2021 OGA AGM Minutes

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING SATURDAY 12TH JUNE 2021 Hosted online via Microsoft Teams

Start Time: 12.20pm Those Present: approx. 52

Chairman’s Welcome – Jenny Thomas Everyone was welcomed to the AGM and the school thanked for arranging the online hosting of the meeting.

Commenting that whilst it still wasn’t possible to safely meet in person due to the ongoing pandemic, positive impacts include less travel required and the opportunity to attend the meeting being available to those who wouldn’t have been able to travel including members not in the UK. Celebrations for the 125th anniversary of the founding of St James’s School would be started this year and will hopefully be further celebrated more fully with a physical gathering event which is planned subject to ongoing Government Covid Pandemic guidance for Saturday 11 th June 2022.

The Chair thanked Anne Borrowdale and Charlotte Morrison for their help and support whilst the role of Treasurer has been vacant and advised that hopefully a permanent Treasurer had been found and further information will be shared shortly.

Signing of the Minutes There were no objections to last year’s minutes which had been posted online and communicated to all members prior to the meeting. The minutes were accepted via a show of hands. A copy will be signed by Jenny Thomas (Chair).

Headmistress’ Report – Mrs Olivera Raraty A video recording of the Headmistresses’ report was broadcast at the opening welcome to the OGA Annual Summer Reunion, during with the business of the AGM was conducted. Mrs Raraty extended a warm welcome to all Old Girls and Honorary Members and spoke about how MSJ continues the same ethos and traditions that members of the OGA will be familiar with, namely first-class all-girls’ education. Girls continue to get involved with the Malvern community, and giving back and sharing with the local community remains embedded in the life of the school.

The school has fared extremely well during the Covid pandemic, successfully switching to online learning when required and with girls pitching in with national efforts to support the wider community.

The Headmistress thanked all Old Girls who have offered their support by delivering lectures, careers events, workshops, keynote speeches and mentoring to benefit current pupils, and who donate to the School to support our bursary and development programmes.

All OGA members were encouraged to send in updates for the next edition of OGA News, welcomed to pre-arrange visits to school, and advised to keep an eye on social media channels for updates of OGA activities and plans.

Finance Report Financial accounts for the year ended 31.10.2020 were available for OGA Members to view online prior to the AGM Meeting.

Mrs Charlotte Morrison (Trustee) spoke about how, in agreement with MSJ the OGA have decided to change the financial year end from 31st October to 31st August, to better fit with the academic year and match the accounting period of the school. Thanks were given to all who helped facilitate the change.

Reporting on OGA investments, she advised the government stocks and investments portfolio included within the OGA accounts were valued on 31st May 2021 at £378,214. The estimated annual income is £9059.

Our Stockbrokers, who have discretion on trading, advised that we should take a long view and only made two trades in the year. There have been no trades since February. In February the portfolio had 32 holdings of which 20 were worth more than their purchase price. The whole portfolio was then worth 22% more than its purchase cost.

A Report was summarised by Mrs Anne Borrowdale (Trustee): OGA funds are showing a healthy profit and are in good shape. Expenditure is down, with 7 months of the financial year falling within the pandemic. OGA News Magazine postage charges, normally a major part of the expenditure were vastly reduced this year due to the magazine mainly being consumed via online methods. Income is also lower than the previous year. Less bank interest and dividend income received but the greater effect was the net profit from the sale of investments which was £6,632 lower than the previous year. Overall, the profit for the year was £12,897 which is £2,247 higher than the previous year.

Life subscriptions collected each year go into the advance subscription fund from which 1/35th is released every year to contribute towards the Association’s running costs.

Investment fund was valued at 31st May 2021 at £378,214 so currently showing a healthy profit.

Whilst we have been without a Treasurer, Charlotte Morrison and Anne Borrowdale, both Trustees, have kindly looked after the role and were thanked by the Chair for their help and support. We are confident of having found a permanent Treasurer, and further information about the appointment will be shared shortly.

Thanks were given to Charlotte Morrison and Anne Borrowdale, both Trustees, who have kindly looked after financial matters while the role of Treasurer has been vacant, and to Jenny Thomas (Chair) and Sue Heritage (MSJ) for the work that they have done for the OGA.

Date of next meetings A provisional date has been set for Saturday 11 th June 2022.