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Acting Chairman
Jane Brown
Membership Council
TRBL, Eden Rural Foyer,
Old London Road,
Penrith. CA11 8ET
jbrown@britishlegion.org.uk
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Membership Support Officer
Clive Sumpter MSO
TRBL Eden Rural Foyer
Old London Road
Merlin Suite
Penrith
CA11 8ET
csumpter@britishlegion.org.uk
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Treasurer
Robert Gordon
TRBL, Eden Rural Foyer,
Old London Road,
Penrith. CA11 8ET
robert@gordonconsultancy.co.uk
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2nd February 2019
Cumberland and Westmorland Royal British Legion
County Meeting Minutes 2nd February 2019
Penrith RBL Eden Rural Foyer
In Attendance:
JBrown (Acting County Chairman), I Fisher (County Vice Chairman), R Gordon (County Treasurer) C Sumpter (County MSO) J Reay, (County PAO). M Wadsworth, J Couling, D Ballantyne, J Henderson, P Chandler, (Carlisle and Stanwix Branch). M Bryceson, P Radcliffe, B Warren, (Wigton Branch). P Holden, L Harrison, (Appleby Branch)J Train, (Kendal Branch). E Willacy, (Arnside Branch). B Pease, R Burns, (Brampton Branch). R Berry, D Berry, (Langdales Branch). G Edwards, (Egremont Branch), R Glenister (Windermere Branch)
Apologies For Absence
P Lever, J Irwin (Windermere Branch). D Cradduck, R Eglin, (Bransty Branch). K Faulkner, (Wath Brow Branch).
10 30 The Acting County Chair, Jane Brown opened the meeting and invited everyone to stand for the Exultation.
Minutes of the County Committee meeting October 2018
Minutes were not available and had not been received by County Members. The Acting Chairman has arranged for these minutes to be sent out for all to view and any matters arising should be sent to the MSO for ratification.
This course of events was accepted and the MSO will email the October Minutes to County and Branch members
Matters arising from October 2018 minutes
To be fed back at next County meeting
Correspondence
MSO reports no County Correspondence to discuss.
Acting County Chairs report
J Brown reiterated to those present that the Cumberland and Westmorland County is currently (C&W) in Administration and that she has had discussion with The RBL Director General and the National Membership Council (NMC) around the length of time that the County would need to be in administration. They have expressed a desire to make this period shorter rather than longer. J Brown began by saying that the County Committee in C&W would need to change to become more proactive with visiting branches and making themselves available for contact by branches and that each Committee member would be paired up with branches in their geographical Area so we can set up clear lines of communication from Branches to County. J Brown further expressed that although the MSO can visit branches this should be to see how he can assist them in matters around membership and not County Matters as these should be brought by the County Committee members for management and discussion. JB opened the discussion to those present asking how these lines of communication can be opened citing examples of best practice currently being used in the RBL at County Level that have led to almost 100% compliancy in many areas, items such as Compliancy Open Days and County Committee members making themselves available in order to assist branches and help with problems.
J Brown invited those present to comment on the way forward for the County or if anyone had any questions?
Question I Fisher County Vice Chair (Bransty) asked how many branches are struggling with management and compliancy.
MSO Replied around 7/8 this represents about a Third of the County Branches; J Brown replied these branches would benefit from County Support.
Question, I Fisher Vice Chair. If we are none compliant and don’t have a Chairman and we also had no new Treasurer at the last meeting where are we with finding a replacement Chair.
J Brown explained around the matter of County Compliancy that we do now have a new Treasurer and he is awaiting training Courses and that the accounts are currently being looked at by Haigh House and they are looking into the running of those accounts to make sure they are compliant As yet we have no firm offer of someone filling the role of Chair and if Haigh House wanted to it could take the County out of administration and that he as Vice Chair would be expected to cover the Chairman’s Role but that is as yet not an option. J Brown also highlighted the fact that I Fisher was attending this years County Chairman’s Conference and that it is vital that any information from that conference that appertains to branches or County be relayed back in the form of a report.
