Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Devon & Cornwall Area, Foresters Friendly Society.

Held at the Public Rooms, Liskeard, Cornwall on Saturday 22nd May 2010 The Meeting Started at 2.07 pm Roll Call of Delegates Present Court One & All No. 3470 Sister Margaret Williams (Area Sub-Chief Ranger) Sister Shelia Reynolds Brother Stan Reynolds (Area Chief Ranger) Court Star of the Forest No. 3705 Brother Ron Ross Court Pendennis No. 3754 Sister Jane Langley-Pratt Brother Gary Webber Court Light of the West No. 4017 Brother Christopher Hunn (Committee) Sister Wendy Hunn Court Pride of the Plym No. 4087 Brother Michael Hill Sister Patricia Hill Brother John Small (Committee) Court Semper Fidelis No.4938 Brother Alex Battershill (Past High Chief Ranger) Court Goodwill No. 5077 Brother Marc Quigley-Ferriday (Committee) Visitors Sister Shelia Battershill (5077) Sister Janet Porter (3705) Apologies Brother Peter Corke (Area Coordinator) Sister Joan Thomas (3754) Brother Ken Thomas (Committee) Introduction and Welcome The Area Chief Ranger, Brother Reynolds welcomed the delegates and visitors to the meeting. The Area Chief Ranger read his report of his year in office, and stated that he was disappointed that there were only 24 [Twenty-Four] brethren and guests present at Trethorne for the Annual Area Dinner, he pointed out to the meeting, that if this decline continues, the Committee will have to review the situation.

Page 2 Minutes of the Area Annual General Meeting held on 22nd May 2010 Approval of Minutes The Minutes of the meeting held on Saturday 13th November 2009 at the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes Club, North Hill, Plymouth, be received. RESOLVED That the Minutes of the above aforesaid meeting be duly signed as a correct record. Past High Chief Ranger Battershill stated that the printing on some copies of the minutes appears to be illegible, and his wondered if the Area Coordinator printed all copies or printed a master copy and photocopied the remaining sheets. Brother Ross said that he thought that the manner in which the documentation is produced was purely a matter for the Area Coordinator to determine. Matters Arising Brother Small raised a typographical error, noting that the Lawn Bowls were at Lee Moor, and not Lee Mill. Past High Chief Ranger Battershill said he thought the Lawn Bowls were an Area function, but Brother Small corrected him, and said that as far as Court Pride of the Plym were concerned, the Lawn Bowls were a Court function. Brother Small said if the Area wished to claim the Lawn Bowls as an Area function, then the Area Coordinator must be prepared to make the necessary arrangements. Sister Hill stated that she was under the impression that Court Pride of the Plym were the hosts of the Annual lawn bowls function. Brother Ross said that the brethren were splitting hairs. A general discussion ensued. By mutual agreement is was decided that for all purposes the Annual Lawn Bowls shall be deemed to be a Court Function. Area Budget Sister Hill voiced concerns about the 10% [Ten Percent] reduction in the Area Budget for 2010, and said that the Area Committee should not just stand back and accept it. Past High Chief Ranger Battershill stated that one Area that he knew of, received exactly what they asked for! Brother Ross said that Areas that had exceeded their allocations, should be named, and receive some type of financial penalty for the following year. Brother Small said that the Area Committee has been proactive in review the resources available to them, and had decided to reduce the number of Committee Meetings by 1 [One] Sister Hill stated that the Committee should seek clarification from Head Office that this Area was not going to received further reductions in its Annual Budget Allocation.

