The AGM/Open Meeting held 25 February 2015 was always going to be a special event for the reasonably young group that is Corsham Area Heritage. We had decided that the meeting should be open-to-all, not simply for CAH Members only. We had cast a wide net inviting people to attend – using email, our website (www.corshamheritage.org.uk), word-of-mouth, and even coverage in an article in the 19 February edition of the Gazette & Herald. We received 14 formal apologies for absence ahead of the day! Gratifyingly, the number of attendees easily exceeded this. The Arnold House venue was only just big enough to hold them all.
The audience listened attentively to the “CAH’s Review of 2014”. It led into the fact that the organisation was dying on its feet. It badly needed New Blood. The result was that none of the officers, and none of the present Management Committee, were willing to offer themselves for re-election, without that essential ingredient becoming evident. They all had other activities to pursue. They would, of course, be delighted to assist that New Blood in every conceivable way, if only it stepped forward.
Some expressions of “willingness to serve” had been received ahead of the meeting – from those unable to be present on the day. Attendees received cards to complete, giving them the opportunity to do likewise.
One thought was forthcoming. Why not seek some form of collaboration with the Civic Society, it being another local group having an interest in Corsham’s history? The Chairman stated he understood from the Civic Society’s own Chairman that it too was facing uncertainty. Its present Chairman and Programme Organiser would both be standing down at its AGM on 15 May. If so, collaboration did not look to be an easy option.
Stop Press:
Some new information has just emerged. It is now understood that neither of the above two Civic Society “standings down” will take place. Perhaps a way forward can be found.
The audience listened attentively to the “CAH’s Review of 2014”. It led into the fact that the organisation was dying on its feet. It badly needed New Blood. The result was that none of the officers, and none of the present Management Committee, were willing to offer themselves for re-election, without that essential ingredient becoming evident. They all had other activities to pursue. They would, of course, be delighted to assist that New Blood in every conceivable way, if only it stepped forward.
Some expressions of “willingness to serve” had been received ahead of the meeting – from those unable to be present on the day. Attendees received cards to complete, giving them the opportunity to do likewise.
One thought was forthcoming. Why not seek some form of collaboration with the Civic Society, it being another local group having an interest in Corsham’s history? The Chairman stated he understood from the Civic Society’s own Chairman that it too was facing uncertainty. Its present Chairman and Programme Organiser would both be standing down at its AGM on 15 May. If so, collaboration did not look to be an easy option.
Stop Press:
Some new information has just emerged. It is now understood that neither of the above two Civic Society “standings down” will take place. Perhaps a way forward can be found.