COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER
AGM – NOMINATIONS
The Society AGM will take place on Saturday December 3rd at 2.30pm in the Hall.
It is vital that we encourage new thinking and diverse opinions to engage in the decision making of your Committee. This year gives a unique opportunity for you to join in. As you know, we rely on volunteering in all aspects of our community work. Maybe you cannot clear out the brook or chop down a tree, but you could help out with the democratic process of managing our activities. We are very keen to encourage new members on the Committee. It doesn’t have to be a chore. It can be highly rewarding. We meet once a month and decide upon how best to serve you, our members. Maybe you have been critical of our past actions? Now is your chance to influence the outcomes.
In addition, this year, several ‘Officers’ positions are due for election in accordance with Society Rules. It would be great to see not only nominations to join the Committee but also from those keen to serve in specific roles. The positions that are subject to election are: Chair; Vice Chair; Secretary; Trading Treasurer and Trading Secretary. We should stress that no ‘previous experience is necessary’. Your Common Sense will suffice.
If you would like to know more about any of those specific roles please do not hesitate to call into the office on a Saturday morning or ask any existing member of the Committee.
The application form is attached and as stated it should be completed and returned to the office by 20th November at the latest. Additional copies will be available in the Canteen and the Trading Hut.
If you wish, it’s fine to send the application in as an email attachment ( awslg.ltd@gmail.com) and submit the original to the office, when convenient, prior to the meeting. (Email applications will not be valid however, until an acknowledgement is sent).
The meeting Agenda, along with annual accounts, will be circulated prior to the meeting.
RENT PAYMENTS
Thank you one and all for the prompt payment of this year’s rents and for those volunteers who helped in the collection process. There are just a handful of plot-holders who have either decided to hang up their boots or who have not come forward with payment. The plots concerned will be re-let to those on the waiting list as soon as possible.
We have had some very positive feedback about the revised Regulations and the associated Annual (‘tenancy) Agreement. These are local Regulations decided upon by your Committee. A lot of work went into drafting them, along with our other recently published policies (Complaints, Data and Equality/Diversity, for example). We have received some constructive observations on the Regulations themselves and the Annual (‘tenancy’) Agreement. These will be considered in due course by your Committee.
The ‘Rules’ of the Society (the Green Book) are a separate issue. Any changes to these (rather outdated) Rules have to go through a formal legal process. They also are subject to consultation with yourselves and then have to be agreed by you at a General Meeting. Having clarified the more urgent ‘Regulations’, your Committee have been working to update these Rules and will report back.
AUTUMN CLEAR UP DAY
A reminder about this coming Saturday – 5th November. It’s the big Autumn tidy-up day. We would like as many volunteers as possible to gather outside the Canteen from 9.30am for action. Look forward to seeing you there!
ARTISAN FAIR
The next of our highly successful Artisan Fairs will take place on Saturday 19th November between 10.30 and 4pm. We have around 18 stalls selling all manner of high quality items. Ideal for those Christmas stockings! Put it in the diary now! One thing we do need urgently is donations for the ‘Tombola’. Please look deep in your cupboards and drawers and donate what you can. Items can be deposited in the Canteen at the weekend. Thank you in advance.
WINTER WARMING
Lastly, ‘Winter is Coming’ and we are keen that those who wish to continue working on their plots can do so with some support from us. Last year the heating was kept on in the Hall during the day for those who wish to get a cup of tea or eat lunch in some comfort. We anticipate a rise in our fuel bills so the Hall itself will not be heated, but the outer meeting room and the kitchen will be and open, and warm, from 10.30am to 3.30pm. Please leave the room and kitchens clean and tidy.
AWSLG Committee
November 2022
