The Royal British Legion
Cumberland & Westmorland
22nd April 2018
MINUTES OF THE CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND COUNTY MEETING SATURDAY THE 22nd APRIL AT PENRITH RBL CLUBHOUSE.
PLEASE NOTE THESE MINUTES HAVE BEEN PRODUCED IN LINE WITH THE NEW GDPR GUIDLINES
1035 Meeting opened by IF.
1036 Exultation and Kohima.
Minutes of the last meeting held on January were read and accepted as a true reflection. Proposed by EW Seconded by MW Carried by unanimous vote.
CHAIRMANS REPORT
The Vice Chair IF stated that he had, had no contact with the Chairman re his report as the Chairman is currently unwell in Hospital. However IF the Vice Chair did offer a vote of Thanks to the chairman and wished him a speedy recovery on behalf of the County and it was suggested that we send him a get well card. The Vice Chair IF said he had no new updates for the meeting and has had no new issues to raise on behalf of the Chairman TC.
UPDATE 10th May TC is now out of Hosp feeling better and recovering at home
NMC REPRESENTATIVE
JB gave the meeting an update on the take up rate for GP90 that now stands at almost 1200 standards and plans were going ahead at a pace to get all those branches registered paid and their attendees booked. JB informed the meeting that a replacement for MH the Area manager had been appointed and would invite the new AM to the next County Meeting so we could meet with her. GDPR was discussed and JB had updated the meeting on the necessity to be GDPR compliant by the start date of Mid May and had encouraged Branches to update themselves with all the new Rules and Regulations around GDPR as they were plentiful. The complaints made by this County surrounding the Accounts and Finance division in HQ were discussed and JB has been in touch with both the Head of Accounts and Finance and the Head of membership who are aware of the ongoing difficulties we are having. JB apologised for not being at the last County meeting but this was due to her having to attend the Northumberland County meeting as the stand in Chairman.
JB asked in anyone had any questions for her. EW asked how membership services informed branches if they had any new members and it was confirmed that there is no direct way of doing this yet but that membership services are working with innovator to try and rectify this. JB did agree to take this up with Membership Services in London.
The Vice Chair invited the CFR JR to give her report at this time
JR COMMUNITY FUND RAISER
JR started by informing the meeting that this last years Poppy Appeal stood at well over £600.000, this is a fantastic amount and JR praised the hard work of the dedicated volunteers that every year excel the previous years efforts. JR informed the Mtg that the next annual Poppy Seminar would this year be held at Byng House Southport and invited anyone who wanted to attend to get in touch with her in the first instance. JR mentioned that the RBL “Thank You” campaign was up and running and that she was looking for interesting stories to share with the team and if anyone has any stories around this initiative they would like to share then please send them to JR. This years Poppy Challenge named “Leg it for the Legion” a 5k and 10 k walk/run was to be held on Sunday the 8th July at Carlisle Castle where they have been given permission to have a Weeping Window Poppy Display. JR is still looking for marshals for that event if you are able to help contact JR. As the CFR JR was going to be given a stock of merchandise for Poppy Appeal and if anyone wanted to support by asking for some of the material then they should contact Judith. Please note these items are not to raise branch awareness but has to be for the National Poppy Appeal. This years Poppy launch would be in the city of Carlisle again but would be much wider and involve other towns and villages and JR has a supply of 2018 poppy appeal badges etc in stock and will support PAO with their stock requests if they needed any help.
Any Questions
From JB NMC Rep what is the state of play with the Silent Soldier Campaign and the There but not there legion alternative.
JR stated that the Silent Soldier campaign was on hold at present and there would be more news about that coming out soon. The There but not There campaign was still ongoing
TREASURERS REPORT MR
I regret that once again I am unable to provide a reconciled set of accounts to the meeting and have printed the accounts out for the purpose of this meeting. The year end 16/17 accounts still remain unsigned and as such I can not reconcile the accounts so I am very frustrated at this time about this matter despite many emails and phone calls we have not sorted the issue. I am pleased to say however that the annual budget has finally been paid into the account and I have sorted the issue of some outstanding BFI transfers to pay for GP90 attending branches.. However the BFI transfer money coming in did not match going out and we are trying to resolve that situation with the MSO. I am trying to reconcile the accounts as at this moment we are showing different amounts on LOMAS than we have in monies held there is a difference of £1752 at this time and I can not at this time despite checking the accounts on several occasions find that discrepancy.
There is to be an event organised at the Sands Center by Carlisle Branch on behalf of the County and they have asked for a £1500 donation to running costs and I would like to approve that amount at this meeting. (Carried by Vote)
PLEASE SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENTS FOR ACCOUNTS BREAK DOWN AND CURRENT FINANCIAL STANDING.
The Vice Chairman stated that the Treasurer had tried to reconcile the accounts and that it must be very frustrating for him not to be able due to circumstances beyond his control and wanted to offer a huge vote of thanks on behalf of he County Committee for all the hard word that MR was putting into the role of County Treasurer .
MR has assured the meeting that he has no plans to leave his role whilst these matters are outstanding and will not hand over to any new treasurer unless the situation of the reconciliation and the discrepancies are resolved.
Any Questions
Nil
MSO REPORT
The MSO CS started by asking for a volunteer from the County to lay the wreath on behalf of the County at GP90 DB volunteered and was accepted as the Wreath layer by the Committee. The SB for GP90 would be decided at the annual SB competition to be held this year at Rockcliffe Village Hall on Sunday 8th July 11 till 3 pm. Invitations would be sent to attend the event and up to now we have three SB who are attending as competitors. Two more training sessions are planned and hopefully the competitor count will go up before the event.
With regards to GDPR a email of rules and regulations would be going out to branches as soon as the MSO receives it and the MSO urges Branches to become compliant as soon as possible as there is a lot of changes and the rules and regulations take some understanding. Should anyone have any questions please feel free to email me around this matter.
Office 365 accounts are available to all branch committee members and if anyone would like training min the basics please contact me on this matter. On the subject of training we will be holding a session of training on LOMAS in August and if anyone would like to join again get in touch with me.
Closures of Kells and Hawshead Branches were proceeding and all members of those two branches have been contacted to ask of their preferences with regards to moving branches and that admin is ongoing. I will inform any branches who have had transfers into those branches of the transfer members name as soon as I have completed the moves.
The new face Book and Social media strategy was now online and it is proposed to start a Face Book Page for Northern area to include Cumberland and Westmorland.
Any Questions
Nil
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
The MSO brought to the attention of the Committee the application for a Gold Badge award for the Chairman of Hawkshead Branch who has been the main stalwart of the branch for over 30 yeas and this application is endorsed by County.
Keswick Branch has decided to become a Sub Branch of Penrith Branch and this matter is endorsed by the County Committee. Proposed CS Seconded IF Carried unanimously
There being no new correspondence the meeting was closed by IF.
