2024-03-31-annual-report

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF BALLYMENA SEA CADET UNIT

ON TUESDAY 22ND OCTOBER 2024 AT 7.45PM TO BE CONDUCTED IN PERSON AT BALLYMENA SEA CADET UNIT, LOWFIELD CAMP, BALLYMENA

AGENDA

1. Apologies for absence

2. Opening address or comments by Chairperson

3. Minutes of the last AGM for approval

4. Matters arising from minutes of the last AGM (if applicable)

5. Unit Chairperson’s Report

6. Commanding Officer’s Report

7. Treasurer’s Report and adoption of accounts

8. Election/Re-election of the Unit Management Team (UMT) trustees

9. Any Other Business

Ballymena AGM Minutes of Meeting

Attendees:

Ruth Verner Pauline Nelson Semena McLaughlin John Taylor Lewis Allison Deborah Preston Rodney Quigley

No apologies.

Ruth Verner welcomed everyone for attending and thanked all for giving up their time.

The Minutes from the 22-23 APM were approved by Ruth Verner and Seconded by Lewis Allison.

Chairpersons Report – AGM Tuesday 22[nd] October 2024

The 23/34 year has been successful for a number of reasons however we are still making improvements which are required for the continued success of the unit.

We have lost members of our UMT this past year, and we need to replace those numbers. Similarly, we need more uniformed instructors.

We need to think of more ways to raise money as the funding opportunities are diminishing via funding providers, and some are reducing the funding provided to youth and instead increasing funding for older people, due to the governments decision to withdraw certain benefits, such as the winter fuel allowance.

I would like us to start to think about raising funds to hold as reserve funds, whether this is via our own activities or from grants. Costs are increasing, and we’re always trying to find funds as we need them.

I appreciate the effort that the wider team have put in to keeping the unit as successful as it has been, and particularly want to thank Pauline who not only does the treasurer role but helps me with everything else as well. She is invaluable to the unit.

I would also like to thank Lewis who in his first year as OiC has been open to suggestions and has worked well with the UMT. It’s important that we continue to work together as one team, and I think we have done that well in this first year.

I am hopeful that we will continue to be successful, increase our cadet, staff and UMT numbers, and increase the offering we can give to our cadets. We are fortunate to have such a good relationship with our young people and I would love to see that continue.

Lastly I do want to thank the support of other external organisations, such as the council and Education Authority, who have continued to support us with funding.

ENDS.

CO'S Re ort So tsr to d8tè ￿ h￿e 8 unit consistlng of 7 Unrforn￿1 Volurrteer8. 13 Junior Cadets gnd 18 S8rnior c8dets. Allof our cadets have Deen work]n tirelessly throughout the year and this was wdent when h8d our pr88en18tion atthisyears RNP. OUT Gommunicatlon witn our Guatd8 h8S been excellent up to date and both ourselves ano the guardhouse h8vo 8 gr88t understanding between each unit. We were untortunate to1003o our cI8SSToom abovethe unit * thè end of bstyar. arn1 to dato ￿￿ still h8Ye had no offici81 discussions betr￿en 2 Roy81 Irish and oursglve$. This mwterwas roferred to our District Off icer and to my knowled80 he h88 been trying his upmost to g8t the d8¥sroom rotumod to u& In the postyearwe have had NIL r•port8 ofAc¢ldentS Of Naor mi¥ irmilwng our untt. The Invoivemeffl of our cadet3 h88 been outstanding and really pleaslngto se8. Our unSt ha$ had cadet$ travel to District P8r8d8s, Ships wsits. Offshor8 Voyages ond Internation81 Relation trlps. We 81s0 have inVo￿eMen1 of St•tt at Natlonal e¥errt8 such a8 S•iling N8tion•ls in South￿. Th16 y¢8r has been extremelyoisappointingwih regards to the quolity ol the RNer 88nn 8t Portglenone. It ha5 interrupted our boating sBa80n. and has made us haw to travelto Larne on a Thursday ovening. We tookth• decision io mcwe to L8me as Y* leltthai itwould gr4e tho c8d8t$ t roqulred exporlence forthelr boatln8 need8. Our unit has possession ot 3 POV•pr vessel¥, 2 Trlnlty 500 RvMn8 boet6. 14 Dagger kayaks. ano 7 Open lop canoe8. All of are more th•n 3uitable for our boating need$ 8nd I see no need for th¢ purchase of arry ¢)thgT boats.

Treasurer’s Report

Pauline Nelson talked through the accounts for 23-24. No queries from anyone.

Election/Re-election of UMT for 24-25

Name Semena McLaughlin Pauline Nelson John Taylor Ruth Verner Deborah Preston	Proposed Ruth Verner Semena McLaughlin Lewis Allison Pauline Nelson Ruth Verner	Seconded Lewis Allison John Taylor Pauline Nelson Semena McLaughlin Semena McLaughlin

Any other Business

Cllr Stephen Nicholl has resigned as Unit President due to time constraints.

Cllr Rodney Quigley was formally asked if he would be interested in becoming the Unit President. Rodney was happy to accept. The voting was unanimously approved.

ENDS.