J Brown expressed a desire for all branches to attend all of the county meetings and although it was not possible for the County Committee to cover all the branches in its makeup then branches could be invited to attend but not vote on matters arising.
MSO reiterated that all branches are invited to attend the County Committee meeting but some confusion may be that they have only ever sent full representation to County Seminars and not County Meetings. J Brown reiterated her commitment that all branches can attend the County Meetings.
R Glenister (Windermere), raised the issue of support for County Members from Haigh House and felt that members in the County had been having problems getting replies to emails etc and that this was not offering support to the County Members. J Brown assured those present that she is always available and willing to help people if they are having such issues.
E Willacy (Arnside) raised issues around Office 365 and the lack of High Speed Broad Band being an issue and Haigh House should be aware that many areas of Cumberland and Westmorland do not have fast broadband and that regular training is needed to help Branches in the future.
MSO Replied that Office 365 training is being offered and that he realises that some people prefer one to one sessions rather than group learning and he will contact people who express a wish for one to one and arrange a training session. Other training that has been applied for is around County and Branch Management Branch Accounts and Standard Bearer Training
R Burns (Brampton) raised the subject of a County welcome pack or if there is any plans to put together such a pack for new branch Joiners. This could give the Branch and County Details and that way new members and current members would have more information about the County and Branch. It would also be very good to have a plan for the County
MSO informed the meeting that such a pack is in development but the issue he was having is getting the branch information from those branches not currently responding to him but the pack is nearing completion and will be sent direct to the new member by post.
J Brown informed the meeting that there should be a County Plan and a County Calendar of events and that this will be put in place. MSO assured the meeting that the County does have a county plan and that it will be updated for the County Committee to see.
L Harrison (Appleby Branch) (Ladies Section Representative) It’s very important that branches feedback information on meetings etc and if they are having any issues then the County can only help if they raise that issue with the County Committee.
I Fisher (Vice Chair (Bransty Branch) Asked if it would be possible to give the County Standard Bearer clear guidance on when and where the County Standard can be paraded and when it should not be paraded in preference to a Branch Standard.
MSO agreed to look into this and issue the guidance.
Acting Chair J Brown asked if as a way of moving forward that anyone who would be willing to stand as a County Committee member indicate that to us here today and that those who have indicated a willingness to stand as Committee members agree to be co-opted from today as a County Committee member for an initial period of 12 months. Those present agreed.
A full list of those present who have put themselves forward for County Committee and therefore been co-opted for a period of 12 months is attached - see link.
N Cross (Sedbergh Branch) Stated that it is apparent there is a desire to re invigorate the County Committee and open up clear lines of communications from County to Branches and this can only be a very good thing and a very forward step.
County Treasurer’s Report
No report as yet as the County Treasurer is still not trained to take up his post full time
Membership Support Officers Report
MSO informed the mtg that all but one set of branch accounts have been uploaded to the system and the gathering of MS1s is nearly complete. Office 365 training is scheduled for Monday the 11th of February and the 21st of February and if anyone would like to attend then they can contact the MSO for information.
Judith Reay Community Fund Raiser – Report
CFR Report is attached - see link
AOB
MSO reported that along with I Fisher County Vice Chair, he had called an Emergency General Meeting of the Seaton Branch to discuss its future. The meeting took place on January 23rd at the Seaton Club, The meeting was Chaired by I Fisher County Vice Chair. Following the meeting and having had all options explained around Branch Future options those present voted in favour of closing the branch.
MSO asked for those present at the County Meeting to ratify the closure and this was reluctantly agreed by the County Committee.
Meeting Closed 11 55 am
DATE OF NEXT COUNTY MEETING SET AS 23RD FEBRUARY AT 1030 IN PENRITH. VENUE TO BE CONFIRMED
Post Meeting note - Venue: The Penrith Methodist Church Centre, BEACON Room, 10 Wordsworth Street, Penrith, CA11 7QW (See Forthcoming Events for Calling Notice and Agenda).
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