Catching up

Following what can only be described as a computer meltdown with accompanying banishment to technology limbo, there is a gap of nearly a month since the last report.

Forty members attended the Annual General Meeting on 8 May.  After the usual business of minutes of the last AGM and matters arising, the retiring President, Daphne Stringer, made a personal address to the meeting.  After eleven years in the post, she was sorry to be relinquishing the office but felt sure that a new President and some new committee members would ensure that Harlow remained a thriving WI. 

The Committee Report and the accounts for the period had been distributed to all members, and the Treasurer spoke about the main financial events.  There was only one question from the floor, and the Report and Accounts were accepted by the meeting after being duly proposed and seconded.

At this point in the meeting, the entire Committee formally resigned and chair was taken by Mrs Pat Pratley, who was attending in her capacity as a County Advisor.  Eleven members had been nominated and seconded for the Committee and were declared elected.  Of this number, Mrs Diane Hatt was nominated as President, and was endorsed as such by the meeting. 

Mrs |Pratley, who is also Essex County Chairman, spoke briefly about the structure of WIs and the importance of encouraging full participation in all that is on offer. 

After tea (with cake as well as biscuits!) the remainder of the meeting followed the usual format, with the distribution of raffle prizes and the presentation of Birthday flowers.  Details of June's meeting were given, and the retiring President and the County Advisor were both presented with plants.