Doing the AGM Business
Following a rolling slide show of activity on 2023/24, Steve Daniels, Region Chairman, presented his report. This focused on the past year's programme of 36 meetings and 805 'person attendances', Membership and Engagement, Subscriptions and what is coming up in the next few months of 2024.
Chris Allen, Region Treasurer presented the Region's Accounts for 2023-24, showing an active year of charity collections (nearly £1,000 in total), a good exploitation of reserves (purchase of a gazebo, speakers gifts, promotional items and more), steady revenue generation (e.g. by Region Clothing and accoutrement sales) and event subsidies (Nearly £600 worth). The Region goes into 2024-25 with a solid bank balance and steady attendance, averaging 24 persons across those meetings.
There was positive acceptance of all that had been achieved. Thanks were delivered to Barry Hack and Peter Gunning as they retired from the Committee and a warm welcome made to Adrian Bollon, David Rawlinson and Martin Crawley as they joined the Region Committee.
And The Winners Were Declared !
As is traditional at JEC Oxfordshire Region AGMs, the latest Winner and Runner Up of the 'Nick Morse Enthusiast Of The Year Award' were announced and presentations made. Both places went to highly deserving recipients.
The Winner, Steve Penny, is both a very enthusiastic and very popular, Region Member and Committee Member. Having been the 'bridesmaid and not the bride' for a number of years, it was great to see him top the poll.
Runner Up was John Reed, another very hard working, very committed and popular choice. John is well known for his loyal attendance at nearly all Region events, his managing of the Region's social media, his sales and administration of Region clothing sales (and his lovely F-Type).
Steve went away with the trophy, presented to him by last year's winner Chris Allen, plus a bottle of Malt Whisky and an Amazon Voucher. John has a Jaguar notebook and another Amazon Voucher to enjoy.
Who will the 2025 winner turn out to be ??
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions & Chat
Other elements of these annual meetings for the JEC Oxfordshire Region are few in number (fortunately) but important considerations, and ones that the Region Meembers take suitably seriously.
There was a good discussion about what level the 2024-25 Region Subscription should be set at. After a series of alternatives were debated, it was agreed to retain this at £20, target more Members to become subscribers and moderate slightly, due to cost of living issues, the level of charitable donations and extent of event subsidies - whilst still ensuring that there was as good 'value for money' for Members as in previous years.
At the recommendation of the Chairman, following his description of his own history of Crohn's Disease (but more importantly how lucky he has been compared to many others) there was unanimous agreement to make the Region's 2024-25 Charity Crohn's & Colitis UK. More and more suffer with these ailments whilst treatments for it, that could then avoid painful & invasive surgeries, lag the more 'well known' diseases.
And finally, proposals were made and taken on board, for talk topics, visits and other aspects of Region activity in the coming year.
Feedback received confirms this was a great event. Having had appetities satiated by the buffet, they were once again suitably whetted for our upcoming event to the Weald & Downland Museum, Jaguar Breakfast at Gaydon, Royal Cars Talk, Fish & Chips on a Train, and many more.
