Life Church Petersfield (Chaplaincy).
• Holiday Club and Messy Church:   Helen Mason spoke of the success of the Holiday Club following the reorganisation in 2011 which she and Emma Dean had undertaken.   During the week, the Club had worked with two hundred and twenty five children and over a hundred adults.   Information about 2012’s Club was already being requested.   Volunteers are need for this year when the Club  will run from the 30th July to the 3rd August.  
• Helen said that families attended for about a year before they moved on as the children grew older.   In many cases, Messy Church was their only contact with church and she felt it was valuable for those attending to see Christians from different church working so easily together.  
• The King’s Arms:   John Callaghan spoke of its continuing success and welcomed the new employee, Georgina.   He felt much was offered during the 3.00 pm to 5.15 pm and 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm daily sessions and encouraged everyone who felt they wished to connect to the youth of the town to come and take part.
• Petersfield Christian Ecology Group:  Gerald Druce wished to relinquish his Chairmanship because of his poor health and would welcome someone to take over.
• Home Start Butser:  the report mentioned that eighty-six families with over two hundred children were being supported.   Ten new volunteers had been trained which meant that there were now fifty-eight.   Children in Need have provided a further three years’ funding.   Nicola Winter, the organiser, thanked Trish Biggs who was retiring after eight years, for all her hard work.

9. Any other business:   none
   
   
10. Date of the next AGM:   Wednesday, 23rd January 2013.
    
    
11. Closing prayer:  John Callaghan asked for blessing on all those who take part in the organisations and others who provide support in the wider community.   Anderson Marsh thanked John for all his work as Chairman and prayed that he would be blessed in his work.  

Reports for other years are also available on this web site

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