National Association of Writers and Groups (testing site – not for public use – official site: www.nawg.co.uk)

Agenda

1. Welcome.
2. Minutes of the 2015 Annual General Meeting.
3. Present the financial report and accounts for year ending 30^th June 2016.
4. Treasurer's report.
5. Chairman's remarks.

6. Matters arising from 2015.

   1. The proposal to change the date of our financial year was discussed fully in committee, and for many reasons including the annual returns to the Charity Commission and all the pressure that we are under arranging the festival at that time, it was voted that it was best for the present committee to leave it as it is.
   2. Gift Aid was investigated fully and we are able to recover it from individual membership payment and donations. With this is mind we are asking all individual members to sign up for it as we are able to claim back over the past year. Please come to the NAWG table in Engineering, to sign up.
   3. We now have on-line banking which is a tremendous help with bookkeeping.
   4. The suggestion from Daniel Beaumont about making payment for the festival to a savings scheme, and having gift vouchers, was taken on board and implemented, but we had no takers.

7. Election of Officers/Trustees^*.

   The current officers of the Board of Trustees are as follows:

   1. Pam Fish, Chairman (one year to serve).
   2. Chris Huck, Hon. Secretary (standing for re-election).
   3. Arthur Day, Acting Hon. Treasurer (willing to continue until we find a permanent one).
   4. Stephen Bowkett (standing for re-election).
   5. Anne Steward (standing for re-election).
   6. Kevin Machin, Website Administrator (one year to serve).
   7. Marvin Close, 100 Competition Administrator, newsletter administrator (one year to serve).
   8. Catherine Fitzsimons, Membership Secretary and Festival Booking Sec. (one year to serve).

   Member of the current committee, applying to be voted on to the Board of Trustees, at this meeting:

   9. Vanessa Lester, Media and Publicity (standing for election).

   Resignation from the 2015 board:

   10. Elizabeth Guyver. Resigned in December 2015.

   Members of the Board of Trustees Normally meet five times a year, but this year abiding to a strong cost cutting regime, we have only met three times (saving around £1,500). A couple of video meetings and endless emails have kept us all in touch but it is not an ideal situation, as face to face meetings are really essential.

   Travelling expenses are reimbursed and accommodation provided if an overnight stay is necessary. The current board met at Nottingham EM Airport, Donington Park and six were able to make these committee meetings by 10:00 on the appointed day, making the overnight accommodation unnecessary: four members required staying overnight. The second meeting at Ramada Loughborough Hotel was similar, but without Elizabeth only three required overnight accommodation. We try to make the meeting central to all parties concerned – but it cannot always be the case.

   * We have a full working committee at the moment and we did not ask for nominations, for prospective new committee members, prior to this Annual General Meeting. We feel that for the moment a committee of eight is sufficient to administer NAWG. Trustees are elected for a period of two years, after which they may stand for re-election if they wish. The Board of Trustees have the power to co-opt any individual willing to help us in our endeavours (as we have Arthur Day as our Acting Hon. Treasurer).

8. Secretary's report.
9. NAWG Competition Secretary's report.
10. Open Competition Secretary's report.
11. Wentworth.
12. Booking Administrator's report.
13. Membership Secretary's report.
14. Website Administrator's report.
15. Any other business.

The main business will be followed by an open forum.