Page 3 Minutes of the Area Annual General Meeting held on 22nd May 2010 A general discussion ensued on the merits of budget reductions across diverse Areas around the country, and the implications this had on the Area in particular, in meeting its objectives. RESOLVED That the Area Coordinator be instructed to communicate the Devon and Cornwall Areas displeasure to Head-Office, with regards to the 2010 budget allocation reduction, and to seek clarification with regards to any proposed future budget allocation reductions. The Area Budget was presented to the meeting, which was correct to the 11th May 2010 but the figures do not show either the Area Dinner Expenditure, nor the expenditure for todays Area Committee Meeting and this Annual General Meeting. In answer to a question from an unidentified questioner from the floor, Brother Small responded by saying that the Committee was not, at this time, fully conversant with the total costs associated with this years Annual Area Dinner. Sister Hill said that, in her opinion, the lunchtime meal today, was not to the same standard as the previous year, and wondered what the cost was? Past High Chief Ranger asked the Committee if they had considered outside catering. Brother Quigley-Ferriday responded to Past High Chief Ranger Battershill by saying, that outside catering was often expensive, and this might result in a levy being charged to those attending to offset the extra costs the Area would have to bear. Brother Small suggested that a letter be sent to all Secretaries in the Area, to seek ideas from their brethren on what they would care to eat at future Annual General Meetings and HalfYearly Meetings in November. RESOLVED That the Area Coordinator circulate to all Court Secretaries a request to ascertain from their Courts what their brethren would care to eat at future Area Meetings. Sister Porter (Visitor) suggested Fish & Chips as the meal for future Area Meetings. The Area Chief Ranger asked the brethren present if they would be prepared to pay 5.00 [Five Pounds] towards a sit-down meal. It was agreed my mutual assent, that the matter be left in the Area Committees hands, and that matter be reported back to the November Area Meeting. Election for the Area Committee for 2010/2011 There were 6 [Six] vacant positions for the Area Committee, and the Area Coordinator had received 6 [Six] nominations thereto. Viz:Sister Williams Brothers Hunn; Quigley-Ferriday; Reynolds; Small and Thomas

Page 4 Minutes of the Area Annual General Meeting held on 22nd May 2010 ___________________________________________________________________________ RESOLVED That the said brethren named above, be duly elected en-bloc to the Area Committee for the ensuing year. RESOLVED That Sister Margaret Williams be elected Area Chief Ranger for the Devon & Cornwall Area for the ensuing year. RESOLVED That Brother Marc Quigley-Ferriday be elected Area Sub-Chief Ranger for the Devon & Cornwall Area for the ensuing year. Brother Quigley-Ferriday thanked the assembled brethren for electing him, once again into active office. Brother Webber stated that there was nothing in the recent communication, dated the 22nd March 2010, from the Area Coordinator, on the subject of nominations for Area Chief Ranger or Area Sub-Chief Ranger Brother Ross spoke with regards this Areas chance to nominate a member to have their portrait in the Foresters Miscellany and asked why no circular had been sent around the Courts. The Area Chief Ranger stated that the Committee had weighed up all the possible candidates, and had chosen one, which just happened to be himself! Past High Chief Ranger asked the Committee to seek clarification from the Area Coordinator as to why the usual procedure of circulating to the Courts, a request for nominations to be submitted for consideration at the Area Meeting, was not followed. Brother Ross stated that, having himself served on the Steering Committee when the proposal for Areas were being formulated, he was under the impression that the Area Committee had no executive powers, and if he was wrong on this assumption, he wished to know when such powers were assumed by the Committee. Sister Williams stated that Area Committee would look into this matter, and report back to the November meeting. RESOLVED That the Area Chief Ranger (Brother Reynolds) be nominated from the Devon & Cornwall Area for his portrait in the Foresters Miscellany Social Events Sister Williams gave details of the 150th Anniversary Celebrations of Court One & All No. 3740, which is going to be marked by a lunch on the 14th August 2010, at the Carlton Hotel, Truro at 7.30pm Cost in the region of 14.00 [Fourteen Pounds].

Page 5 Minutes of the Area Annual General Meeting held on 22nd May 2010 Sister Hill gave details of a social evening to be held on the 7th August 2010, at the Oak Villas Social Club, Plymouth. Tickets are 5.00 [Five Pounds] Brother Small announced that the Lawn Bowls at Lee Moor were going to be held on 10th July 2010. Brother Ross announced that Court Star of the Forest was again holding its Annual Dinner at the Dartmouth Golf Club on 19th August 2010, accommodation is available at the golf club Brother Ross said that the Area Chief Ranger Elect, and her husband were invited. Sister Williams, thanked Brother Ross for the invitation, but stated that he should sent it to the Area Coordinator for inclusion in the Area Committee agenda. The Area Dinner was mentioned again by various brethren Brother Small stated that he had heard from some who were present, that the wine was not particularly good. Sister Porter (visitor) said that there should be no wine at the tables, only water of fruit juice. Brother Quigley-Ferriday said that he had no idea that Sister Porter had suddenly become so fond of such temperance ways! Past High Chief Ranger Battershill question the Committee on how the wine allocation, per table was arrived at, and, considering the fact that the wine waiter went from table to table topping up glasses, were the Committee aware of how much wine was consumed, and how much was discarded, but paid for? Brother Hunn agreed that there was a breakdown of communications, over the exact wine allowance on the night, and the Committee were going to review the position at their next meeting in July 2010. Past High Chief Ranger Battershill asked the Committee if they were taking steps at increasing the numbers at future Area Dinners? Sister Williams replied to Past High Chief Ranger Battershill that the Committee regularly reviewed how it could boost attendance at the Area Dinner, and other functions as well. Sister Hill asked if there was any accommodation at Trethorne Leisure Park and Golf Club. Brother Hunn replied and stated that there was. Brother Quigley-Ferriday stated that when he made communications to Trethorne, with regards to staying overnight, he was advised that the minimum stay was two nights at the weekend.

