## GARFORTH COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION ## CHAIRMANS REPORT TO THE ## ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF MEMBERS JANUARY 2024 LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THIS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE GARFORTH COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION. AS THE ASSOCIATION WAS FORMED IN SEPTEMBER 1973 THIS SHOULD BE THE 51st AGM. ALTHOUGH, DUE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC WE HAD TO FOREGO THE AGMS OF 2021 AND 2022. IT IS MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT TO YOU MY REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ASSOCIATION IN 2023. FIRST OF ALL, I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE HAS FULFILLED THEIR MAIN TASK IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR CONSTITUTION. ## **C. OBJECTS.** The objects of the association shall be: i. to promote the benefit of the inhabitants of Garforth and the neighbourhood ( hereinafter called ‘the area of benefit’) without distinction of sex or of political, religious or other opinions by associating the local authorities, voluntary organizations and inhabitants in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and leisure time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants. ii. to establish or to secure the establishment of a Community Centre (hereinafter called ‘the centre’) and to maintain and manage or to cooperate with any local statutory authority in the maintenance and management of such a centre for activities promoted by the Association and its constituent bodies in the furtherance of the above objects. IN SUMMARY THE PRIME FUNCTION OF THE ASSOCIATION IS TO RUN THE HALL FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY. THE HALL IS OWNED BY LEEDS CITY COUNCIL AND LEASED TO GCA. OUR ANNUAL RENT HAS BEEN AND CONTINUES TO BE RELIEVD BY A SUBSIDY OR RENTAL SUPPORT GRANT OF 90 % . LIKE MANY ORGANISATIONS AFTER COVID WE SUFFERED A DROP IN BOOKINGS FOR A WHILE. IN 2023 THIS DID START TO PICK UP AND WE WERE AGAIN QUITE BUSY MOST DAYS OF THE WEEK. OUR REGULAR WEEKLY ACTIVITIES WERE BACK TO THEIR USUSAL LEVEL. NOTABLY CAROLINE ATHAS DANCE SCHOOL IS A VALUEDAND VERY REGULAR USER OF THE HALL. THE OTHER REGULAR ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THE CAMERA CLUB, TAE KWON DO, GULP THE UKULELE PLAYERS,YOGA, PATCHWORK PEOPLE, INDOOR BOWLS, THE ART GROUP, THE TEA DANCE, BOWMEN OF LEEDS, AA MEETINGS AND DAYSPRING CHURCH. WE STILL OPEN ON A FRIDAY MORNING FOR A COFFEE MORNING BUT WE DON’T GET THE NUMBERS WE USED TO GET PRE COVID. OTHER EVENTS TO MENTION INCLUDE A MAGIC CONVENTION, A CONCDRT BY GARFORTH BRASS, TWO PRODUCTIONS BY THE MUSICAL SOCIETY, TWO BOOKINGS FROM ST MARYS YOUTH THEATRE, TWO DANCE COMPETITIONS, A CHORAL EVENT BY THE CHOIR VIVABOX, A FASHION SHOW, A SUCCESSFUL AUTUMN FLOWER AND VEG SHOW AND 25 CHILDRENS PARTIES. IF YOU CONSIDER THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO COME INTO THIS BUILDING EITHER WITH OUR REGULAR USERS OR INVOLVED WITH ALL THOSE ACTIVITIES I HAVE JUST LISTED THIS IS A VERY BUSY PLACE WEEK AFTER WEEK AND AN IMPORTANT HUB IN OUR COMMUNITY. NONE OF THIS WOULD HAPPEN WITHOUT THE HELP OF A NUMBER OF COMMITTED INDIVIDUALS. EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE ORGANISATIONS THAT HIRE THE HALL HAVE VOLUNTEERS THAT HELP IN SOME WAY. I AM SURE YOU ALL KNOW THEM. MORE DIRECTLY LINKED TO GCA I WOULD LIKE TO THANK A FEW PEOPLE FOR THEIR TIME AND WORK. CAROLE JINKS WITH THE UKELELE GROUP GULP GORDON HALL AND OTHERS WITH THE ART GROUP MALCOLM TAYLOR AND OTHERS WITH THE WEDNESDAY EVENIN BOWLS GROUP FRANK HAWKINS WITH THE TUESDAY AFTERNOON TEA DANCE, HELPED BY DIANE WITH ELAINE, PENNY AND DOREEN IN THE KITCHEN. ONCE AGAIN OUR CARETAKER MICK AINSLEY HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF TAKING CARE OF THE HALL WHICH IS ALWAYS IMMACULATE DESPITE ALL THE AWFUL PEOPLE WHO COME IN AND MAKE IT UNTIDY. WE DID MISS ONE OR TWO COMMITTEE MEETINGS EARLIER IN THE YEAR DUE TO ILL HEALTH (MINE MAINLY) BUT WE ARE BACK TO REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COMMITTEE FOR THEIR SUPPORT. MY THANKS GO TO JULIE LAWN, CAROL JINKS, MALCOLM TAYLOR, GORDON HALL, JANICE CASTEL AND JOHN SCOTT AN “UNOFFICIAL” MEMBER. ONE MEMBER WE HAVE NOT SEEN FOR A LONG TIME IS KEVIN SCANLAN AND I AM DELIGHTED TO SEE HIM HERE TONIGHT AND LOOK FORWARD TO HIM BEING BACK IN HARNESS. PARTICULAR THANKS GO TO DOREEN HAWKINS OUR BOOKING SECRETARY AND PENNY CASSIDY OUR TREASURER WHO DO ALL THE REAL HARD WORK THE PAPERWORK AND COLLECTING THE MONEY WHITHOUT WHICH WE COULDN’T FUNCTION. BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE TREASURERS REPORT AND THEN ELECTION OF THE COMMITTEE FOR 2024 WOULD THE MEETING PLEASE ACCEPT MY REPORT FOR 2023. THANK YOU Jliii'il11 - a 888 ffjo 888 (o CarfLfM I (EVL￿& tkP KnoncJ£LA OJ kne Gaifcvtkn A&socActsri CÉtatLJ 6Ue Q tyvd NCA QCCuC6LE QI 6iccoJth ￿￿&1 IJonLW -fD 3) iJéce(KW 702S . S£LIcLh Fh) t)bcLL I ACM A ChLWtJeJ