26th November 2011–our first Rock Day along with our 1st AGM. It was a good day. Three stands–Earth Heritage Trust, TVGS and LEADER. We were pleased with the numbers–28 at the AGM, and approx. the same at the afternoon walk to local sites. AGM’s do not traditionally attract many but this was over in half an hour and we were into refreshments, very refreshing (lol) thank you Brenda for the lovely cakes and for those who helped behind the scenes with teas, coffees and washing up. The forum was useful in that people such as Natalie, Bob Allison and Paul Olver were able to speak about their particular interests and what was happening on them. Natalie is enthusiastic about the 1000 years of building with stone project, and after her explanation I think we all were too, we will be asked to register our interest in the project. Bob took the stand to promote his excellent Chantry Apple Fest that ran for the 2nd time this year on Oct 8th. From personal experience this was a lovely event, 96 apple types and much much more; of course Nat was there and put on her usual interesting display of fossil hunts and rock types. Apple pressing, bees, wood carving, hot dogs, and short plays by Chantry drama dept–thanks for these, they were so well acted, beautifully appropriate and actually brought a tear to my eye. I would like to see them again. We all hope the Apple fest will grow and grow and become a landmark Martley event. Paul spoke about the European Geo Villages project for which he is submitting a bid. The idea is that Martley, on account of its wide variety of rock systems, develops these with trails, displays and events to attract visitors from all over the world and to be partnered with the 2 or 3 other European Geo Villages already running or planned. We are to hold an events planning meeting shortly and just after that we hope to be able to publish more details of what is on for the next year or two. After lunch a large group set off for Martley Rock under the tutelage of Paul who gave us a very clear description of the different rock types to be found there. We signed the newly sited Visitors Book and I am glad to say so have several other parties independent of us, since. After ‘the rock’ some of us checked out the Nubbins, thanks Pam and Ian, then on to Chantry Geology Garden. In the evening too few of us really, enjoyed wonderful music (electric folk??–no! acoustic folk according to their website) with Whalebone, a group who would certainly be most welcome here again–thanks Dave for organising. Sunday I have managed to gather together some of our favourite geologists to check out Martley Rock, Monday is project progress meeting day and Wednesdy the last of Paul’s 6 evenings on the making of minerals. Thanks for your support, member numbers are already up to over 30 from last year’s 19 or so.
Some pictures of the day, a bit blurry I am afraid
Here are the unapproved minutes from this year’s AGM. Members of the society are eligible to vote at the next AGM.
No. AGM 1 AT MMH DATE 26th November 2011
PRESENT David Cropp (DC)(Acting Chair) John Nicklin (JN) (Acting Secretary) Natalie Watkins (NW)
Harriet Howell (Publicity) Mike Install (MI) Bob Allison (RA) (Chantry) Ingrid Darnley (Events)
APOLOGIES
Minutes of Previous Meeting
This was the first AGM. As such there were no prior minutes but the inaugural meeting minutes from 17th Nov. 2010 were used as reference
AGENDA
Chairman’s Report
Attached
Financial report
Attached
Fees for the year Nov 26 2011 to Nov 25th 2012, set at £7.50 single, £10.00 partners, £12.50 family
Membership Report
The first year saw 19 enrolled members and up to 90 on the information circulation list
Already this year, 25 have joined with 100 on the circulation list
Election of Officers
For our first year, 6 volunteers agreed to work on the committee. For the forthcoming year, those acting as Chair (D Cropp), Finance Officer (DC) and Secretary (J Nicklin) are willing to stand for election. This was proposed by Harriet Howell and seconded by Ian Pennell.
Other briefs—Publicity, Sites, Events, Education—were not proposed for re-election this year
During the year, for personal reasons, Nigel Bruen and Natalie Watkins withdrew from the committee.
AOB
A presentation was made to Natalie Watkins in appreciation of her tireless work in helping the society to find its feet and in developing all of the local geology.