Page 6 Minutes of the Area Annual General Meeting held on 22nd May 2010 Past High Chief Ranger Battershill asked the Committee, if they had considered an alternative venue to Trethorne, as we have been there for the last few years. Sister Hill stated, that most members, she has found, prefer a venue that they are able to stay at overnight, to hold the Area Dinner at. Sister Williams stated that the Area Committee will indeed be looking at the possibility of holding the 2011 Area Dinner at another venue, and the Committee will report back to the November Area Meeting. High Court 2010 & 2011 Brother Ross said that he thought it was very poor, that the Board amended this years High Court in Torquay, without any consultation to or from the Courts. Sister Williams stated that the Area Committee had recently requested the Area Coordinator to ascertain from Head-Office the reasoning for the Boards decision, and this was given to the Area Committee by the Area Coordinator at a recent meeting. A general discussion took place on the merits (or lack of them) with regards to the timing of next years High Court meeting in June 2011, and the mess created with regards to this years High Court in Torquay. Sister Hill said that Court Pride of the Plym No. 4087, would have to move its Annual General Meeting from June to earlier in the year. Brother Small said that urgent clarification is needed if Courts are to hold their Annual General Meetings 8 [Eight] weeks before the High Court meeting RESOLVED The Area Coordinator to seek clarification of the position in respect of the timing of Court Annual General Meetings, and disseminate this information to Courts (and the Committee) at the earliest opportunity. Past High Chief Ranger Battershill said he wondered why the Society bothers to remain a Branch Society, when the Board have, it would seem, no respect for the Courts. The Area Chief Ranger indicated that there would be a short recess in the meeting for refreshments. The meeting adjourned at 3.07 pm The meeting reconvened at 3.28 pm Brother Ross asked the Area Committee if they had reached a decision on what hotel they would be recommending to the Area Meeting, for delegates staying in Southport, in June 2011

Page 7 Minutes of the Area Annual General Meeting held on 22nd May 2010 ___________________________________________________________________________ Brother Quigley-Ferriday replied by saying that the Area Committee had reviewed several hotels, at their Committee Meeting this morning, but due to the fact several hotels were unable to give tariffs for 2011, the Committee have not reached a firm decision on any one particular establishment. Past High Chief Ranger Battershill asked if the Committee had considered the hotel that he had recommended to the Area Coordinator. Brother Quigley-Ferriday confirmed to Past High Chief Ranger Battershill, that the committee had looked at the hotel he had recommended, but had considered it be of a basic standard. Brother Quigley-Ferriday informed the meeting that the Best Western hotel in Southport was a suitable establishment and was close to the conference centre, but he was unable to acquire the 2011 tariff until the end of June 2010. RESOLVED That the Area Coordinator circulate details of the Areas recommended choice of hotel, as soon as practicable after the Next Area Committee Meeting on the 28th July 2010. Installation of Area Chief Ranger Sister Margaret Williams was installed and invested with the insignia of the office of Area Chief Ranger, by the Immediate Past Area Chief Ranger, Brother Reynolds. The Area Chief Ranger thanked the brethren for the trust they placed in her, and she was honoured to be the Area Chief Ranger for Devon & Cornwall Presentation of Gift to the Immediate Past Area Chief Ranger The Area Chief Ranger, presented a Glass Tankard to Bro Reynolds, in respect of his sevice to the Area in the last 12 [Twelve] months. Brother Reynolds thanked the Area for the gift of the Glass Tankard. Date of the Next Meeting The Area Chief Ranger stated that in view of the problems that had occurred last November, when the meeting was held at the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes Club, in Plymouth, the Committee had asked Brother Quigley-Ferriday to look into other suitable venues. Brother Quigley-Ferriday informed the meeting that the next Area Committee Meeting would take place on 13th November 2010 at 2.00 pm in the Davie Hall, North Hill, Plymouth. The Meeting closed at 4.26 pm