Minutes of the AGM, 4th Jan 2017

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on Wednesday 4th January 2017 at 6.30pm at Addington Manor Equestrian Centre, Bucks

Opening welcome address by Jillie Rogers BHSI – Chairman.

Attendance and apologies for absence

Those present:

Jillie Rogers (Chairman), Dianne Roberts (Secretary), Jeremy Michaels, Sam York, David Sheerin, Ann Bostock, Jo Winfield, Alison Craig and Danny Anholt (Committee).

Eric Horgan, Micheline Croome Carroll, Debbie Follett, Sue Ricketts, Linde DeMatteo, Becky Cooper, Mandy Luesley, Annette Christy, Ann Peate, Nicole Biggs, Nicola Greenhalgh-Brook, Annette Philpot, Sue Payne, Catherine Cawdron Shine, Victoria Gallantree , Jo Shields, Tina Canton, Sarah Fitton, Kirsten Owen, Amy Bannister, Alice Bell, Sally Popple, Gemma Porter-Rawlings, Ruth Baxter, Alexandra Hulme, Fred Hodges, Sandra Morrison, Clare Chamberlayne, Sarah Thorne, Eric Smiley, Liz Eaton, Julian Campbell, Sarah McDonald, Margie Craib, Biddy Brasted-Watts, William Blane, Debbie Melville, Sam Champney-Warrener, Oonagh Meyer, Jennifer Ham, Maggie Doel, Jenny Ward, Islay Auty, Ella-Louise Mayhead, Erik Mackechnie, Alex Miles, Charlotte Tarrant, Katie Partrick, Tessa Ryley, Karen Whiston, Helen Martin, Kylie Roddy, Carol Bennitt, Lizzel Winter,
Special guests: Christopher Bartle, Christoph Hess and Lynn Petersen CEO of BHS

Apologies for absence were received from the following:

Judith Murphy (Treasurer), Sue Pimbley, Paula Keeley, Julie Houghton, Jonathan Willis, Diana Zajda, Vikki Hayton, Clare Sansom, Elspeth Watson, Sally Newcomb, Sally Robinson, Joanna Potterton, Gill Watson, Jess Solely, Grainne Sugars, Rosemary Gaffney, Lynne Baldwin, Sue Charters, Don Collins, Judy Harvey, Amanda Holloway, Tessa Martin-Bird, Caroline Moore, Suzie Seymour, Simon Somers, Debbie Morgan, Lyndsay Gammon, Candice Williams, Caroline Stevenson. Nick Turner, Sally Williams and Lisa Morris.

Minutes of last AGM (held 6th January, 2016 at Addington Manor)
Were approved a true and accurate record and signed as proposed by Margie Craib and seconded by Faith Ponsonby

Matters Arising from those minutes
There were no matters arising.

There was a minute’s silence in respect and remembrance of Mrs Pippa Francis BHSI and Mrs Josephine Knowles FBHS who passed away during 2016. Obituaries were kindly written by Donn Collins and Sue Payne respectively.

Chairman’s Report for the Year

[Click here to read].

Treasurer’s Report for the Year

See financial statement from Judith Murphy (available after the meeting on website). Balance at the end of 2015 was £13,755.98, the income received for 2016 was £18,623.00 and outgoings were £16,008.76. Therefore, the balance at the end of 2016 was £16,370.22 making a profit for 2016 of £2,614.24

Meet the present Committee/Election of Committee for 2017

Hon Secretary, Dianne Roberts was re-elected for her final term of 3 years, proposed by Linda DeMatteo and seconded by Jennifer Ham.

Danny Anholt was co-opted onto the Committee during 2016 and was voted in by Sam Champney Warrener and seconded by Sue Payne.

A big thank you was given to Jeremy Michaels for securing and organising this year’s trainers.

It was also discussed that our present Hon Treasurer, Judith Murphy, is due to step down next year having served the maximum term of 3 x 3 years. Therefore, the Association feels it pertinent to put a shadowing Treasurer in place during 2017 to ensure a smooth transition to the new position for 2018.

Jillie reiterated that the Committee are always looking for members as there is a turnover of committee members and all are welcome to apply. Debbie Follett has shown an interest in taking on the role of Hon Treasurer and Membership for 2018. It was suggested that we would open this up via email mailing to ensure all F&I members have an equal opportunity to consider and apply for the role if they so wished.

Jo Winfield FBHS steps down from the committee.

