MINUTES OF THE GENERAL MEETING HELD IN THE DAHER MALL
ON 11 FEBRUARY 2014 AT 5.00PM
Present
Beverlyn John – Chairperson Helen Clayton
Bobby Dandry – Peace Corps volunteer Mary St Brice
Priscillia Joseph Sr Mary Lee Cox, OSF
Brenda Palmer Susie Chatburn
Ed Palmer
Apologies for Absence
Julia Edwin Raymond John
Davina Kisna Mary John
Chris Volney Sr Angela Samuel & Christine Kollek Prescott
Sr Mary Lee Cox of The Order of St Francis opened the meeting with a prayer
The minutes of the meeting held on 13 January 2014 were corrected as follows:
Under the section Employment with The Society the sentence ‘Lena & Helen were also supportive of this view’ was removed. In the last sentence Nichola’s name was removed.
Matters Arising
The appointment of Mr Petrus Compton to act as the Legal Adviser to the Society was queried and clarified as follows:
Mr Petrus Compton is a practicing lawyer who has previously been a government minister and has also worked in the Office of The Attorney General. He has volunteered his services to the Society.
Employment with the Society
The difference between Employment and Casual Labour was discussed and the Society will not have a tax or NI implication for casual labour as this is not a formal employment contract and is a service ‘as and when required’.
This is to be clarified with Mr Petrus Compton.
Charity Shop
The issue of having the shop cleaned on a regular basis was discussed. The Chair has previously stated that the Society cannot afford to pay a cleaner and Brenda is to check with Lindy as to whether Lindy is willing to volunteer to clean the shop every week.
There is to be a meeting of the shop volunteers to discuss various issues such as cleaning and the current whereabouts of the spare keys.
The sign for the shop which was donated by Mr Huber is to be mounted on plywood and attached to the outside of the balcony or wall. The cost of mounting this will be approx. $150 and this expense was agreed.
The Society office is in desperate need of a filing cabinet and printer ink, the cost of these will be approx. $1500 and this expense was agreed.
Brenda still has taking from the shop for January and will had these over to Sr Angela when she returns from Barbados on 13 March 2014.
Building of the Home
The issue of how to start building the home was discussed, various options were put forward as follows:
Start with a small facility with kitchen, 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms to accommodate 6 children and then extend as funds permit. Sr Mary Lee has 2 estimates for wooden construction which will be brought to the next meeting, Ed Palmer will investigate the cost of a concrete/block construction. The issue of sustainable funding was raised and a meeting to deal only with the building and sustaining of a small home will be arranged.
The Defoe Foundation has not yet made any definitive proposals and there is concern among members as their true intentions. Sr Mary Lee has spoken to Sr Antonia of the Holy Family Home at Cerciron and Sr Antonia stated that they have had no problems or queries regarding the assistance they have received from the JDF over the last few years.
Flea Market
The next flea market will be held on 8 March 2014 as there are various activities and holidays and man power is short.
Special Education Programme
Bobby and Helen will start a programme with the Special Education School on New Dock Road on 12 February 2014. This will involve showing short films and engaging the children is educational games covering various subjects. Susie will contact Debby Haynes to see if she is willing to volunteer for this project when she arrives in St Lucia in May 2014.
Sr Mary Lee stated they she had donated $100 worth of snacks and juice for the children at the infant school on Clarke Street. Some of the parents cannot afford the daily $1 cost of providing lunch for their child and several members offered to sponsor lunch for a child. Susie will check with Goddard Catering to see if it is possible to take any airline meals which are not used.
Other Business
Susie is waiting to get an appointment with Dr Kenny Anthony when he is at his constituency office to chase up the VAT, Customs & Excise concessions and the Crown Lands lease.
George Lee of St Jude Hospital has donated items for infants and Bobby is liaising with George Lee.
The website and newsletter requires articles, photographs and any other contributions which members wish to add.
