HERE ARE MINUTES OF THE LAST FEW MEETINGS

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2009 AT 6.30PM
AT GUYS AS DOLLS, BURNLEY.

THOSE PRESENT:
Pat; Wynne; Tracey; Walter; Nick; Tony; Peter Channon (Drugline/LCC); Pamela Nightingale (Independant); Susan Wilson (Lancashire LINk); Chris Walton (Blackburn with Darwen Youth Service); Nigel Lund (Lancashire Police Hate Crime and Diversity Unit); Razza Hussain (Burnley Borough Council).

APOLOGIES:
Bev Taylor (Lancashire Police and Hate Crime and Diversity Unit); Christine Blythe (CVS).

WELCOME:
Walter (Chair) welcomed everyone to the meeting. An introductory round was given by those present.

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS AGM MEETING 2008;
The Chair read through the minutes of the meeting held in April 2008.

MATTERS ARISING:
Susan Wilson from Lancashire LINk mentioned that Rossendale Youth LGBT may be folding due to lack of funding.

CHAIRMAN'S REPORT: 2008/09

I would like to thank all the members of the Executive Committee for their hard work, help and support throughout the past year; it has been very difficult year holding the organisation together, with very little support from the general public and the LGBT community.

As an organisation we are represented on The Lancashire Constabulary Independent Advisory Group, The local CVS Board of Trustees, The Lancashire Transgender Steering Group, The Burnley Urban II programme and the Community Alliance.

The website is still a popular channel of communication with over 1200 hits since the last report; we have an extensive e-mailing list (60+). We receive very few telephone calls, and the e-mail address is very little used by the public.

Our Police Liaison Officer reports that there were 41 homophobic and 5 transgender incidents and crimes reported in the Pennine Division (Burnley, Pendle & Rossendale) during the year (January 08 - December 08) Incidents include such things as name calling, crimes include damage, assaults etc. These figures are again second only to Western Division (Blackpool) which has a high LGBT population. The local figures may be as a result of heightened awareness in our locality, of the reporting procedure, which is due to the efforts of FLAG and our police liaison officer.

In my report of 2007/08 I let it be know that I would not be available for re-election as Chairman of FLAG, I also understand that the current Secretary and Treasurer, intend to stand down, in view of this at our last executive meeting, it was suggested that FLAG had outlived it's usefulness, this along with the lack of support, it was proposed that FLAG winds up it's affairs.

I therefore propose:-
"That we dissolve the organisation know as FLAG (Forum for Lesbians And Gays) and that any assets and monies be disposed of according to the constitution"

If this proposal is passed, I am prepared to oversee the dissolution, hopefully along with the present Secretary and Treasurer, I am also prepared to continue using my computer and software to run the website and my telephone to receive calls, and to store stationery, publicity materials and equipment until the winding up operation is complete.

I ask that you accept this report, and those of the Secretary and Treasurer.

A copy of this report was given to those present.

ANY QUESTIONS?
There were no questions.

SECRETARY'S REPORT:
A written report was produced by the Secretary covering the period from April 2008 to February 2009. A copy of this report was given to those present.
The Secretary briefly gave a resume of the past year's events, and the decline in attendance to the meetings. Discussion took place re the reason why people didn't attend meetings, and the major reason seemed to be that they were boring.

ANY QUESTIONS? There were no questions.

TREASURER'S REPORT:
The Treasurer gave her report. She stated that the balance in the bank before any payments out was £1360.74. Payments out were £221.80. We received a refund from The National Trust of £30. 00. This left an overall balance of £1168.94p in FLAG account as of 23 February 2009.
It was noted that nothing had been raised for World AIDS Day this year.
A copy of the accounts was available for inspection.

ANY QUESTIONS?
There were no questions.

The reports were all accepted. Hard copies of the above reports are available on request.

CHAIR'S PROPOSAL:
The Chair read through the proposal:-

'That we dissolve the organisation known as FLAG (Forum for Lesbians And Gays) and that any assets and monies be disposed of according as the Constitution'.

If this proposal is passed, I am prepared to oversee the dissolution, hopefully along with the present Secretary and Treasurer. I am also prepared to continue using my computer and software to run the website and my telephone to receive calls, and to store stationery, publicity materials and equipment until the winding up operation is complete.Following the dissolution it is intended to maintain the contacts list.

This proposal was seconded by Wynne.
It was asked what would happen to the monies, if this eventually happened? A suggestion was made with reference to Rossendale Youth LGBT needing some funding.

A vote on the proposal took place and the result was: In favour to close: 7.
To stay open: 1. Therefore, the proposal was accepted and FLAG will be wound up.

The Chair (Walter) said that he was prepared to run the website until the licence runs out.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
Susan from Lancashire LINk, suggested that she will find out re the possibility of Rossendale Youth LGBT applying to be a recipient of the monies for dispersal.

Nigel Lund from Lancashire Constabulary, asked those present, to make sure that Bev's telephone numbers and details are still available for people to contact her, and the Lancashire Police. He was assured that this would continue.

The Secretary was thanked by Peter Channon (Drugline/LCC), for her services to the organisation.

The meeting closed at 7.15pm followed by networking.