AGM April 2023 Feedback

There was a very good turnout for the AGM Meeting on Wednesday 5th April 2023.

Here are the major points of the evening.

AGENDA – Winchcombe Conservative Working Men’s Club AGM 2023

1. AGM Opened

2. Apologies for Absence

3. Summary of Club Actions and improvements since 2019.

4. Treasurer’s Report and approval of accounts for 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022.

5. Election of President, Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary and

Committee Members

6. Motions Received

7. Outgoing Remarks

8. AGM Closed

Club Committee Members

The following club members have been elected to service on the club committee having been properly proposed and seconded and duly accepted at the Annual General Meeting on April 5th 

Committee Chair: Robert Hill

Club Treasurer: Kevin Gunn

Club Secretary: Graham Hutton

Committee Members:

Andrew Major

Brian Atkins

Irene Smart

Phil Wigley

Keith Parker

Wendy Upton

Maggie Spencer

Ian Duncan

Harry Davies 

Summary of Changes since last AGM

Personnel:

  • Since our last AGM we have had significant changes in staff including Oli replacing Paul as Club Steward.
  • Some staff remain including Dave Gillett while we have welcomed new bar staff,Ella Jackson, Andy Barrett, Alex Beer, Benjie Bingham and Spencer Broughton.

Club Facilities:

  • We have updated our product range in-line with current trends and continue to regularly monitor the products we offer to give our members a wide selection at extremely competitive prices.
  • We have completed an overhaul of the cellar in the club which has led to ease of working practises for the staff, monetary savings for the club, and improved delivery of all draught products.
  • The standard of cleanliness has improved while we accept there is still more to do around the club including all the toilets being cleaned and decorated.
  • The kitchen area has been improved and plans are in place to improve the kitchen area facilities further.
  • The stairlift has been repaired and is now in full working order.
  • Plans exist to improve our snooker facilities, downstairs bar area, and we are also looking at options available to create an outside area.
  • We now offer quality coffee, tea and hot chocolate as well as our regular bar service. We are also considering offering a limited daytime food menu in the coming months.    
  • We have recently added a “Happy Hour” period from 4pm to 6:30pm daily on weekdays to encourage further use of the club.

Opening Times:

  • We now open from 12.00 o’clock on weekdays in addition to our regular weekday, evening and weekend opening hours.

Entertainment:

  • We continue to offer weekly bingo, fortnightly quiz nights and ad-hoc Karaoke nights in the club. We have begun to offer live music entertainment on a more regular basis some of which are free to members and other acts which command a nominal entrance charge and will look to offer these nights on a more regular basis.
  • We will also look to host ad-hoc events such as the recent pre-Cheltenham Festival race night which raised a considerable amount of money for charity. 
  • We are holding the Club Champions competition including Darts, Pool, Snooker and Skittles this March with the intention of this becoming an annual event once again.
  • We currently have one team that competes in the Winchcombe Darts League as well as hosting Knockout Tournaments and Finals Night for the league.
  • We hope to start a Skittles League should we raise sufficient interest.
  • The Club now has its own successful Senior Football Team which gained promotion in its first years as well as enjoying successful runs in local cup competitions.

Financial Improvements:

  • Without going into detail we have shown considerable growth in sales and profits since the club re-opened post the enforced Covid Lockdown period.
  • The efforts of Oli and his team to maximise takings, profits, and reduce losses has been recognised by the committee since he began his Stewardship of the club.

Membership:

We look to improve membership numbers and have announced two additional levels :

  • Honorary Member:

Presented to a club member in honour of their time, effort and support  –  working on behalf of the club. Five current members have been selected to receive Honorary Memberships and have received a walleted gold membership card and a token of appreciation from the club in recognition of their efforts. Our five honorary members are:

  • Jeanette Parker
  • Maurice Fletcher
  •  Bob Hill
  •  Brian Atkins
  • Andrew Major
  • Life Membership:

Presented to all current club members at the annual general meeting in recognition of their Eightieth Birthday. They will no longer be liable for annual membership subscriptions. Each will receive a walleted blue Life Membership card.

There are currently 23 members who qualify for the new Life Membership, and we will be contacting them in due course and presenting them with their new membership cards. Further new Life Members will be added annually for current paid up members as part of the Annual General Meeting process. 

  • We will strive to maintain a full and active club committee, something which has been extremely challenging over the past few years and welcome new members wishing to take a more active part in the running and support of the club. 

Community Involvement:

  • We will strive to involve the club in the local community over and above our current commitments to the local Winchcombe Town Football Club, support of the yearly Armistice Celebrations and annual children’s Christmas Party.
  • We will also look to support further local charities where possible.