Jazz in the South will be held on Rudi John Beach in Laborie. A member is required to volunteer their services in organising a stand at this event. Anyone wishing to man this stand must obtain a Health Certificate.
Beverlyn John will away for approx. 6 months from the middle of March 2014 therefore Julia Edwin will be Acting Chairperson for that period.
The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 11 March 2014 at 5.00pm at the Daher Mall.
Present
Beverlyn John – Chairperson Helen Clayton
Bobby Dandry – Peace Corps volunteer Mary St Brice
Priscillia Joseph Sr Mary Lee Cox, OSF
Brenda Palmer Susie Chatburn
Ed Palmer
Apologies for Absence
Julia Edwin Raymond John
Davina Kisna Mary John
Chris Volney Sr Angela Samuel & Christine Kollek Prescott
Sr Mary Lee Cox of The Order of St Francis opened the meeting with a prayer
The minutes of the meeting held on 13 January 2014 were corrected as follows:
Under the section Employment with The Society the sentence ‘Lena & Helen were also supportive of this view’ was removed. In the last sentence Nichola’s name was removed.
Matters Arising
The appointment of Mr Petrus Compton to act as the Legal Adviser to the Society was queried and clarified as follows:
Mr Petrus Compton is a practicing lawyer who has previously been a government minister and has also worked in the Office of The Attorney General. He has volunteered his services to the Society.
Employment with the Society
The difference between Employment and Casual Labour was discussed and the Society will not have a tax or NI implication for casual labour as this is not a formal employment contract and is a service ‘as and when required’.
This is to be clarified with Mr Petrus Compton.
Charity Shop
The issue of having the shop cleaned on a regular basis was discussed. The Chair has previously stated that the Society cannot afford to pay a cleaner and Brenda is to check with Lindy as to whether Lindy is willing to volunteer to clean the shop every week.
There is to be a meeting of the shop volunteers to discuss various issues such as cleaning and the current whereabouts of the spare keys.
The sign for the shop which was donated by Mr Huber is to be mounted on plywood and attached to the outside of the balcony or wall. The cost of mounting this will be approx. $150 and this expense was agreed.
The Society office is in desperate need of a filing cabinet and printer ink, the cost of these will be approx. $1500 and this expense was agreed.
Brenda still has taking from the shop for January and will had these over to Sr Angela when she returns from Barbados on 13 March 2014.
Building of the Home
The issue of how to start building the home was discussed, various options were put forward as follows:
Start with a small facility with kitchen, 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms to accommodate 6 children and then extend as funds permit. Sr Mary Lee has 2 estimates for wooden construction which will be brought to the next meeting, Ed Palmer will investigate the cost of a concrete/block construction. The issue of sustainable funding was raised and a meeting to deal only with the building and sustaining of a small home will be arranged.
The Defoe Foundation has not yet made any definitive proposals and there is concern among members as their true intentions. Sr Mary Lee has spoken to Sr Antonia of the Holy Family Home at Cerciron and Sr Antonia stated that they have had no problems or queries regarding the assistance they have received from the JDF over the last few years.
Flea Market
The next flea market will be held on 8 March 2014 as there are various activities and holidays and man power is short.
Special Education Programme
Bobby and Helen will start a programme with the Special Education School on New Dock Road on 12 February 2014. This will involve showing short films and engaging the children is educational games covering various subjects. Susie will contact Debby Haynes to see if she is willing to volunteer for this project when she arrives in St Lucia in May 2014.
Sr Mary Lee stated they she had donated $100 worth of snacks and juice for the children at the infant school on Clarke Street. Some of the parents cannot afford the daily $1 cost of providing lunch for their child and several members offered to sponsor lunch for a child. Susie will check with Goddard Catering to see if it is possible to take any airline meals which are not used.
Other Business
Susie is waiting to get an appointment with Dr Kenny Anthony when he is at his constituency office to chase up the VAT, Customs & Excise concessions and the Crown Lands lease.
George Lee of St Jude Hospital has donated items for infants and Bobby is liaising with George Lee.