It was suggested that the committee remains at 9 in order for the Chairman to remain a neutral influence on any matters arising requiring a vote and not to have to use the “casting vote” factor.

A brief review of 2016 events

Thank you to all the report writers who make each day come ‘alive’ for those unable to attend. All reports are on the website.

Plans for 2017 and beyond.

23rd and 24th January First Aid update course i/c Sue Payne

End of January -. Hunting In Ireland. i/c Sarah Thorne 07768 981176 01823 481049

10th February David Sheerin is organising a day with Richard Waygood at Wellington Training david.s@wellington-riding.co.uk or 01189 225373 – watch out for more details.

22nd February Sue Ricketts is organising a training day with Tim Downes at Ingestre – details sent for this.

2nd March National Equine Forum – London. Two places available – apply to Jillie Rogers.
15th March – Danny Anholt will be organising a day at Millfield aimed at those wishing to pursue the Fellowship examination. Fellowship training morning 9 – 12 noon.

28th March – Sue Ricketts is organising a day with Nick Turner at Myerscough College both for flatwork and jumping.

5th May – course walk with Eric Smiley FBHS at Badminton Horse Trials i/c Ann Bostock 07889 648478

6th June – Danny Anholt will be organising a day at Millfield aimed at those wishing to pursue the senior equitation and Fellowship examinations. 10 -4

8-11th June Bramham Horse Trials course walk day – tbc.- i/c Ruth Baxter

June – date tbc – Ann Bostock will be organising a day with Judy Harvey i/c Ann Bostock 07889648478

30th July (Saturday) F&I Hickstead – details will be available later in the year from BHS

14 – 17th September – course walk at Blenheim International Horse Trials i/c Ann Bostock 07889648478 It is very much hoped this will be with Chris Bartle FBHS. Day tbc.

Faith Ponsonby will be organising a day visiting Sam Watson’s and Willy Mullins’ yards i/c Faith Ponsonby Tel: 00353 872929449

Further Dates to be arranged:

Research and Technology in Coaching – Sam York at Nottingham Trent University

Sync Thermology – a tool used in equine diagnosis of various problems – Pippa Hatton.

It is open to members to organise further training days in their areas.

Some of the above have been proposed to be used for continuous professional development (CPD) recognition from the British Horse Society for 2017. These are shown in bold and underlined.

Future dates for 2018
3rd and 4th January – The Annual Course with Christoph Hess and Christopher Bartle

Any Other Business

British Horse Magazine

Jo Winfield requires “copy” for articles to include in the British Horse Magazine. The aim is to educate the general public on what the F&I Association is, and what its members do. The page in BH has been called “Horse Sense” – however Jo is proposing a name change. It is for general content and will cover a range of topics. The BHS office may contact members of F&I (who are specialists in their field) to write the articles for the magazine.

Proposed content for this year is as follows:
February issue – Why join the F&I Association?
April issue – Teaching Children – Danny Anholt has offered to write this article.
June issue – The generation game – offers???? Contact Jo Winfield
September – Livery options – David Sheerin has offered to write this article.

Microphones

The BHS have offered to let us borrow two hands-free microphones in which they are about to to invest, to assist the presenters next year in the delivery of their sessions. Thanks to Tina Canton who did try to organise the delivery of these microphones to Addington. Unfortunately, Amazon was unable to meet the next day delivery target.

Other matters

A card from Sue Payne was passed between members to wish Helen Webber well. All present signed the card and Sue Payne will passing it on to Helen.

Date of future meetings:

Next year’s two-day annual course will be held at Addington Manor Equestrian Centre, Bucks on Wednesday 3rd and Thursday 4th January 2018 with the AGM being held at 6.30pm, Wednesday 3rd, followed by the dinner.

Presentation of Awards Lynn Petersen – CEO BHS

This year the awards were presented during dinner.

The Achievement Award, This new award which originated last year in 2016 was this year awarded to Christopher Bartle in recognition of his lifetime achievement and services to equestrian sport. The award, in the form of a perpetual circular shield was presented to Christopher by Lynn Petersen – CEO of the BHS

The Pat Smallwood Award
The wonderful Pat Smallwood trophy “Wistful” uniquely sculpted by the late Jo Knowles FBHS was awarded this year to Jenny Ward FBHS in recognition of her continued hard work on behalf of the Association since its inception in 1986. Jillie Rogers gave a brief overview about Jenny’s achievements prior to presentation.