MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD AT LES VOYAGEURS, BOUNIAGUES, AT 11AM ON WEDNESDAY JANUARY 8TH 2014.

1.	MEMBERS PRESENT: Ken & Pam Ayling, Chris Barnacle, Mike Brookes, Brian Chandler, Chris Corner, Gervais Coryton, Rena D’Aubrey, Albert Dijkstra, David Forsyth, Brian Johnson, John & Judy Mills-Baker, Mike Minter, Ken & Sue Napier,  Dave Pegg, Ray Pemble, Don Pike, Liz & Dave Rolfe, David Rollston-Smith, Anne Scanlan.

2.	APOLOGIES:  Alan Acland, Dennis Andrews, Pat Barron, Mike Beale, George & Beverley Carrington, Terry Cattermole, Val Clarke, Stephen Collins, Ernie Coster,  Robin Faulkner-Smith, Mike Frior, Peter & Davina Glass, Fred Gosling, Antoinette Henry, Marion Hirst, John Hudson, Geraldine Jackson, Jill Johnson, Henri & Jeannette Kastelein, John & Angela Larmuth, Tom Lecky-Thompson, Alan Lithgow, Geoff Mannings, Gareth Mulloy, John & Carolyn Murphy, Anne Penfold, John Roberts, Gerard Vauxion.

3.	APPROVAL OF MINUTESFROM AGM 2013: The minutes of the previous AGM were approved. Proposed John Mills-Baker, Seconded Ken Ayling

4.	ELECTION OF COMMITTEE: The existing committee were all willing to restand except for Val Clarke, the Assistant Treasurer, who asked to stand down. The committee was unanimously re-elected. As follows: Chairman Ken Napier, Vice Chairman Ken Ayling, Secretary Brian Chandler, Treasurer Ray Pemble, Asst-Secretary Sue Napier. Ex-officio members: Welfare Pam Ayling, Standard Bearer and Library John Mills-Baker, Committee Member Chris Corner. Dave Pegg volunteered to take on the Asst-Treasurers job and was duly elected to the committee. Proposed Don Pike, seconded David Rollston-Smith.

5.	CHAIRMAN’S REPORT: The Chairman reported that as of 31 Dec 2013 the membership stood at 57 full members and 37 associate members, plus one honorary member and a life member – giving a total of 96.  This is 14 less than last year. Dany Harris crossed the bar and other members have returned to UK or moved further away in France. He pointed out that we still aim to keep our ratio of 4:3 full members to associate members. Average attendance at lunches remains similar to last year, two thirds of most lunches were full member attendees plus their partners and guests. The most popular lunches were as always the Trafalgar lunch and the Christmas lunch. We continue to receive invites to the AMMAC lunches, which happen less often than our own and are usually more expensive.   We had several small informal lunches for various events; at Riberac for those northern members, at Bordeaux for the visit to the Frigate Aquitaine, at Bordeaux for the Cockleshell Heroes anniversary and two at Bergerac for the Liberation Day and Remembrance Day events. It was pointed out that prices and quality do of necessity vary but that the main reason for the lunches is for the members to meet together.  The Standard was paraded by John Mills-Baker at Bergerac for the Remembrance and Liberation Ceremonies, and by Ken at Bordeaux and Montalivet. It was also paraded at the funeral of André Bailles, the president of the Fumel AMMAC who sadly died in Tahiti.  
The Chairman expressed his thanks to the individual members of the Committee for their support over the past year, also to Mike Holland who has played his violin on various occasions. 
The monthly raffles did well, the proceeds pay for cards and champagne to mark special occasions or hospital visits.  Monies last year were contributed to Service charities and it is proposed to do the same this year. The library started by a bequest from an Atlantic Convoy ex-WRNS is now extensive, some of the books are quite valuable. 

Our British affiliated ship RFA WAVE RULER is at present in the Indian Ocean. We also have a link to RFA GOLD ROVER  the Falklands Islands Tanker.  The Chairman pointed out that the next four RFA tankers are to be built in South Korea!  A MOD spokesman said they weren’t military.
We have four affiliated serving men; RM Commando Jack Lithgow, he is a Unit Commander in 42 Commando; Cdr Darren Houston, ex CO HMS DRAGON, who is at the US Navy’s War College in Rhode Island; Lt Alex Meyer is XO of  HMS DIAMOND;  Nigel Budd is in GOLD ROVER.  
We are formally affiliated to the French Frigate AQUITAINE. However after a very successful visit and tour in June our liaison officer moved on to a new Command in Tahiti and in spite of several attempts to make contact with the ship we have heard nothing since last June. 
In January Ken and Sue met with the Secretary of the Perth Australia RNA. He presented us with a crest and a bottle of Australian port. We duly returned the favour with a bottle of  Pusser’s Rum which they enjoyed with thanks and best wishes at their Christmas lunch. 
The RNAHQ monthly newsletter is now published on the internet, and is always worth a quick look. He concluded by thanking all those who attended and wished them all a Happy New Year.

6.	TREASURER’S REPORT: The Treasurer reported that the RNA is in good financial health but that apart from subs other monies were down on last year. There have been no bequests this year and raffle monies were slightly down. However we have over 1000€ in the current account and over 3000€ in the Livret A. He therefore sees no reason to increase the subs and is happy to release 2500€ for distribution to charities.
Auditors for 2014 will be Albert Dijkstra and Pam Ayling

7.	ALLOCATION OF FUNDS:  It was proposed to send money to the four Service charities as before; the RNBT, ARNO, WRNSBT and SSAFA.  To the RNBT 800€, ARNO 500€, WRNSBT 500€ and SSAFA 700€. This was unanimously agreed by the members present.

8.	WEBSITE:  The website has been well received by members and HQ alike.  The address is now published on the RNAHQ website and has resulted in hundreds of hits from as far away as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and many more. The Chairman proposed a vote of thanks to Brian Johnson for his work in setting it up and maintaining it.

9.	SOCIAL PROGRAMME: The Trafalgar lunch was moved to a Sunday to make it easier for the French to attend but this has not been so successful so in 2014 the lunch will revert to a Wednesday and will be held on 15th October. Ken will invite the National President Vice-Admiral John McAnally to attend.  The Christmas lunch will be on Wednesday 10th December. Monthly Lunches will continue as before – suggestions for venues are always most welcome.

10.	 MARINER’S TALES: All the Mariner’s Tales are published on the website and have generated a lot of interest from members but also from HQ and elsewhere. Don Pike has suggested that we have enough to consider publishing either an e-book or a book. It is to be put to RNAHQ to see if they are interested and perhaps can be added to by other RNAs.  Ken is to approach HQ. Don will contact the various authors for their permission to print, and to print author’s names.

11.	ANY OTHER BUSINESS: David Rollston-Smith raised 360€ from RNA members when he did the SSAFA walk in October. He wishes to thank all those who supported him.  Chris Barnacle suggested that the raffle ticket price be raised from 3€ to5€ for 5 tickets. After discussion a vote was taken and defeated by 20/3. The raffle ticket price remains at 3€ for 5 tickets.  Gervais Coryton raised a question over a donation to the Philippines disaster fund, asking if we regularly did this. It was pointed out that it was a one off due to the severity of the disaster.

12.	 Pam Ayling proposed a vote of thanks to Ken and Sue for their work over the past year. The meeting closed at 12 noon.