Missing!! Charlie Brown

Our much loved friend, Charlie Brown, went missing during the night of Friday 22nd June 2012

Wally and Denise reported Charlie to be showing good health at 8.45pm on Friday evening, but when John and I arrived at 7.45 next morning Charlie was nowhere to be found.
We found the elctric fencing in disarray in one corner and were able to trace his movements in the long grass towards the other horses that were in the next-door paddock. He was found to have done a tour of the Holton Lee gardens judging by the hoof prints, and tracked his movements into Little Mead via a small gate that was found open.
John and I scoured the whole length of Little Mead with not a sign of him, so reinforcements Jane, and Jo Corr came in to help, together with Wally and Denise. Security staff for the Lush festival joined the search of the whole estate. Charlie has left not the smallest clue to his disappearance.
The Lytchett Bay reed-beds were thought his most likely demise, but a thorough search by Mike Small who manages the Sika deer drew a complete blank, so we are left mystified.
The only conclusion is the remote chance that he has been stolen.
His disappearance has left all who knew Charlie Brown feeling devastated !

2012 AGM Change of Venue

Please note that the AGM will be held in the Barn (Mediaeval Hall) at Dylan's Restaurant, the Courtyard Centre, Lytchett Minster, and not at the stables as originally announced. The date and time are unchanged.

The Chalet is not big enough to accommodate more than about 8 people, and the weather is too bad to permit us to hold the AGM in the yard, as we did last year.

EHDC AGM 2012: Draft Motions for Discussion.

To: Everyone!

You are all aware that financially things are not easy for the Group, and we need to look at our income v our outgoings. At the AGM on Wednesday 20 June I shall propose an increase in the membership fee, and also a rise in the fees for a drive. My proposals follow this note. I have signed myself as Proposer, but I would be very grateful if a paid-up Member would sign as Seconder on each Motion – it doesn’t have to be the same person for each Motion.

If you know you are not a Member, please see me (or any member of the Committee) – I have the Membership cards, and I will be delighted to relieve you of £1!!

If you are not sure if you are a Member, you probably aren’t – sorry to be vague but I have been unable to find an up-to-date membership list.

I have also suggested that we do not produce Christmas cards and calendars this year, but this doesn’t need to be the subject of a formal Motion.

If you are unable to attend the AGM, but would like your views aired at the AGM, please email me as soon as possible. There is no mechanism for postal or electronic voting.

Regards

Jo Winfield

(Secretary)

AGM WEDNESDAY 20 JUNE 2012: MOTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AND VOTING

Motion 1

The Membership fee shall be £2 (minimum). Membership shall run from 1 April each year until 31 March the following year/

Proposed by Jo Winfield

Seconded by . . . .

Rationale. The Membership fee has been a nominal £1 since the Group was started, and is considerably less than membership of other charities, eg, the Anaphylaxis campaign is £17, Pony Club £58. The EHDG has to pay the RDA several hundred pounds a year for membership. A rise from £1 to £2 represents less than the cost of two first class stamps, or one day’ s national newspaper. This rise would make a small but significant contribution to Group funds. The reason for adding the word “minimum” is to take into account anyone who feels that £2 is still a very small amount to pay for Membership, and would like to pay more. Please note that only Members are permitted to vote at AGM’s, so if you want a say in how the Group is run, you should be a Member!

Motion 2

The fee for a drive for Members who are not volunteers or otherwise involved in the regular active running of the Group shall be £10 per half hour.

The fee for a drive for regular service users shall be £15 per half hour per person. Every 5^th drive per person shall be subject to a discount of £5.

The fee for a drive for Guests and Visitors (ie, non members) shall be £20 per half hour.

The fee for the hire of horse and carriage for self-drive by qualified Whips who are not Members shall be £50 per half hour: conditions apply and are subject to negotiation with the Group Organiser or Chairman.

Fees may be waived in exceptional circumstances with permission from the Group Organiser or Chairman.

Proposed by Jo Winfield

Seconded by . . . .

Rationale It is regrettable that funding for transport etc for regular service users has been reduced, but at the same time our costs have risen considerably – and our income has decreased significantly due to:

a) adverse weather conditions,
b) long-term illness of one of our Whips

It is important that we do not raise our fees to the extent that we discourage the use of the invaluable and unique service we provide – this could mean the end of EHDC – but on the other hand, if we fail to maintain our income, this will also mean the end of EHDC. We have to strike a happy medium! For several years, a number of the service users and/or their carers have indicated that the fees we charge are too low, and they would be happy to see an increase. Recently others have also said that they would be not be unhappy if we increased the fees; and yesterday service users said that we are the cheapest activity they use in Dorset and Hampshire - most activities are £15 and horse riding is £20 for 30 minutes. The idea of a discount for every 5^th drive per person is to take the “sting” out of the increase – it would parallel store “loyalty” cards – the Secretary is prepared to run such a scheme.

Motion 3

That the Annual General Meeting of the East Holton Driving Group should be held at 11am on the first Saturday in every May, starting with Saturday 4^th May 2013. In exceptional circumstances, this date may be moved with the permission of the Chairman and Group Organiser.

Proposed by Jo Winfield

Seconded by . . . .

Rationale The usual day for the AGM has always been a mid-week day, when many Members will be working, and thus unable to attend. A Saturday would enable more Members to attend, and thus the outcome of the AGM would be more representative of the wishes of the Group as a whole. However, AGM’s have the reputation of being boring affairs (come to one of ours and see that this is not always so!): perhaps it would be possible to go on to eg, Dylans afterwards for a Group lunch, thus making the AGM an annual social event as well as a formal administrative affair.

Annual General Meeting for 2012

A message from the Secretary

Here are two important dates for your diary:

Wednesday 20 June 2012 at 11am at Ash Tree Stables: AGM

A copy of the Agenda has been posted on the notice-board in the Chalet, and also on the door of the Chalet. There are also two proposed Motions concerning (1) Membership fees, and (2) Driving fees, together with explanations, posted on the notice-board in the Chalet.

Please note that non-members cannot vote at the AGM, but joining is a simple procedure of giving any of the Committee the huge sum of £1 in exchange for which you will receive a membership card and full voting rights.

Please make every effort to attend, as matters important to the future of the Group will be discussed. If you cannot attend, but wish to make your views known, please email me.

I hope to post the Agenda and Motions on the blog in the next week or so.


Sunday 5th August 2012: Margaret Newell Memorial Day

Margaret Newell Day, our Open Day for those connected with EHDC, is fast approaching! I have been asked to organise it again this year, and would be very grateful if anyone who could help on The Day or days leading up to that Sunday, could contact me. Last year I took over at short notice, and was so desperate for volunteers that anyone coming through the gate on The Day was liable to be allocated a stall – and what marvellous help they were! (see my blog entry for last year . . .)

We will need, as usual, raffle prizes, items for the tombola and Bargain Basement, plus cakes. We would also like books – but they must be in as-new condition, please. We cannot sell old books or books in poor condition, and it costs hard-earned pennies to dispose of unsold books - pennies which are needed to keep our horses in feed, shoes etc

Thanking you in anticipation of lots of volunteers, prizes, cakes etc!

Jo Winfield
Secretary