Branch Annual General Meeting

Chairman's Report on the year ended 31 January 2007

The social highlight was the memorable coffee afternoon with Jill Halfpenny in October. The principal non-social fundraising event to be organised by the Branch itself was the annual collection at Gateshead Metro Centre.

The informal afternoon garden centre events held regularly at Dobbies Garden World at Ponteland continued to be appreciated by members with MND and carers who find it difficult to attend evening meetings.

The Sunderland Support Group continued to meet and do good work. The Group had moved to a new meeting place during the year and is now settled at the Age Concern offices at the Bradbury Centre in Stockton Road, Sunderland.

The Branch once again played a major role in ensuring the success of the Association's representation at the Great North Run in the autumn. Many compliments had been received from runners and their supporters who had come to the Welcome Tent.

The Branch website continued to act as a valuable shop window for the Branch and as an accessible written and photographic archive of the Branch activities and achievements over the last few years.

Branch members, most notably Branch President Ken Hylton and the Chairman, had represented the Branch at events organised by other bodies and, sadly, at a number of funerals of individuals who were associated with the Branch in some way. The Chairman was pleased to report that liaison with the Newcastle MND Centre was developing well, with good exchange of news and information between the two organisations.

On the personnel front, the Branch had been fortunate to secure the services as Honorary Treasurer of Ken White, who joined the Branch partway through the year and was proving a most capable and valued officer.

Looking forward the Chairman was optimistic regarding the coming year, which had already got off to a very promising start.

The Chairman concluded by thanking the very many people who had helped the Branch in its work and without whom the Branch could not operate. In particular he thanked the two members of National Office who work in the region, Chris Ellison (Volunteering Development Co-ordinator) and Hilary Shaw (Regional Care Adviser) for their sterling support to the Branch throughout the year.

Treasurer's Report on the audited accounts for the year ended 31 January 2007

The Treasurer, Ken White, reported that the year had been financially one of the most successful in the Branch's history, surpassed only by the Abseil year of 2004-05.

Income for the year was £13,557, substantially up from the previous year's £8,070.

Donations had nearly doubled, from £2,738 to £5,075, Fundraising income rose by over £3,000 from £5,160 to £8,316.

The principal sources of fundraising income were the Great North Run, the Metro Centre collection and the Jill Halfpenny Coffee Afternoon.

As always, first call upon the Branch's funds had been the needs of local persons affected by MND. Assistance had been given by way of hire or purchase of specialist equipment, or direct grant in all cases recommended by the Association's Regional Care Adviser.

As usual, Christmas Gift Vouchers were distributed to all persons with MND that the Branch was aware of in the Tyne & Wear area.

The Branch also made a special donation of £1,000 to the Association's Care Services in response to a personal appeal from the Association's Chief Executive.

The Branch ended the financial year with a fund balance of £9,877 compared with £5,338 at the start of the year.

Election of Officers

The existing Branch Officers were re-elected unanimously in the absence of any other nominations:

The remaining committee places were also filled without contest.

There being no other business the Annual General Meeting was declared closed.