Secretary’s Report Secretary’s Report
Ian Southcott
Report of the Society’s Committee ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times’ this quotation from Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities
is not perhaps the most appropriate description of the past eighteen months or so, or is it? Certainly, we have experienced a period that has seen the full spectrum of the good, the bad and the unquestionably tragic but the way many individuals, organisations and communities have responded has been inspiring and uplifting in a variety of ways but occasionally disappointing and saddening in equal measures. At the time of writing just before the AGM, we are sweltering under a mini heatwave and today, July 19th, is the so called ‘freedom day’; sadly, the infection rate is rising exponentially and there will obviously be some way to go before we have completely accustomed ourselves to co-existing with Covid which we will inevitably have to do. So, what of the Society during these uncertain and challenging times?
Our Timetable
Finance
Not surprisingly our usual timetable of meetings and events has been disrupted to say the least! Our last committee meeting in person took place in January 2020. Our 2020 AGM was moved to June and every committee meeting since that time has been held courtesy of Zoom. There is little doubt that such virtual means of conducting business have been a godsend.
We are now well on the way finally to unravelling some of the idiosyncrasies of the past and look forward to more simple times from an accounts perspective. Our investment portfolio has performed well and enjoyed an increase of + 16.72%. As you know, Nick Fitzpatrick wishes to stand down as Treasurer and the search is on to find an OB to take up the post. Nick has done sterling work in bringing the accounts up to date and we owe him our gratitude for taking on the task.
Nevertheless, there is undoubtedly a hunger to meet again in person and I’m sure that in future many meetings will be ‘hybrids’ where some participants attend in person and others join by Zoom, MS Teams or similar. This does make sense particularly if some people remain cautious about close contact in locations that may or may not be as Covid secure as required. Hopefully, our timetable will be completely back on track with forthcoming committee meetings to be held in October and January and the 2022 AGM next March, always assuming the ceiling doesn’t fall in in the meantime…….
President The AGM should see the election of the President for the ensuing year. Rich Berry officially took over from John Sisman in June 2020, John having served an extra three months in that office. It was agreed by the Committee that both Rich Berry and the President Elect, Kate Redshaw, should be permitted to stay in office until the 2022 AGM as their ability to fulfil completely their roles had been somewhat diminished by the pandemic.
Membership With an annual membership fee removed and all OBs automatically members of the Society, the whole basis of membership has shifted. This has made administration considerably less onerous and being an OB much more inclusive.
OBs’ Sports Club It goes without saying that the activities of all three sections and the management of the facility itself have been hugely disrupted by the events of the last year or more. In the face of such adversity, the club has risen to the challenge and done everything possible to keep things afloat. Grants and financial support have been secured where appropriate and everybody has mucked in to keep things going and to ensure that the building and its various facilities would be available when team games could resume. With organised sport once again up and running, the three sections are
Bristolienses - Issue 61
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