There will be a Special General Meeting (SGM) of the National Trust Quantock Centre preceding the Saturday afternoon talk at 2.30pm at West Monkton Village Hall, Monkton Heathfield, on 6 October. The meeting has been called to confirm the financial year for the Centre.
Members who were at the Annual General Meeting in February will remember the Hon. Treasurer, Basil Bryant, proposing to the meeting that, subject to the approval of the National Trust, the financial year for the Centre be changed to run from the 1 January to 31 December each year. The approval of the Trust has been received and it is now necessary to obtain the formal approval of the members of the Centre to the change in the constitution.
It is therefore proposed that clause C.11 of the constitution be amended to read, “The financial year of the Centre shall run from 1 January to 31 December (Clause L).”
For the proposed changes to the constitution to be made, there is a requirement that at least 50 members be present at the SGM and that at least two thirds of those present and voting shall be for the resolution. Voting is to be by a show of hands, unless a ballot is requested by a Centre member.
TREES will benefit from donations to places recently visited by Quantock Centre members.
A cheque for £100 went to Buscot Park, Faringdon, in Oxfordshire. The money will be used to purchase a Davidia involucrata (handkerchief tree), together with protective fencing and a plaque acknowledging the Centre's gift. Buscot Park is owned by the National Trust but administered by Lord Faringdon through the Faringdon Collection Trust. He wrote to Centre Treasurer Basil Bryant thanking members for “your very generous donation”.
Another grateful beneficiary was Cothele, near Saltash, Cornwall. The Centre's £100 donation will be used to assist in the regeneration of an orchard that will be stocked with old varieties of apple to ensure their survival. The tree planting will take place this Autumn and trees planted in the Centre's name will be identified as such.
a NEW large screen and a full public address system for use at West Monkton Village Hall will give a much higher quality of picture and sound in the Saturday afternoon talks held there. The Autumn programme of talks starts on 6 October. The equipment, costing £760, was sourced and installed by Robin Grigg who attends every Saturday to set it up and make sure everything is working properly.
Arrangements are in hand for the Quantock Centre Music Group's 2007-08 season, beginning in October. The Group meets monthly from October to April in the homes of various members, starting at 2pm or 2.30pm according to the time of year. At each meeting, the music is presented by a member of the Group and is entirely the choice of the member.
The Group has been running for four years and the selections have included jazz, classical, opera, choral and Asian. Over time, it is hoped that all members of the Group will present their choice. There is a small charge of £3 for attending each meeting. Most of the money is given to the Centre as a donation at the end of the season.
Anyone interested in joining the Group should contact Derek Spackman, the Group co-ordinator, on 01823 338246.
Basil Bryant, the Hon. Treasurer, has indicated that he intends to stand down at the end of the 2008 financial year. The Quantock Centre will therefore be looking for a Treasurer-elect in time for the annual general meeting next February so that he or she can “shadow” Basil and be ready to take over on 1 January 2009. The Chairman of the Centre, Derek Spackman, asks anyone who might be interested in taking on the role to contact Mr Bryant on 01823 253994.