ITEM 6 SINCE LAST MEETING Committee members attended

ITEM 6 - SINCE LAST MEETING • Committee members attended Governance Workshops in Bristol and Sherborne. • Committee developed and submitted by end Jan initial MSB comments on Council proposals, subject to refinement at Branch AGM. On website. • Initial (detailed) comments: – Do not support proposed move from 5 Areas to 13 Groups + enhanced Council Branch and Membership Committee – Suggest that Council could be reduced to 14 members with higher proportion of member-elected trustees – Recommend restructure of Branch TORs

ITEM 6 - PREPARATION FOR AGM • Committee response to these consultation drafts is detailed and broadly not supportive of the Council proposals. • Comments on website - hard copy available. • Subject is on AGM Agenda where Branch position will be finalised. • Please pass any comments/questions prior to AGM to rafa. midsomerset@gmail. com or contact any committee member.

ITEM 6 - TIMELINES • 27 June 2020 – Annual Conference decisions by Branch delegates on tabled Resolutions – two-thirds majority needed for change of Royal Charter or Rules • 26 May – final Resolutions published to Branches • 20 May - Council meeting • 5 May – Task Group meeting • 18 Apr - ‘our’ Area Conference in Warwick • 4 Mar - Draft Resolutions issued for Area Conferences • 26 Feb – Council meeting • 3 Feb - Task Group meeting to review Branch input

ITEM 7 – DRAFT AREA RESOLUTION • The Association grants free annual membership to all ordinary and associate members once they reach the age of 75, and have been members of the Association for 5 years or more. • Those in receipt of free membership are invited to acknowledge receipt of their annual membership card and to make a voluntary donation.