The website and newsletter requires articles, photographs and any other contributions which members wish to add.
Jazz in the South will be held on Rudi John Beach in Laborie. A member is required to volunteer their services in organising a stand at this event. Anyone wishing to man this stand must obtain a Health Certificate.
Beverlyn John will away for approx. 6 months from the middle of March 2014 therefore Julia Edwin will be Acting Chairperson for that period.
The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 11 March 2014 at 5.00pm at the Daher Mall.
Minutes of the General Meeting
held on Monday January 13th 2014
PRESENT: Davena Kisna, Bobby Dandry, Chris Volney, Brenda Palmer, Ed Palmer, S. Felicien, Christine Kollek Prescott, Lena St Clair, Sister Mary Lee Cox, Mary St Brice, Helen Clayton, Beverlyn John, Nichola Palm Cox, Lindy Elva, Julia Edwin, Priscillia Joseph
Prayers were by Sister Mary Lee Cox
MATTERS ARISING
See report at the end of minutes.
D. Kisna
Secretary
PRESENT: Davena Kisna, Bobby Dandry, Chris Volney, Brenda Palmer, Ed Palmer, S. Felicien, Christine Kollek Prescott, Lena St Clair, Sister Mary Lee Cox, Mary St Brice, Helen Clayton, Beverlyn John, Nichola Palm Cox, Lindy Elva, Julia Edwin, Priscillia Joseph
Prayers were by Sister Mary Lee Cox
MATTERS ARISING
- Monies
are still outstanding from the breakfast fundraiser last year December.
- Mr.
Petrus Compton will be assisting the society in rectifying its legal status.
The requirements needed are notification of change of address and directors.
Each notification will cost the society. As a result the constitution of the
society may have to be amended. Currently, Directors only serve for one year.
As of now, Mr. Petrus Compton services are free.
- Sister
Mary Lee reported that fundraising activities have been suspended due to the
current economic situation in addition to the Christmas Eve floods.
- The
breakfast fundraiser was a tremendous success. A total of $796.17 was realized.
This activity may be repeated at a later date.
This is dependent on the calendar of activities in the Vieux-Fort area.
- Beverlyn
stated the society was not in a position to employ anyone. This has implications for the society’s
status as a non profit. Lena and Helen were also supportive of this view.
- Sharon
resigned as the cleaner for the shop. Nichola and Lindy stated they could clean
the shop whenever the need arises.
- Bobby
informed members present that based on our current financial position it would
take the society about 23 years before the home could be built. As a result,
alternatives should be considered for example, rent a building or purchasing an
existing building. There was discussion based on this information but a final
decision was not made. Helen queried about the Jermain Defoe Foundation and
whether they were still interested in building the home. Beverlyn hasn’t received any current
information but she agreed that further clarification was needed from the
foundation.
- Lena
reported there may be a useful international connection that would benefit the
society. When the individual comes on island she will inform members.
- New
storage is needed. The Society can continue to use current location but only up
to the sale of the building.
- A
$10 bag sale will held the weekend of the 25th of January 2014
- Sorting
will take place on Wednesday 22nd January 2014
- The
flea market and shop rosters should be circulated to everyone.
See report at the end of minutes.
- A
UK or US account is needed for online donations to begin.
- Lyndel
Franklin has agreed to look at the society’s accounts.
- Three
barrels have been received. One from a Mr. Vitalis, the contents will go
towards the flea market. The remaining are from a Mr. Huber. He gave
instruction as to how they should be used including giving tickets to customers
of the charity shop to win a prize.
- Mr.
Huber’s barrels have been delivered to the shop and the contents will be sorted
out tomorrow Tuesday January 14, 2014. Bobby will take pictures of the event.
The shop sign was discussed. Sister provided Bobby with the words to be printed.
- Ed
asked about the latest on VAT. Beverlyn replied that Susie was looking into the
matter.
Brenda handed over all materials pertaining to the Treasurer. She has resigned from this position.
D. Kisna
Secretary