Chairmans Reports 2008
May (Year report)
Once again we have had a successful year. There have been some changes, some existing members never re-joined and some new members joined us. We now have about forty members. There have also been some committee changes. John Warren retired as Chairman and Secretary due to ill health. As a thank you for the work John carried out on behalf of our club for many years your committe made him our first life member. Thankfully his health has improved and he remains an active member. I have on a number of occasions found it necessary to ask John for advice on club matters. John has always been very helpful. I would like to thank him for his support. Mike Cox retired from our committe early in the year and will be missed as a valued friend and club member.
Throughout the year we have attended several outside events. Sanders garden center, Nailsea arts and craft fair and an event here in our HQ for the church. All these events take quite a bit of organising and I would like to thank participating members for their help. John Owen, John Brewer, Dennis Cox and Bert Legget to mention just a few.
Your committee deserves a vote of thanks for the works they have carried out in the last year on your behalf. John Owen has been the chief instigator of our new website. This has been a huge success, but we still are not getting enough support from members. We need more items and pics. John has also been a big help with the organising of professional demonstrators. John has taken on the roll of events organiser and is already organising next year's demonstrators. John Meakle our treasurer unfortunately cannot be with us tonight as he is on holiday in Norway. John has kept a tight control of the club finances. Our new club secretary Rose Poole has done an outstanding job after stepping into John Warren's shoes. John Brewer has looked after and operated our new camera equipment as well as sorting out the original purchase. This has been a real boost on nights we have had professional demonstrators. Although Ray Thomas no longer carries out library works he remains a valued member of our committee. Library duties are now carried out by Alan Wigmore to whom we are very grateful, as Ray will tell you it is a thankless task lugging everthing in every month to raise a couple of pounds.
Overall I think last year has been a happy year for our club. One of my favourite nights was our hands on night. We had an opportunity to have a go on one of two lathes or just stand around and chat. Next year we are going to make sure we have several hands on nights as everyone seemed to enjoy it. One thing I have noticed is a big improvement in our monthly table. More members are bringing in items to display. Although we have had very little time to talk about these items due to having had a large number of demonstrators, members have gathered around the table during the tea break.
Talking of tea breaks. I would like to to thank Pete for making tea every month. We have bought him a new tea urn recently to make life a little easier for him. I expect I have forgotten to thank somebody for something, if I have please forgive me it is not intentional. Lastly I would like to thank all members for their support throughout the last year and look forward to their friendship and support for the next year.
George B Foweraker
Chairman