Committee News
Committee news will be shown here when released by the Secretary

MINUTES OF NATIONAL BEGONIA SOCIETY COMMITTEE MEETING
SATURDAY 31 AUGUST 2013 AT THE NATIONAL BEGONIA SOCIETY ANNUAL SHOW
AT WEBBS GARDEN CENTRE, BIRMINGHAM

PERSONS PRESENT:
Mr I Rhys Williams Chairman
Mrs D Williams
Mr P Sourbutts Vice Chairman
Mr D Bonner Treasurer
Mr J Chiswell
Mr G Dando
Mr J Winfield
Mr M Avis Show Manager
Mr B Walker
Mr R Bryce Secretary
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:
Mr Danny Davies apologies received I R Williams

TREASURERS REPORT AND FINANCE SHEET
Mr D Bonner provided a balance sheet showing the current state of the finances to all members of the committee. He also advised that the NBS monies in the Royal Bank of Scotland were now finally available and that monies paid personally by committee members would shortly be reimbursed. The treasurer requested that £60,000 be placed in a bond leaving just over £14,000 as working capital. The committee unanimously passed the account sheet and asked the treasurer to investigate a suitable account for the sum of £60k.
The treasurer projected that the society would make a small profit this year after all outgoings. The secretary asked the treasurer to provide a balance sheet after the costs for the next bulletin were know with this going into the members section of website. Action D.Bonner
The three signatories on the account are D Bonner, R Bryce and J Winfield with two signatures required on any cheques.

AGENDA ITEMS:
1.0 Suspension of Mr I Rhys Williams, Mr D Bonner and The SW Area
The Secretary proposed that the suspension be formally lifted this was seconded by Peter Sourbutts. The proposal vote was unanimous with all suspensions lifted.
The secretary took an action to formally advise Mr Williams and Mr Bonner. Action R.Bryce

2.0 Appointment of President
The Secretary proposed that the committee recommend Mr Jeff Rhodes as President at the next AGM. This was seconded by IR Williams. This was unanimously accepted by all present and the Secretary was asked to discuss this with Mr Rhodes. Action completed R.Bryce Sept 4.

3.0 Resignation of Tony Reynolds from Committee and replacement proposed
Mr Vincent Potts proposed by R Bryce seconded I Rhys Williams to be co-opted onto NBS committee. The meeting unanimously accepted the proposal. The Secretary was asked to discuss this with Mr Potts and formally invite him onto the committee. Mr Bryce suggested that Mr Potts look into display stands for future shows and be the focus of any activity in this area. This was accepted by the committee. Action complete R.Bryce 6 Sept
The Secretary reported that he had written to Tony and thanked him for all his efforts on behalf of the NBS.

4.0 NBS National Show 2014
The secretary reported that the venue for the National Show 2014 would be Shrewsbury Flower Show on the 8-9th August 2014 and that SFS had formally advised the NBS. The Secretary advised that there were still a number of things to be discussed. The Secretary was asked to seek a formal meeting with the SFS floral committee. Mr Bryce was asked to work with Mr Avis and Mr Winfield and keep the committee informed. Action R.Bryce ongoing awaiting a date
A vote of thanks proposed by the Secretary seconded by IR Williams to Mike Avis and John Winfield for organising the National Show in 2013. Unanimously accepted.
The Secretary was asked to write formally to the Chairman at Webbs and formally thank them for making the venue available. Action R Bryce

5.0 Shrewsbury Flower Show Stand 2013
Mr J.Winfield and Mr M.Avis explained the problems encountered with the NBS entry at SFS. Generally there were no problems encountered. It was advised that the SFS judges thought that the stand was a success but suggested that display boards with cultural information would lead to awards at future shows. As previously discussed this would be lead by Mr V.Potts.

6.0 Annual Raffle
The secretary proposed that the annual raffle will provide at least 20 prizes of 2 off tubers each. It was suggested that tubers be donated by the members and that additionally some Jemp Heating cables and Thermostats purchased as prizes. The secretary asked committee members to approach other members in their areas and ask for donations. The members of the committee took an action to manage donation of tubers in their areas and advise the secretary of varieties available. The secretary stated that he would provide at least 10 tubers with Symestar, Colin Hamilton, Jimmy Mack and Robert Tyler Murphy amongst them.
Action all committee members before end of November 2013
The secretary proposed that a single raffle ticket be put in the Autumn Bulletin with the membership renewal form. This will also record the NBS membership number. Entry to the raffle will be free to all members renewing their membership before 31st January 2014. The proposal was discussed and the Treasurer Mr Bonner seconded the proposal and explained that as the Annual Subscription had to go up in 2014 in line with the action accepted at the last AGM then this was giving something back to the members. The committee unanimously accepted the proposal and asked the secretary to formally advise members in the next bulletin.
Action R Bryce

7.0 NBS Handbook
The secretary proposed that a new handbook is written by him in the winter and that this is published on the website as a PDF document. Depending on finance a hard copy could be issued to all members at a future date. The proposal was seconded by P.Sourbutts and accepted unanimously by the committee,
Action R.Bryce

8.0 Adoption of the new North East Area
The secretary explained that a group of members had been working to form a viable area under Jim Stewart and that they had held a show at the end of August which was successful. Mr Rhodes had judged the show and felt they were a keen and enthusiastic group. The secretary explained that as the South Coast Area had informed him that they would not organise a show in the future we needed to encourage other groups to form areas. He explained that he felt that the NBS needed to encourage this and proposed that the group be given full area status. IR Williams seconded this and it was unanimously accepted.
The secretary was asked to discuss this with Mr Stewart. Action R. Bryce complete Sept

9.0 AOB
9.1 Transport of Bloom Boards by B Walker
Mr Walker explained that his nephew had transported and stored the boards after their transfer from the previous committee. Mr Walker asked that his nephew be reimbursed for his actions and formally thanked. This was unanimously accepted.
Action R.Bryce/ D Bonner
9.2 Agenda items for AGM
The secretary will ask for any proposals from the membership in the Autumn Bulletin.

MEETING CLOSURE AFTER 45 MINUTES.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING TO BE ON DAY OF AGM PRIOR TO THE MEETING AT 11.30 HRS.