Thanks and acknowledgements to Pam and Ian of Scar Cottage for their accommodation of visitors to their unique garden.
Thanks to Helen and Rob Taylor of Cob House Fisheries for opening up Martley Rock site and their great support of the society.
27 attended the AGM
FORUM
After the AGM, those present enjoyed refreshments (thank you to all who helped behind the scenes during the day and thanks in particular to Brenda Owen-Jones for the lovely cakes) then gathered for a discussion on forthcoming events. The ideas generated have been recorded separately and are taken forward to an events planning meeting in the near future.
J Nicklin, Secretary, 1st December 2011
Here is the Chairman’s Report followed by the financial report
THE TEME VALLEY GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY [TVGS]
REPORT: YEAR ENDING NOVEMBER 26TH 2011
The Society formed with an Inaugural Acting Committee on November 17th 2010,
drawing down a model constitution for clubs/societies from The Charities
Commission, and opened a Bank Account with Lloyds TSB The Cross Worcester.
On the basis of a wing and a prayer, and making a jump imto the dark TVGS
eventually applied for a LEADER Grant for the establishment of the site known as
MARTLEY ROCK. LEADER is a short-term fund from the EU, which Worcestershire
successfully bid for £2,300,000 for three years’ of locally generated community
projects in 87 rural parishes.
As a result of considerable effort by John Nicklin and significant professional
advice from Natalie Watkins from Earth Heritage Trust, and Dr.Paul Olver [who
also receives an accolade for his promotion of geology through the courses he
ran, and is running in Martley] Martley was successful, and received £26,000 to
develop the site. So it’s important to recognise the act of faith by the LEADER
Executive to support us. It is also important to recognise the major commitment.
made by Helen and Robert Taylor to facilitate access to the site on their land – it
shows a positive approach to the custodianship of such a geological heritage.
In the first year we have had courses run by Paul Olver – well-attended – and can
now support continuing learning through the LEADER fund. As the work on site
had progressed additional thanks are showered on Mr.R.Bray for his work, for
Andy Palmer for this project accounting work and for creating the on-site
registration system [aka ‘The Box’], and for the Path-or-Nones for clearing The
Nubbins, another important local site. The other team members: Harriet, Bob
and Ingrid also give their time to promote the organisation.
It may well be that Martley becomes the first properly established Geo-Village in
Europe and we are planning to coordinate and cooperate with other communities
in Europe, especially Sentheim in the Vosges in France, to action this.
Now to you the members – we of course wish you to join – or rejoin – the Society.
We need your ideas and contributions to how we wish our society to move
forward over the coming year. We are coming to recognise we live in an exciting
geological landscape in Martley – time to appreciate, learn and to enjoy it!
David Cropp
Inaugural Chair TVGS
THE TEME VALLEY GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY [TVGS]
UNAUDITED ACCOUNT REPORT: YEAR ENDING NOVEMBER 26TH 2011
The Society opened a Bank Account with Lloyds TSB The Cross Worcester as a
Club/Society Account – this account is also registered as an e-access business
account. There are no charges to the account; at present payments are made by
cheque on a single signature which will be adapted to two out of three signatures
once the formal officers have been elected at the first AGM today. The account
does not have a debit card.
In the first year the sole financial assets TVGS have accrued are:
Income from membership
Income from sales
Total Income
Expenditure
£90.00
£2.00
£92.00
NIL
The TVGS Account is also the vehicle for payments for the Martley Rock LEADER
payments and receipts; the two activities for the Society will be transacted and
recorded separately.
The revolving payments and receipts for LEADER are managed through interest-
free short term loans from three members, and the payments back to the
account are processed by BACS by Worcestershire County Council; this takes
place on a monthly returns and report process.
The first month cycle of payment and receipts is complete to date; the next
should be actioned on December 7th.,2011 and thereafter on approximately the
same date monthly.
There will be no virement between the two elements – membership and LEADER
– for which the Account is at present being used.
David Cropp
Acting Treasurer
November 26th 2011