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Please find below the minutes of the 2008 AGM held at Newcastle. If you wish to download a copy of these minutes follow the link below.
MINUTES OF THE 2008 AGM
As the next General Meeting is held the minutes below will be archived and the latest minutes published in their place.
THE COURAGEOUS SOCIETY
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
VENUE: THE HOLIDAY INN, SEATON BURN, NEWCASTLE
MEETING OPENED AT: 1030 on Saturday 5th April 2008
Numbers present 59
CHAIRMANS ADDRESS
Welcome to all and especially to the new members.
Ode to the Fallen’, with a silence for Don Mitchell XO of the First Commission and all other members and present servicemen and servicewomen that have passed away in recent times.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:-
Sugar Cain, John Woods, Pony More (A/B RP3) Richard Peck, Sam Fry, Ted Hogben, Barry Storey, Tony Evans, Mike Gilbert, Taff Morris, Tiny Tilsed, Rupert Best, Rod Wainwright, Dave Grieve, Willie Guinea, Peter Mullin, Vladek Cirin, Niall Kilgour, Rupert Best, Steve Horton Pony Moore PO CK and Alan Fitton
MINUTES OF THE LAST AGM.
Printed out in the News Letter, a very few copies available at this Meeting. Checked for accuracy by Rip Kirkby, just after the last AGM as an accurate record:
Proposed by: George ????????
Seconded by: Don Logie
All voted for
MATTERS ARISING FROM LAST AGM.
Unresolved the question of where to have the reunions. Overtaken by events, website vote a complete wash out and since we are happily moving the reunion around, the question has really gone away.
£125 is not enough to produce and send the News letter, this will be discussed later on in the AGM. To be discussed later.
THE TREASURERS REPORT / AUDITORS REPORT BY ROGER PESCODD
Membership is approximately 220 with 36 Associates. Members encouraged to use Pay Pal but some subs still outstanding. £720 in for membership subs. Liverpool Adelphi proved awkward to settle, however the problem went away to our complete advantage. At the end of February, accounts closed and there was £4,872 in the bank. This year end the accounting period was brought forward so that the accounts could be presented in Newcastle. The biggest outlay was the 3 News letters and the last letter was out early to increase numbers at this reunion. Also the Courageous “Werm” tie pins.
The large surplus from Liverpool Reunion was due to the very bad accounting and attempts to over charge us by the Adelphi and we thanked Glenn Barrack for his efforts through this difficult time. After 15 months is was felt that the debt for the balance has been discharged. A vote of thanks to the Treasurer, Roger Pescodd, big round of applause followed
SECRETARY’S REPORT BY PITT.K;
Completed this task to his entire satisfaction.
ELECTION / RE-ELECTION OF OFFICERS
THE PRESIDENT Capt Sam Fry was happy to stay on, but indicated that he would resign in 2010.
Proposed by: David Wixon
Seconded by: Bob Wishart
All voted for.
VICE PRESIDENT Capt Andy Buchanan (happy to stay on)
Proposed by: George Prior
Seconded by: Keith Spinks
All voted for and now primed to be the next President in 2010
CHAIRMAN Peter Godwin. (happy to stay on)
Proposed by Frank Pretty
Seconded by Ray Brooks
All voted for
VICE CHAIRMAN Tom Hill happy to stay, but wanted to do more
Proposed by: Henry Gale
Seconded by: Dutchy Holland
All voted for
TREASURER Mr Roger Pescodd (happy to stay on)
Proposed by: George Bell
Seconded by: George Carr
All voted for
SECRETARY Mr Pitkeathly (Pitt.k) resigned
Volunteer Required After a deathly and long pause Chas Cooke took up the mantle on proviso that it did not involve bringing out the News letter. Proposed by:
Bob Wishart
Seconded by: George Prior
All voted for
Pitt.k gave a quick reminder that the reason he was resigning, was that the News Letter required more input to survive as a going concern.
WEBSITE MANAGER Mr Chas Cooke
Proposed by: Chris Battle
Seconded by: Yorky Crossland
All voted for
FORMAL MOTIONS PUT FORWARD BY MEMBERS
Glen Barrack proposed that a small reunion to San Diego be organised. This was discussed at length and Ian Vickers came up with a solution that the International S/M Association were actually organising a reunion there with a week in San Diego (7-12 Sept 09 and staying at a Town and Country Convention Centre) and why not join their band wagon. A dip in and dip out routine organised to suite peoples preferences, wives are very welcome. The Committee agreed with this and suggested that those with a particular interest in going should jump on the band wagon, as they would have little organising to do. (Cost of joining is £15.00 and then £10 per annum.) Costs were discussed and a figure in 2006 was mentioned of £760. Every one would be kept in the picture on this subject by the website.
Pitt.k proposed that the News Letter be distributed by email and published on the website as the postage and mailing costs were high at £350 for the last two letters and that it was very manpower intensive. The next News Letter to be put out as a hard copy, so that those who still want a hard copy with an application form where they would have to be pro-active and request snail mail for the future, there was absolutely no question of stopping members from having it sent by mail if they so wished. This was discussed at length and a major problem in the past was that members failed to keep their email address up to date with the Society. Chas Cooke suggested that a webpage would be organised so that members could just click in. A hard copy would still be posted to NOK of deceased members so that their association with the Courageous Society would not be lost. This was put to the floor and generally agreed.
