The Blythe Sappers

Minutes of the 12^th Annual Council Meeting

Wednesday 30^th May 2007

          Present:      Sapper S G H Sinclair  Chairman 2007

                             Sapper J D Lewins        Vice Chairman                       

                             Sapper G B Sinclair

                             Sapper F G  Barton

                             Sapper J C Peacey        Honorary Auditor

                             Sapper J G Evans

                             Sapper R F Wilsher       Honorary Treasurer

                             Sapper M H S Muller

                             Sapper I A R Stewart

                             Sapper J Dennington

                             Sapper J H Fitzmaurice Chairman Elect

                             Sapper J R McLennan  Honorary Secretary

Introduction  Sapper Sinclair, Chairman The Blythe Sappers 2007 welcomed Council members to the 12^th Annual Council Meeting.

He relayed the sad news of the passing of Sapper Peter Shapland, Chairman 1996 and that a contribution of £50 would be sent to his favoured charity.

          Item 1.        Apologies:

1.       Apologies for absence had been received from:

          Sappers Realf, Woollett, Stancombe, Tabener, Shackell, Caulfield and Hamilton.

          Item 2.        Approval of Minutes of 11^th Annual Meeting. 

2.       The Minutes of the 11^th Meeting of Council of 31^st May 2006 were agreed and signed.

          Item 3.        Matters Arising

3.                 a        The Treasurer was requested to forward a cheque for £1,000 to the Treasurer, RE Corps Funds, to be held on behalf of the Blythe Sappers’ Fund for Adventurous and Challenging Pursuits.  Under the current agreement, it would be for the Regimental Colonel to allocate funds towards deserving Sappers intending to undertake adventurous or challenging expeditions (or similar), irrespective of rank or gender and whether the Sappers concerned were regular, TA or Gurkha.  The only stipulations would be for the Blythe Sappers’ Chairman to be informed of the proposals and the grants made towards them and, in due course, to receive copies of the post-exercise or project completion reports with acknowledgment of having received funds from the Blythe Sappers.

4.       Summary of Decisions taken by Management Committee during 2007.

a.                       BS Director of Music. Sapper Ed Keeley to remain as the Director of Music for the Society.

b.                      Honorarium for Assistant Secretary. It was agreed that the annual Honorarium would be raised to £350.

c.                       Membership of the Institution. It was discussed whether new members of the Blythe Sappers should also be Members of the Institution of Royal Engineers so that knowledge of the workings of the Corps would be given greater exposure. However, after discussion, the Management Committee found insufficient support and the idea was shelved.

d.                      Advertising in Corps Supplement. The placing of an advert in the Corps Supplement was to be suspended and only done once per year or in the case of a dramatic decrease in Membership.

e.                       The 2007 SOFA and Budget.. See Para 7 below.

f.                         Alternation of Chairmanship between “Gentlemen and Players”.  A paper was circulated by the Chairman. This requested Council’s endorsement that the time had come for the selection of the Chairman to be based on the “best person for the job”.   Carried.                       

g.                       To Invite Commander A Holt as a Guest.  It was decided to invite the Secretary, The Army & Navy Club as a guest to a lunch.

h.                      Expenses. It was agreed that expenses of Council and Committee members for attending early meetings, over and above those that would be incurred for a normal lunch should be met by the Society.

i.                         Principle Guest for Oct ’07.  As a change to the announced list of Principal Guest Speakers, the speaker for Oct 07 will now be the EinC (A), Brigadier C Sexton ADC, who will be coming towards the end of his tenure as EinC(A). The Chief Royal Engineer will speak next year.

j.                         Number of Members. Including the five new members approved earlier that day and two Honorary Members, the total strength of the Blythe Sappers is now 316.

k.                       Members whose subscriptions have not been paid.  The Management Committee decided that where subscription fees had not been paid by March the Hon Treasurer would write to the individual to remind him and that if payment was still not received by the October meeting the individual would immediately be struck off and no longer in good standing. Should such a member wish to rejoin, he/she must re-apply in accordance with the Rules (ie with proposer and seconder).

5.       Attendance and Arrangements for the Derby Day Luncheon 30^th May 2007    There would be 75 attending the lunch with 11 guests. The Principle Guest is Viscount Slim. We also have as a guest Commander A Holt, Secretary The Army & Navy Club. It would be followed by the Derby Day sweepstake draw.

6.       Review of Reports by Regimental Colonel.   The Reports are published on the website and whilst there is now no longer a Link Members, Sapper S Sinclair offered to write a one page summary of the Management meetings. It was noted that there is a great deal of paper around and that could overload those whose task it is to keep records and minutes. It was agreed that Sapper Sinclair would continue on the Management Committee after his tour as the Chairman.

7.       Accounts 2006 and Budget 2007   Council were informed that the accounts had been discussed and agreed at the previous Management meeting that morning. The papers are attached at Annex A.  The Honorary Treasurer gave an overview and informed the meeting that the accounts are in a healthy state.

          Proposal: That the Accounts 2006 and the Budget 2007 be Accepted

          Proposed: Spr G Sinclair

          Seconded Spr I Stewart

          Carried

8.       Discussion for Chairman for 2009 & 2010. 

          Sapper Brian Pearce had agreed to be BS Chairman in 2009.

          Proposal: That Spr Pearce is put to the AGM for Chairman 2009

          Proposed: Sapper S G H Sinclair

          Seconder: Sapper M Muller

          Carried

The Chairman asked that suggested names for Chairman 2010 be put to the Chairman or Hon Sec for discussion at subsequent meetings.

9.       The Blythe Sappers Guest Night 4^th August 2007.       This will take place on Saturday 4^th August at the RE HQ Mess, Chatham at a cost of £48.32 pp and £13.00 pppn. All are encouraged to attend. Sapper Ian Stewart additionally informed the meeting that the date coincides with the passing off at Chatham of Class 439 and that there will be a party of ten or twelve of his colleagues attending.

10.     Any Other Business      The Chairman commended the booklet “Short History of the Corps”. Copies would be available from the Hon Sec at the Lunch.

11.     Date for the Next Council Meeting The date for the next Blythe Sappers Council Meeting will take place on 4^th June 2008 at 1100hrs.