Andover Women in Business September Meeting 2004

September 2004 - AGM

The Annual General Meeting of the Andover Women in Business Club was held on Tuesday 7 th September at the Red Lion Inn, Clanville.

As the most formal of the Club’s meetings in the year, Kate King, President for 2003/4, opened the meeting with details of the year’s achievements and the Club’s considerable involvement with the first Test Valley Business Awards.

As the President’s Charity, Andover Family Learning has continued to have links with the Club and is benefiting from fundraising to provide equipment and furnishings for its new Training Room at The Longmeadow Centre.

Kate handed over to Tessa Makepeace, Vice-President and Marketing Co-ordinator, for a report on the marketing activity of the Club over the past year. Tessa reflected on the successes of the Club’s meetings since September 2003, in particular some of its excellent speakers, including blind Liz Jackson, of Great Guns Marketing, who won the T-Mobile Women Mean Business Award. There were many other memorable speakers and highly successful Networking evenings arranged by the Club. The Andover Advertiser has consistently given its support by reporting on the Club’s activities in its monthly Business Scene.

The past year has produced links with Cricklade College, who have generously printed and posted the Club’s monthly Newsletter. Special thanks were extended to Club member and Cricklade Marketing Manager, Ruth Sparkes, who for many months acted as Newsletter Editor.

In addition, Cricklade College generously allowed the Club use of its Theatre for the unforgettable performance of ‘A Brief History of Unmentionables’, by Rosemary Hawthorne. Probably its most exciting meeting of the year, the ‘Knicker Lady’ proved hugely successful and raised nearly £800 for Andover Family Learning.

The profile of AWIBC continues to grow within the local and business community and attracts members, employed and self-employed, from both commercial and service industries. The Club maintains a membership of around 80, with around 40 members and guests attending each of its monthly meetings.

Following apologies received from Jean Pickernell, the Club’s current Treasurer, the financial report was delivered by Liz Scrace, former committee member and Treasurer for the Club.

Tessa Makepeace then took the meeting for the formal election of committee members for 2004/05. Thanks were extended to retiring President, Kate King for her hard work and tireless driving of the Club forward over the past year.

Re-elected President Kate King (r) and
Vice-President Tessa Makepeace (l)

A ballot was held for the contested appointment of President. Following the count, Tessa announced the re-election of Kate King as President of Andover Women in Business Club for 2004/05.

Following re-election, Tessa Makepeace continues as Vice-President and Sandra Richardson as Secretary. Liz Scrace takes over as Treasurer. Existing committee members Anne Edwards, Brenda Locke, Jane O’Kelly and Jeanette Roberts were all re-elected.

The evening continued with an address by the President for 2004/05 and Any Other Business. Vera Hughes, longstanding member of the Club, called for the Club to remain business-focused and congratulated it on its success over the past year. Jean Lannie, Project Co-ordinator for Andover Family Learning, thanked the Club for its continued support and its fundraising efforts.

Finishing with a light-hearted Quiz, members were reminded that the next meeting would unusually be on a Wednesday.