David Wixon gave a brief on Pitt.k’s future book ‘The Courageous Story’ at about 250,000 words, time line, dits, collection of photographs all associated with the life of the Courageous, her three Commissions, which was a testament to the crew and what ‘we’ the crew and the S/M achieved. An amazing book with many good dits spread around. It was emphasised that the Society comprised of Cold War Veterans with nothing to show for it and that the book would be a suitable and lasting legacy and that it should be produced as a high quality book. Some refinement was required so that it should be entertaining with some photos of contributors, branch badges etc. Cost would be upward of £30,000 and we would need to raise about £25,000 from amongst ourselves with some sort of sponsorship to get it published. Thoughts on raising money amongst the Society were to have three types of sponsorship, Gold for £250 to 200 allowing you a photo and short biography, Silver £100 a short biography and for pre payment £50 just your name. Those that were shy could contribute more and not publish their names. Two persons already kindly taken up Golden Memberships. Pitt.k and David to produce a flyer to show you what the book would look like with a couple of excerpts. Pitt.k said that the plan is to get the book out by March 2010, the 40th Anniversary of the boats launch which would tie in with the next reunion at Plymouth and that this was going to be quite a tight time scale to achieve with all inputs in by the 31st July and then editing, captions for photos etc. Pitt.k also said that the four copies of the unedited book would be produced and donated. One to the S/M Museum, another to the Naval Historical Branch, one for the Courageous Exhibit and the final one by Pitt.k for the Society.
Chas Cooke said it would also be put on the website. The Chairman said that David Wixon has considerable experience with publishing and knew what he was talking about and that this was an opportunity to deploy an idea that had been used successfully before. Various ideas and suggestions were put forward and would be debated including major company sponsorship. Pitt.k pointed out that the Courageous Society was the bedrock for the Courageous Story and that many people had given up their time to move the process on either with interviews or donating photographs or other documents, but still keen to acquire more photographs.
Frank Pretty intimated that through his company he knew of a production facility that he might be able to tap into which could produce a high quality book. David Wixon and Frank Pretty were to discuss separately. The Chairman then said that all money raised would be ring fenced in the Courageous Society account by the Treasurer. The Chairman then suggested that if 150 members committed to buying a book at the £35.00 level that would draw in £5,250. The onus is therefore perhaps on those that are not starving to death to stump up as either silver members or gold members. He and Frank would work behind the scenes to see if they could get some corporate sponsorship. So basically this project was fully supported by the Committee to aid David Wixon, as required, with this project. Round of applause followed.
Plea from the Chairman for photos, diaries, old ships magazines etc for Pitt.k for display onboard and the Courageous Story
Pitt.k proposed that up to £250 be allocated for tools etc for Courageous renovation, on an annual basis. This was put to the floor and passed.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Next reunion has been booked by Chas Cooke and will be held at the Holiday Inn, Plymouth (Home of the Sunshine Squadron) over the week end of the 5th 6th and 7th March 2010 which is the 40th anniversary of the launch. Negotiations are under way with the price. So clear your diaries now as this should be a very special occasion. 7th March is the Sunday and thought would be given to having a marquee, Bish, tea and stickies, but make a big thing of it. A great opportunity to get others of the old crew along and maybe Rear Admiral S/M.
Volunteers required for 2012, Ken Collins had indicated that he would be prepared to organise this one in 2012 at Barrow-in-Furness. Vickers / BAE Systems would also be invited to get involved. Discussion followed, it would not clash with the Olympics and that Ken should advise the Committee of the feasibility of having it in Barrow, there was a fall back option of Larry Lamb with Birmingham.
Pitt.k pointed out that with the deaths of people it is often the practice now to make a donation to that persons favourite charity as opposed to a wreath. Also that he had a large White Ensign that he had available for funerals. Advance orders taken!
Pitt.k advertised the selling of the brand new very high quality Courageous Booklets at £3.00 per copy. Excellent birthday and Christmas present to your loved ones. This would be available from the website at £4.00 to cover P & P from UK. The debt to cover the costs of printing was £1,500, which was loaned from the Devonport Museum and Visitors Centre Fund and needed to be cleared.
Pitt.k gave a short report on the Courageous Exhibit at Devonport and its possible future.
Rip Kirkby and Don Logie volunteered to vet the AGM Minutes for accuracy after being typed up, but before publishing.
Andy Buchanan appealed for members to join the “Friends of the RN S/M Museum” as a very worthwhile Charity. £15.00 membership per annum. He also thanked the Committee for their continuing efforts on behalf of the Courageous Society, round of applause.
Pitt.k gave a plea for more photos / diary’s / ships magazines / cartoons required for Photo Display Area on Courageous and the Courageous Story
Chairman reiterated the need to front up with subscriptions after the AGM
Mal Davey was doing a sponsored walk for ‘Help for Heroes’ and was on the lookout for sponsors for this worthwhile cause.
Bob Wishart would be selling raffle tickets for the S/M Association
Colin Jones asked whether the Courageous Society should be made into a charity, discussion followed and it was generally agreed that there was too much administrative work to set up & run it and for the amount of funds involved it was not worth the hassle.
Glen Barrack proposed a big thank you for George Bell who had organised this year’s reunion at Newcastle. Much Applause followed. He also reported that Andy Anderson (Radio) 1975 – 79 was not in good health and could be contacted through Glen Barrack. Glenn is also doing a one man show about S/M’s at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, any dits etc he would welcome.
MEETING CLOSED AT: 1154
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