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IWAI Annual General Meeting 2009
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| You can download some of the reports presented here: |
(1) Minutes of 2008 AGM
(2) Matters arising from Minutes
(3) President’s Report
(4) Honorary Secretary’s Report
(5) Presentation of Accounts and Honorary Treasurer’s Report
(6) Appointment of Auditors
(7) Reports
(8) Consideration of Motions
(9) Election of Officers
(10) Election of Committee Chairs
(11) Election of Council Members
(12) Presentation of Endeavour Award
(13) Any other Business
ReportThe AGM was held in the Lough Ree Yacht Club, Athlone, Co. Westmeath on 25th April 2009. Over 100 members attended.
Opening the meeting President, Paul Garland welcomed everybody to Lough Ree Yacht Club and thanked the large numbers who travelled to the meeting from around the country both by road and by water
A minutes silence was observed in memory of members who have passed away within the last twelve months.
The full report is reproduced here
Secretaries Address The full report is reproduced here.
These are found in the PDF document
and were circulated in advance.
Treasurer,
John Corrigan presented the accounts for the year end October 2008. The
accounts were circulated to members in the Spring Issue of IWN.
John stated that the directors have a responsibility under the Companies act to keep proper books and records for the Association. Branch Accounts are maintained by each branch treasurer and reviewed by the national treasurer. As reported in previous years, some branches continue to have difficulties and some of the accounts returned were incomplete and incorrect. John proposes to meet branch treasurers who are having difficulties and answer any queries that they may have. Questions put forward on the accounts were answered in turn and John said he is available to clarify any further questions that members may have on branch accounts etc. The accounts show a deficit of nearly €27,000 for 2008. John said he would like to urge branch officers who are running events to ensure that they are self financing and not run at a loss.
IWN Magazine is expected to break even for the coming year and sponsorship is now worth €6,000 per year.
The accounts were adopted unanimously.
Membership Report – Brenda Ainsworth (see
full report attached)
Boating & Leisure Report – Derry Smyth (see
full report attached)
Public Relations and Communications Report – John Dolan (see
full report attached)
Membership Services – Maurice Kerr (see
full report attached)
Heritage Report – Niall Galway (see
full report attached)
Royal Canal Amenity Group Report – Ian Bath (see
full report attached)
IWAI have been asked for support to encourage Waterways Ireland to proceed with the restoration of the Longford Branch of the Royal Canal
Reports:
Branch reports: All 20 branch reports were compiled together in a booklet and circulated at the AGM Meeting. The committee chair reports were also included in the booklet.
To modify the Articles of Association to allow the Council of the IWAI to set up different categories of membership beyond that outlined in the articles, in addition it modifies the articles so that the AGM sets the maximum fee that can be charged. This allows Council to offered special reduced fees from time to time to help branches attract new members
The specific articles modified are:
(a) Article 10 is amended by the addition of clause 10.1
10.1 The Council may from time to time create such other categories of membership as it deems appropriate and these members shall have such rights and privileges as the Council shall decide.
(b) Article 55 is amended to read:
The maximum annual subscription to be paid by members shall be fixed from time to time by the Association in General meeting.
Following some discussion the above the motion was passed unanimously
Election
of Officers for the Association The following were elected:
President: Paul Garland
Vice- President: Greg Whelan
Hon. Secretary: Carmel Meegan
Hon. Treasurer: John CorriganThe following were elected as chairpersons of the Standing Committees of Council
Membership Secretary: Brenda Ainsworth
Boating & Leisure: Derry Smyth
Public Relations: John Dolan
Liaison & Lobbying: Dave McCabe
Heritage & Conservation: Niall Galway
Membership Supplies: Maurice KerrThe following members were elected to Council
Donal O Siochain, David Killen, Thomas Meegan, Sam Herraghty, Gerry Burke, Andy Jordan.
Seven nominations for the award were submitted for consideration this year; the president announced the winner of this year’s Endeavour Award was Michael Savage and his team from RBNLA Branch for their efforts and commitment on the Rams Island Project.
Discussions on future plans for the Dock will be included on the agenda for the next meeting with Waterways Ireland which will take place on the 7th May 2009. Members and branches have also been asked to submit items for discussion for the meeting with WI
Council would like to extend thanks to the Athlone Branch for sponsoring the supper following the meeting
Carmel Meegan
(Hon Secretary)
Paul Garland
said that following on from the AGM, he proposed to open up a general
meeting where the voice of any member or branch could be heard. This arises
out of discontent last year that due to the fact that we were constrained by
the rules of conducting an AGM, some members were not permitted to put their
point across
Paul Garland reported that following the last council meeting it was agreed that we look at costs to purchase an Exhibition Trailer which will be used to promote the Association at various events throughout the 32 counties i.e. Volvo Ocean Race in Galway, The Tall Ships in Belfast, the National Ploughing Championships in Athy etc. Next year the opening of the Royal Canal, 50th Shannon Boat Rally and many more events. It is also hoped that branches will use the trailer to promote IWAI at a local level. He said that there is not enough cash in council to fund a trailer that we can be proud of and is asking the branches for help. To date he is unable to locate a suitable one in Ireland and a good second hand one in the UK will cost in the region of €6000 to €7000. In addition we need large photo graphics on the sides and a fit out to our own requirements total cost will be in the region of €10,000 plus.
Paul has personally given an undertaken to manage and oversee the logistics of the trailer over the next two years. He also reported that he had obtained sponsorship for the use of a Zeep for two years to tow the trailer courtesy of Nissan Ireland.
Martin Donnelly Carrick-on-Shannon Branch said he would support and endorse such a move as this could only increase the profile of the Association. Support from the meeting to purchase the trailer was in general very favourable.
An appeal for volunteers to help man the stand at the Volvo Ocean Race will be circulated to branches shortly and volunteers are asked to give in their names to secretary Carmel Meegan e mail honsecretary@iwai.ie or Telephone 086 8608890
Focus Group
Discussion Paper and Questionnaire Dave McCabe presented a slide show on planning the future of IWAI. He said that what is put forward are not policy proposals; they are simply a set of proposals and ideas and can be used as a guide line. It is not for a committee to decide the way forward for IWAI; it will be up to members to make their own decisions.
Some of the items covered in the presentation included:
Focus Group meetings will be organised to gather the views from as many members as possible on the future direction of the Association. Member attending the meetings will also be asked to fill out a questionnaire. Branches are asked to encourage their members to attend these meeting so that they can be involved and have their say on the way forward for the Association. Following the meetings, executive will gather the information together and come back to council with detailed proposals on the way forward for IWAI.
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