Chairman's Report Year Ending 31st July 2009

Sunday, 6 September 2009

The 2008/2009 year has seen changes and growth for the organisation.

The associate intake has hit an average of one per week. This is great news for the group, but we now need to focus on retaining members in the next twelve months.

Events this year have included a very successful recruitment day at Sainsbury’s, where we were also joined by Edward Timpson, MP for Crewe & Nantwich. Six associates signed up to the group on the day and several more followed in the weeks following the event. The group has also represented itself at Sandbach transport festival and Winsford fire stations open day.

The highlight of the year for me was the annual awards evening. Over 50 people attended the event and an enjoyable evening was had by all. I would like to thank Sean and Murray for the time that they spent organising the event.

There have been some changes on the committee too. Sean Clarke has stepped back as Chief Observer, but will carry on working for the group as a senior observer and maintaining our website and membership database. Maire Pedder has also stepped back from the role of associate liaison officer. The observers and committee have all appreciated her hard work over the last two years.

Caralyn Duignan has also been co-opted into the position of secretary, after Rachel stood back from this earlier in the year. This is the most important job within the group, ensuring that minutes and agendas are issues on time, as well as keeping up good communication with IAM House. I would like to thank Caralyn for taking up this position and am pleased to see she is standing for election this evening. Murray has also taken on the position of vice chairman. He has offered me valuable support and kept the committee in order during my absence from meetings.

Looking ahead to next year, we will be having a hard push for new members. The price of skill for life may have increased this year, but it still offers good value for money and I am sure that we will be successful in selling the package to many more new associates. This is also the third year that I will be standing for chairman. Having seen the group go through many changes, I feel that in twelve months time it is right that I let someone else take the reigns and will not be offering myself for election of this position again. I do however hope to stay on the committee.

Once again, I would like to thank the committee, observers and members for their support over the last 12 months.

James D. W. Sinstadt
Chairman
5th September 2008

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