The 22nd Offley Family Society Meeting

Saturday 5th September 2009

Minutes of the twenty-second Annual General Meeting of the Offley Family Society held on Saturday, 5th September 2009 at the Colonel Noel Suite, Rutland County Museum, Catnose Street, Oakham, LE15 6HW.
Present:  Mr. David L. Nicol (Chairman), Mr. Kevin D. Offley (General Secretary), Mrs. Rosemary Nicol (Treasurer), Mr. Jack R. Richards (Bulletin Editor), and the following members and guests: Mrs. Winifred Rushton, Mrs. Pamela Richards, Mr. John M. and Mrs. Beryl J. Offley, Mrs. Tracy Offley, Mr. Brian C. and Beryl Offler, Mr. Jeremy P.O. Brown, Mrs. Yvonne Lonsdale, Mr. David and Mrs. Joan F. Emerton, Mr John and Mrs. Paddy E. Atkins.
1.         Apologies for absence were received from: Mr. Eric J. Offley, Mrs. Jean O. Offley, Mrs. Jane Evans, Mr. Harold G. Offley, Mr. Cyril G. and Mrs. Dorothy Offley, Mrs. Mary T. Offley, Mrs. Jacqueline Martyr, Mr. Geoffrey H. Dolby, Mr. Adern C.C. Macdonald, Mr. Ben F. Fordney and Mr. Trevor L.R.S. Offley.
Proxies were announced, 7 in favour of the Chairman and 1 in favour of Jack R. Richards.
As an introduction to the meeting, the Chairman welcomed all family and friends for attending and thanked Paddy Atkins and Kevin Offley for organising it. He also thanked Beryl Offley for taking the Minutes in Jacqueline’s absence. Jack Richards also explained the layout of the items for sale and the memorabilia.
2.         Minutes. The Minutes of the 21st Annual General Meeting, held at Huntingdon on 20th September 2008, have been circulated to all members of the Society; these were adopted.
3.         Matters arising. The date of that meeting was amended to 2008.
4.         Chairman’s report. David Nicol reported another busy year for the Society, particularly for Jack and his faithful computer. We were sad to hear of the accidental death of Peter Offler and we record here our condolences to his widow, Sylvia, who was formally our General Secretary. John Offley has kindly reproduced further copies of the 2nd Edition of “The Offley Family in England” for those who have not already purchased a copy. For 2010 we have the exciting prospect of an Extraordinary General Meeting to be held in the USA from 22nd to 24th July.
5.         To receive the Treasurer’s report and statement of accounts. Copies of the audited accounts were circulated. Rosemary Nicol reported that the income and expenditure were both slightly down on last year, but the membership remained stable. The balance on the General and the Margaret Offley Funds  is healthy, while the DNA Fund has a small balance of £91.88. She felt that there was no need to change the subscriptions, but is necessary to increase overseas postage from £2 to £3 per year. Our fees will be expressed in US dollars as well as pounds in the future. She thanked David for preparing the accounts and for his help and support, and Harold Offley for acting as Independent Examiner, a job he has undertaken for many years. He is now handing over to Kevin Offley, to whom we are extremely grateful. Rosemary concluded her report by appealing to members to renew subscriptions promptly. The report and statement were accepted.
6.         To receive a report from the DNA Committee.  There had been little activity this year, but the committee have been trying to find a male descendant from the Wolverhampton pedigree to take a test. With the fund at just £91, the General Committee may be asked to sanction an extra £100, if necessary. It was also agreed that £50 from the General account and £50 from the Margaret Offley fund would be transferred to the DNA fund to augment it. In addition, this coming year a Georgetown descendant is being sought, while a descendant of Affley of Cardiff has been found and been given the opportunity to take a DNA test (if he contributes).
7.         To elect the Officers for 2009/10. All those elected at last year’s AGM, with the exception of the General Secretary, indicated their willingness to carry on. Kevin Offley, who had been co-opted during the year, said he would offer himself for election as General Secretary. Winifred Rushton proposed Kevin for the post, a proposal that was unanimously accepted. Additionally, Yvonne Lonsdale wished to become only the Canadian representative of the Society, and it was agreed that Ben Fordney should be asked to become the USA representative.
8.         To authorise an Extraordinary General Meeting to be held at the James Madison University, Harrisburg, Virginia, United States on 22nd-24th July 2010 under the Chairmanship of Committee Member Ben F. Fordney. This motion was accepted. As items for inclusion on the agenda for next year’s Annual General Meeting should be notified to the Committee by March of that year, it was agreed that this restriction should be suspended for any proposals made at the EGM. The General Committee will produce an agenda for the EGM and hopefully a video to be shown at that meeting.
9.         To determine the annual subscription for 2010/11. It was agreed that there would be no increase, but there would be an increase of £1 to cover the cost of air mail.
10.       Arrangements for the 23rd Annual General Meeting in 2010. It was proposed that this may be held at Wisbech or Stamford in the second or third week in September. The Chairman, General Secretary and Winifred Rushton will make the final decision.
11.       Any other business.  Yvonne Lonsdale, who brought along CDs of her book, reminded members that it was not for publication.
Kevin Offley and Jack Richards would prepare the paperwork for the EGM: agenda, proxy forms, etc. Jack emphasised that we in the UK should have a ‘presence’ at the meeting and members are asked to  send on the proxy forms to the USA if they are unable to attend.
John Offley proposed that Jeremy Brown should be our Australian representative, and this was accepted.
The Chairman wound up the meeting by thanking everyone for attending, in particular Winifred Rushton.

Beryl Offley.

Previous AGMs

AGM 2008
AGM 2007