Manningtree and District Royal British Legion

Minutes of Branch No 3683 Meeting held on 13th May 2014

Item Opening Address By Whom 1 Jamie gave a short opening address and welcomed everyone to the Branch meeting. He thanked The Red Lion for allowing us to us to use the facilities Chairman

Item Exhortation By Whom 2 The meeting was opened with the exhortation, and a respectful silence Branch was observed President

Apologies and Attendance 3 15 attended the meeting, with apologies being received from 9 others. Branch Chairman

Minutes 4 The Minutes of the previous (April 2014) meeting were read and following a couple of amendments were unanimously approved: Branch Secretary Proposed – Ann Watson Seconded – Sharon Robinson

Chairman’s Report 5 In summary Jamie spoke about:  Branch President. Welcomed Kerry to her first meeting in a while and thanked her for work done on behalf of the branch  New Members. Welcomed Ted Halyard, Ben and Sandra Langley transferring from the Harwich branch and also Jacque, a new member, who lives in Lawford. Mentioned too that with the closure of the Harwich branch £7,000 from their fund would be transferred to the Essex Poppy Appeal Branch  Committee Members, Now 11 members, room for 3 or 4 more Chairman  Branch Standard. Now ordered, delivery expected Jun but unlikely to be in time for the DDay service  Fundraising and Ceremonial Events o 8th June – DDay event. The branch discussed the form the event would take and voted in favour of a service around the Manningtree war memorial without standards. Jamie asked for names of other organisations that could be invited and asked Kerry if she could arrange a bugler. Road closures have been approved o Reminder of 14th June – Fun at Furze, 21st June – 1940s coffee morning at Foundry Court and 5th July – Skinnersfest. o 3rd August – WW1 commemoration. Planning currently going well, the Harwich brass band will provide music at the event. o Remembrance Day. Initial plans submitted to Manningtree council for an afternoon service on Remembrance Sunday met some opposition from two councillors and will be re-submitted 1 of 3 on 19th June  Cadets. Both local units have been invited to set stalls at the June coffee morning  Branch Choir. Kerry mentioned that the branch choir was now ‘on hold’ awaiting a pianist  Photography. Jamie showed a photograph of a poppy field taken by a local photographer, Zoe Burgess, and said that he will price copies (framed and unframed) sized 10x12 and 12x16

Item Vice Chair’s Report 6 NTR, Lee sent apologies for non-attendance Branch Vice Chairman

Item Secretary’s Report 7 Alan spoke about Welfare telephone numbers, Remembrance travel and Branch Saga Galipoli trips and Branch training Secretary

Treasures Report 8 Income

Balance B/F £1,654.60

Received £25.00 Branch Expenditure £1,017.69 Treasurer

Current Balance £661.91

Item Branch Welfare 9 NTR Branch Welfare Officer

County Welfare Report 10 NTR County Welfare Officer

A Group 11 Lee ND Ann attended, awaiting minutes A Group Reps

Parade Marshals Report 12 NTR Parade Marshal Membership Secretary Report 13 Membership now stands at 61 Membership Secretary 2 of 3 Social Committee Report 14 Sharon spoke about the Foundry Court coffee morning, the July meeting (1st anniversary party) and reminded attendees that Festival of Social Remembrance money must be paid by the June meeting Secretary

Press Relations Officer 15 NTR PRO

Poppy Appeal By Whom 16 Door – door collectors required for 2014, volunteers should contact Ann with preferred area

AOB By Whom 17  Kerry spoke about poppy themed murals on disused buildings heading out of Manningtree towards the station and a Manningtree theatre event on 29/30 August  Andy Baker spoke about the maintenance of Manningtree, Mistley and Lawford War Memorials – there was some consensus that the Branch should play a part, a promise of a £50 donation from Manningtree Chamber of Commerce and that he had 2 new member forms to pass on  Sharon and Jamie spoke about RBL and branch logo’d fleeces and polo shirts. Individual orders to Sharon for a bulk branch order  Ann gave a reminder that UK tax payers should tick the Gift Aid box on DD mandate forms  Next meeting Tuesday 10th Jun 2014 at The Red Lion

Kohima Epitaph 18 The meeting closed at 20.55hrs with the Vice Chairman reading the Chair Kohima Epitaph. A respectful silence was observed

Jamie Robinson Branch Chairman Alan Saddington Branch Secretary

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