The Annual General Meeting of the Club was held on Monday February 1 in the Shenstone Theatre. There was a good attendance and members were thanked for braving the weather and welcomed by the Chair, Garry Lynall. The minutes of the previous year's AGM were read and accepted. The Chair then gave a brief review of last year's talks and outings and referred members to the programme for the next 12 months. The Committee were thanked for their work in organising and ensuring the club ran with special appreciation to Judith Bridges for arranging the speakers.

Marianne Diller had decided to step down from the Committee and the Chair thanked her for her contributions.

The Financial Statement prepared by the club auditor showed a loss of approximately £70 due in part to an increase in room hire. Membership subscriptions were slightly up on last year. However, receipts from the club raffle and refreshments were down. The Club Officers and all of the Committee, except Marianne Diller, agreed to stand again and were duly nominated and seconded. The Chair requested further nominations onto the Committee and Mary Turner agreed to join. Following discussion, members voted for the subscriptions rate to be raised to £7. The Auditor was re-elected. Details of three proposed trips (Saturday April 17 in the afternoon to Spetchley Gardens, Worcester, Monday July 5 an evening visit to Hunters End Garden, Kinlet, Bewdley and a trip in late August to Little Indonesia in Kings Heath, Birmingham) were handed out to members, who were asked to confirm their interest at next month's meeting. A debate followed on the timing of the monthly meetings, raised by Jean Shilvock, over concerns that occasionally speakers did not have sufficient time for questions or completion of their talk before the venue had to be vacated by 9.30pm. It was agreed the monthly meetings' talk should endeavour to commence on time with members in their seats by 7.30pm.

The meeting concluded with the Chair requesting members invite their friends to increase membership.

The next meeting will be held in the Shenstone Theatre, above the Library, at 7.30pm on Monday March 1 when the speaker will be John Robinson on the History of the Wyre Forest. Meetings are held on the first Monday of the month. For further information visit www.communigate.co.uk/be/viewall.phtml and follow the link to Halesowen Gardeners Club.