Irish Wolfhound Charitable Trust Meeting - AGM
Broadholme House Farm, Broadholme Lane, Belper, Derbys DE56 2JG
Sunday 16th December 2018, 10:00 am
Minutes
Register/Welcome and apologies
Present: Hugh Broadbent (HB), Debbie Porter (DP), Carole Kelly (CK), Andrea Joyce (AJ), Sharon Lake (SL), Valerie Shenton (VS) and Alison Irvine (AI)
Approval of Last Meeting’s Minutes
Approved by HB, seconded by AJ
Election of officers - Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Fundraiser
Chairman - nominations: Hugh Broadbent, seconded by AJ
Treasurer - nominations: Carole Kelly, seconded by SL
Secretary - nominations: Ali Irvine, seconded by HB
Fundraiser - nominations: Andrea Joyce, seconded by CK & Debbie Porter, seconded by AI
Factotum - nominations: Sharon Lake, seconded by HB, Val Shenton, seconded by DP
Chairman’s Report
HB - We are into our second year of supporting the Irish Wolfhound breed, and we have had another year to be proud of.
I would like first to thank the Trustees, Our President Colleen Ellis, Veterinarian Dr Serena Brownlie and all those donors, volunteers and supporters that have helped us make such a difference.
It has been a busy year, and the trustees have collectively been a massive support to owners and wolfhounds in need, and I would like to thank them for their help in this regard. Much of this effort is under the radar, but it is vitally important.
Our educational efforts were also highly rewarding, and many veterinary students will no doubt be grateful for the introduction and advice we were able to give. Indeed the donation from Liverpool Vet School shows the value of our assistance.
We have had another good year of fundraising, and the Ginger Group provided valuable help. We have been very fortunate to have had a generous set of donors who have supported us. The Facebook donate button is fabulous, and we also have regular monies from easy Fundraising, Amazon (via their Smile programme) and Give as You Live.
We organised our first public event this year, the Hoedown and a special thank you to Tracy Appleyard for her support and venue along with Paddy Grice and his team. The event would not have been so successful without their help, support and equipment.
We have also registered for Gift Aid and expect to receive a further £4,000 in respect of the donations so far.
I am proud that 100% of the money we raise is available for help in our charitable activities: Apparently, the average is 75%!
What a first two years! Thank you again.
Treasurer’s Report - current total funds, funds raised from recent events (SYHS and Christmas crafts) and social media, end of year accounts
CK - as it stands we have a balance of £26,387.98 in the IWCT account and the end of our financial year accounts at 30th September 2018 were £24,314.66 (see balance sheet). Easyfundraising gave £83.60 last quarter, Amazon £29.26 and Facebook donate button £128 since the previous meeting. Colleen Ellis’s Christmas card sales raised £330, and the Bose headphones flash action on Facebook raised £120. Rosie Walters raised £517.96 for the charity Rescue pot from the sales of her Christmas crafts. Also, have some loose change tins to count too to add to the grand total. Cheque received from Karen Cox for £47.76 from her jewellery sales. South Yorkshire Hound Society show raised £107 overall and has been added to general funds. Pollyanna fund - all trustees voted unanimously to revert Pollyanna money into General funds, as per original agreement after 2 years. CK mentioned £90 been sat in Emergency & Health pot - all trustees voted to revert into the General fund, CK to action and amend accounts sheet.
6. Secretary’s Report - requests for funding (Wolfhound A), correspondence
AI - no correspondence since the last meeting. Regarding the grant for essential surgery for Wolfhound A, £800 paid direct to a veterinary practice for the surgery and taken out of general funds. Still in contact with the owner and offering moral support. No other requests for grants since the last meeting. Have received notification from HM Revenue and Customs regarding the change of accountants. Personal thank you to all trustees for their fantastic help and support over the last year, and it has proved to be a very successful year and building on our first year and looking forward to everything coming up in 2019.
7. Fundraiser’s Report - update on upcoming events
AJ - regarding Christmas raffle, think it would be better not to have a formal raffle due to potential donor fatigue and we have benefitted the last year hugely and have a lot planned for next year. Would it be beneficial to publish the AGM minutes to show transparency and thank all donors - all trustees agreed it would be useful. We have a lot coming up with Crufts, St Patrick’s Day etc.
8. Update on sponsored walk idea with British Heart Foundation - DP
DP - difficult to speak to anyone at the venues we were considering but will continue to try and make contact and also try other venues such as Chatsworth, Rufford, Hardwick.
9. Nottingham St Patrick’s Day parade 2019- CK
CK - will make an announcement on social media this week so people can put it in their diaries, but not create a Facebook event at this stage. Think about what we can offer on the IWCT stall at the parade. AJ - maybe shamrock scarves for ladies to wear on the day and contact connection regarding getting sashes printed too. CK - does anyone have a contact for dog coats as would be great to get some made with charity logo? HB to make enquiries with the person who makes their dog coats. CK - one of the trustees will need to be presented to Lord Mayor on the day to be presented with the shamrock. Thinking about a kissing booth at the event but with a Wolfhound instead of a person: “Kiss Me I’m Irish”. CK and AI to liaise directly with St Patrick’s Day Parade committee whose meetings commence after New Year.
10. Heart testing at Hoedown 2019/Serena Brownlie
HB - Serena Brownlie has offered to do a couple of days of heart testing at the Hoedown 1st September 2019 and will send Bonaforte dogs there to be tested instead of testing at the farm. Would other owners be interested in getting their hounds tested on the day of the Hoedown? Tracy Appleyard can provide quiet facilities at the Livery Yard for testing and would be an excellent opportunity to get hounds tested that may not otherwise be done. All trustees agreed would be a fantastic opportunity, and HB will look at arrangements for accommodation for Serena.
11. Any Other Business
AJ - my son has offered to provide his gourmet burger van and pop-up gin tent for the Hoedown 2019. Also thinking of judges for Hoedown 2019 - AI to contact prospective judges. AJ to liaise with CK for transporting items to Crufts.
12. Date/time/venue of next meeting
10.00hrs on Sunday 17th February 2019
