Originally Posted by
Maple Leaf
Today I have printed and re-read all the minutes from the last year and it has been a bit of an eye opener.
When reading the minutes as they are published, I hadn't really realised how many items had just rolled on from meeting to meeting to meeting without any progress (and by the sound of it, not discussed between times).
This just confirms my thought that not all members of the committee are communicating with their sub teams or full committee between the meetings (as has happened in previous years with other committee members) or take their roles seriously.
I've picked out a few key examples and summarised the minutes from the 8 meetings.
AGM
Dec 2016 - AGM event first proposed by Adam R
Jan 2017 - Discussed
Mar 2017 - Dates proposed for a weekend in Oct 2017
Apr 2017 - Adam R not present and no update given
May 2017 - Adam R not present, but rest of committee said getting late too organise for Oct, so suggested April, which would coincide well with EOY accounts etc
July 2017 - Discussed, but no decisions made except will have to be April now. Adam to propose location
Sept 2017 - Adam has a couple of ideas for venues
Oct 2017 - Adam to find a venue & propose costs before next meeting
I hope that this gets sorted out ASAP as I feel it is a great opportunity for the GAGB to have a big weekend event (The 2012/13 committee had discussed a similar thing for 10yr anniversary in 2013, but then decided to have the annual CITO weekends instead to be able to interact with more people around the country).
Does it really take nearly a year to find a suitable venue and fix a date?
Romer/Business cards
This had also been discussed by the 2015/16 committee as the current cards were running low.
Dec 2016 - Adam R to take the lead on this, look at designs and discuss in committee forums.
Jan 2017 - Initial findings presented. Further research to be completed and a decision made between meetings.
Mar 2017 - No progress has been made. Carried over.
Apr 2017 - Adam R not present and no update given
May 2017 - Adam R not present and no update given
July 2017 - Adam is still looking at costs & alternatives.
Sept 2017 - Adam has another idea, but no designs/costs.
Oct 2017 - Discussion but no progress
GAGB tags/trackables
These had also been discussed by the 2015/16 committee (tags design based on GAGB logo)
Dec 2016 - Given to sub committee (Promotional team) to discuss.
Jan 2017 - No progress has been made, due to spending time on the coin. Sharon to get quotes for tags with GAGB logo
Mar 2017 - Tags in general (not the design) not approved by 2 members of committee. Put on hold and to be discussed futher
Apr 2017 - Carried forward until funds improved (as coin order needs to be placed)
May 2017 - Discussed alternative designs & 200 tags approved. Carried forward to committee forum
July 2017 - Agreed to confirm design by Sept, make in Oct/Nov and sell at Xmas events. Sub committee (Promotional) to confirm designs
Sept 2017 - Still no advance in designs.
Oct 2017 - No progress
Seeker
Background information: GAGB Seeker was launched in February 2011 (initially as an expansion of the GAGB newsletter) as a central resource for useful and information articles (as nothing else similar existed in the UK at that time).
It remained as a bi-monthly digital magazine publication until Countrymatters (editor & designer) left the committee in Dec 2014. The publication dates were then reduced to seasonal. I know it is hard to keep writing articles, but the job of the editor isn't to necessarily write articles, but to research and gather information/articles and keep to timeline.
Dec 2016 - Abi takes on the role as Editor of Seeker. Deadline for articles is 31st Dec, with publication in mid January
Jan 2017 - Seeker almost ready (Edition #31 was emailed to members on 3rd Feb)
Mar 2017 - Abi is on track for April publication
Apr 2017 - Still need more content
May 2017 - Abi requested help, but with help the aim is to get it finished soon (The 'Spring edition' became the 'Summer edition' and was eventually emailed to members on 4th July)
July 2017 - Abi not present. Last edition was late, so rolled into summer edition. Next edition due October (with annual reports)
Sept 2017 - Abi not present.
Oct 2017 - Abi not present, but has said that she can't be Editor for Autum edition (due this month) and Jamie has apologised as can't help with design. Ant to stand in as editor and Sharon/Graham to share publisher role. (was emailed to members on 23rd Oct)
The committee need someone motivated to act as Editor to keep on track to the planned quarterly dates (or even better have an interim regular newsletter, to keep your members informed about GAGB news/events etc)
Committee members holding GAGB funds
In the October minutes it states that some funds collected on behalf of GAGB many months ago still haven't (as of 18th Oct) been paid into the GAGB bank.
Surely this should have been done ASAP and certainly not still outstanding 5 and 11 months later. I hope that they have since been paid in, or at least will be before the end of committee year.
Roving events
Reading the new Q&A, candidates say they want to engage with new members / promote GAGB etc. The Roving events (proposed by Griff Grof two years ago) seemed an ideal opportunity. It is just a shame that not that many events have been held since they were first introduced - doesn't have to be anything fancy/large - a simple pub/cafe would be adequate (sometime the small ones are better as you have a chance to talk to people).
It would be great to see things being progressed next year which should free up time to discuss new things.
So, not really asking for any feedback/answers - just felt I would summarise my findings as it is relevant to my intial question.
Thanks: 
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