Minutes of the AGM – February 2018
La Asociacion de Gata Residencial
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2018
Held on Thursday 15th February 2018
In the Centro Social (Ayuntamiento Gata de Gorgos)
At 6.30pm
- Those present and apologies
The President opened the AGM thanking those in attendance.
Attendance: 35 members present and a further 22 households sending their proxy vote.
Official apologies received from John Bishop, Brian Fielding, Udo Weyergraf, Anne Williams, Dave and Elaine Teasel and Kenneth Jacques.
- Minutes of the previous AGM:
Taken as read and signed by the President and Secretary.
- President’s Statement: The President (John Harding)
The President stated that this year his statement would be short as there hasn’t really been much movement as regard the adoption of the urbanisation or our dealings with the Town Hall. As we know, the situation has been in the hands of the courts and we are currently awaiting the sentencing of the judge. During the last year, we have had meetings with council representatives, accompanied by our lawyer, the details of which have been previously published and circulated. However, we have had a successful year in many other aspects:
- Updated website. A big thank you to Peter Bayliss for updating our Association website and doing such an excellent job.
- Olive Trees. Louise Kirkley investigated and organised for the olive trees at the Monte Pedreguer entrance to be pruned, an action which was urgently required in order to save the trees from dying. Thank you Louise.
- Social Team. The President stated that we have the best social team in the world!
– Very popular local walks running from September to May. Thank you to Sally Merrett for organising them. There are now up to 40 people regularly attending.
– The Book Exchange continues to go from strength the strength. Thank you to Steve and Jane Jobson for continuing to organise this, despite having moved away from Gata Residencial. Thanks also to the other volunteers and please, if anyone else is interested in helping out for a few hours a month, let the Association know as new recruits are required.
– Ladies Lunches have been very successful yet again this year. Thanks to Anne Williams for continuing to organise these, giving our ladies the perfect opportunity to meet up for a good chat and a nice meal.
– Clean up days. Peter Whitbread has put in a huge amount of work over the last year, liaising with the Council and organising teams to tidy up the urbanisation. Thanks to everyone who has participated in keeping our area looking well.
– The road markings have finally been repainted thanks to the instancias presented by the Association and the persistence of Louise Kirkely in chasing up the Council. Thanks again Louise.
– Barmy Bingo nights have been very popular over the last year and will continue in 2018 with a new host, Dave Miller. Many thanks to everyone who supports the night and to Karen Hubble, Wendy Miller and Julie Harding who work tirelessly to organise the evenings.
– In April Anne Williams organised a shopping trip to Bon Aire in Valencia. 30 ladies shopped till they dropped.
– In May we hosted a Bi-lingual Pub Quiz which was well attended by both Spanish and English speakers. It was a great night with lots of people practicing their English and Spanish and some new friendships being formed.
– In July Leigh Patterson organised a Salsa Party night for people to show off their moves.
– One of the highlights of the year was the Barraca that we had at the Gata Fiestas in July. We won 2nd place for best decorated barraca with our Ancient Rome theme and hosted a successful Toga Party.
– Christmas Charity Bingo was a great success for another year raising 1400€ to help buy Christmas presents for all those less fortunate children.
– The Christmas Market and Santa’s grotto was another highlight of the year and yet again, many many thanks were extended to everyone who participated and contributed to such a great event.
The Social Team is currently busy planning the barraca for this year’s fiestas. It has been decided that the theme will be “Circus Circus”. If anyone would like to get more involved with the organisation and planning please just let us know. All welcome!
- Treasurer’s Report The Treasurer (Paul Elvey)
Thanks to Peter Whitbread and Graham Ackers for auditing the accounts.
The bank balance figures are as follows:
Jan 2017 €9,193.27
Dec 2017 €8,877.27
Petty Cash €77.04
As always, anyone is free to view the accounts and the expenditure at any time.
- Membership Report Membership Secretary (Peter Bayliss)
At the end of 2016 we had 300 member households. In 2017 we have had 35 new members. Their membership fees added to the voluntary donations that we received from generous members came to a total of 720€.
As it stands at the moment, we have 320 member households consisting of at least 16 different nationalities.
- Election of Officers and Committee
The current President, John Harding, is stepping down, as is the Vice-President Pepa Simó and the Secretary Angie Dickinson.
Peter Bayliss proposed Louise Kirkley be elected new President.
VOTE UNANIMOUS
John Harding expressed his gratitude to Pepa Simó for the tireless work that she does behind the scenes and requested that she please stay on as a manzana rep because we do need her in the committee. She is an invaluable source of information.
Peter Bayliss proposed Angie Dickinson be elected new Vice-President.
VOTE UNANIMOUS
Paul Elvey proposed Gillian Parker as the new Secretary.
VOTE UNANIMOUS
Paul Elvey to continue as Treasurer
VOTE UNANIMOUS
Peter Bayliss to continue as Membership Secretary.
VOTE UNANIMOUS
A note of thanks was offered to all the officers for their hard work and dedication to the Association.
The following Manzana Reps were approved by the membership present.
M1A Angie Dickinson M10 Andrew Robson
M1B Jim Wilford M11 Vacant
M1C John Bishop M12A Udo Weyergraf
M2 Peter Bayliss M12B Vacant
M3 Pete Whitbread M13 Maria Vilar Arroyo
M4 Anne Williams M14 Ian Rogers
M5 Patrick Price M15 Ian Rogers
M6 Vacant M16 Sigmund Bang
M7 Vacant M18 Louise Kirkley
M8 Brian Fielding M19 Louise Kirkley
M9 Paul Elvey M20 David Cox
M21 David Cox
M24 David Endeacott
- AOB
A request for some Association paperwork has been received from the Town Hall for them to update their registry of Associations. Pepa Simó asked that we ratify the EGM minutes from May 2012. This can be done by the new President and Vice President and will complete this administrative issue.
There was a question from the membership about when they were going to complete the painting of the white road markings. The instancias that we presented specifically referred to what we identified as accident black spots, ie the most dangerous areas and these are the areas that have been remedied. We will continue to request that the Council finish the painting of the rest of the road markings.
The outgoing President wished to offer a personal reflexion. A lot of people believe that the urbanisation will change greatly when it is finally adopted but he doesn’t believe that we will notice that drastic a change. We must appreciate that we have excellent facilities; water, gas, street lighting, rubbish collection, recycling bins, school bus etc. There are many other urbanisations which cannot say the same.
Membership fees
If anyone is unhappy with the current status regarding membership fees, any changes should be proposed in time for next year’s AGM. As it stands, there continues to be NO annual subscription with only a one off joining fee of 20€.
Peter Bayliss proposed we continue with this current arrangement.
VOTE UNANIMOUS
As incoming President, Louise Kirkley expressed a big thank you to John Harding for his dedication over the last few years as President.
President…………………………………………………..
Secretary ………………………………………………….
Date ………………………………………………………