1. Zoom Meeting Opened: 7.14pm (Vic Time)
2. Present: W. Chirgwin, M. Stringer, C. Dyer, M. Miller, J. Spiteri,
B. Voysey (due to internet issues BV could not enter Meeting until 7.31pm)
3. Visitors: Nil
4. To receive apologies:
· J. Siggins
5. To receive and confirm the Minutes of 14th September 2024
Correctly Moved & Seconded AIF Carried
6. To discuss business arising from the above Minutes:
· Survey re Registrations – Moved to General Business
Correctly Moved & Seconded AIF Carried
7. To receive correspondence in:
a. New Members – 10th Sept, 16th Sept, 4th Oct, 8th Oct, 14th Oct, 17thOct, 18th Oct, 29th Oct, 8th Nov, 11thNov, 18th Nov, 19th Nov
b. Horse Deals Statement – Oct and Nov
c. Several letters of concern regarding the behavior of a NSW Member at several Shows (All correspondence sent to all Committee)
d. Balance Sheet September (sent to Committee)
8. Correspondence out:
· Number of return phones, emails and texts to members regarding membership, registration, transfers, stud returns, and general pony enquires, etc.
· Email sent from LBC to Members regarding Price Increase
9. To receive and accept new members subject to Membership Committee Approval
· 10th Sept, 16th Sept, 4th Oct, 8th Oct, 14th Oct, 17th Oct, 18th Oct, 29th Oct, 8th Nov, 11th Nov, 18th Nov, 19th Nov
Correctly Moved & Seconded AIF Carried
10. To receive and accept new Measurers.
· NIL
11. Reports
· President – W. Chirgwin
Hi everybody,
I cannot believe that Christmas and the end of this year is nearly upon us, people aren’t wrong when they say as you get older time goes faster.
It has been an interesting year with plenty of ups and downs, but we are still here keeping our Society running. On that note I would firstly like to mention Equitana and the work that went into last week, amazing. The breed village was certainly the place to be, and I would like to thank all those members who gave up there time and also supplied ponies over the four days of the exhibition. I know there were incredibly long days as well as the driving in and out and by all reports it went well, and I know there was a lot of knowledge exchanged. I look forward to getting a full report on this in this meeting, thanks again. On the back of this I would just like to reiterate the importance of having people involved in society as these events couldn’t happen without people volunteering their time, so again I ask if you want to see our Society continue to thrive, please put up your hand to contribute. I wish everybody a Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year and let’s look forward to what next year brings
· Secretary – M. Stringer
I feel like I say this in every one of my reports, there is still a lot of paperwork that isn’t getting forwarded onto new members or even getting to LBC so again I want to make sure when members are selling ponies that they handed over all the pony’s relevant certificates as these don’t belong to the members they belong to the Society so therefore need to go with the pony. This also applies if the pony is to be shown all the relevant paperwork needs to be up to date as there is a lot of paperwork coming through either to LBC or to our Show coordinators that has not had pony height upgrades, Adult Registrations or transfers done, so we need to make sure that members are aware of the process for all AMPS registered ponies which is a big job and one that is an ongoing issue. We had another great Equitana event this year. Lots of people this time ask lots of great questions about our breed which is wonderful as I just love talking about AMPS® heaps of show bags were given out which was great. A big shout out to my band of little helpers as without you guys there would be no stand so THANKYOU and fingers crossed, we will be there again in 2026
· Treasurer – J. Spiteri
Figures for the end of September
Income $3,480.88
Expenses $5,595.33
Loss $2,108.02
Total Equity $36,209.42
Julie said even though we are showing a loss in September the overall YTD figure is showing a Profit of $6,867.31
· Small Talk Editor – J. Spiteri – NIL
· State Delegates
VIC – M. Stringer
Show season is well and truly up and running the Vic Committee is finding it difficult to engage the members back to showing which is making everything a bit hard but fingers crossed that once Christmas is over and the weather starts to improve it will bring the members back as we have a lot of great shows coming up in the New Year we are bring back the Championship Show, 2 rings one venue and on the long weekend of January we are sharing a ring with MHAA and the grounds also with NMR which we are hoping will bring the members up in the north and from interstate so fingers crossed we get the support from members
SA – B. Voysey –
Our SA Show Season has got off to a very good start and we have already had High Point Classes at two Agricultural Shows, two of our own Shows, with another four of our own Shows and a State Championship Show planned, as well as High Point Classes at another Agricultural Show. By sharing grounds and Judges with MHAA® SA Promotional Group we have been able to run more Shows for Members, as we have been able to reduce expenses in these areas. In addition to this we have also been able to ground share with other Groups and so will get some extra income that way.
We have had good attendance at Shows and have another couple of new Memberships under discussion at the moment.
NSW - Show Committee B. Voysey
NSW Members have continued to support the Shows we have been able to run in conjunction with MHAA® NSW Promotional Group and we held another successful Feature Show in September. Followed by a very successful State Championship Show earlier this month, which was well attended with 32 Ponies entered in the Show and despite one Member’s behavior in the Harness Class which was less than acceptable, we have had fantastic and positive feedback from Members following the Show. We have a couple of more Shows planned for early in the New Year which Members have indicated they are happy to support and have been very appreciative that we have been able to put on Shows for them to attend.
In addition to organizing Shows and Promotional Events in NSW, I have been assisting Members with their Registration and Membership queries and due to the fact that we have been running Shows, has resulted in several new Memberships and Pony registrations.
12. General Business
· Survey – W Chirgwin continued a discussion from the AGM with regards to the notation on the Registrar Report in 2024 there was a significant drop in Registrations, Upgrades and Transfers, while Memberships remains the same
She wondered if it would be worth having a survey of Members to investigate this. M. Miller said that it wouldn’t hurt to send a survey out as they are free and she is happy to do it if needed. B Voysey stated that she had given some thought to this and did not feel a survey was needed, as when you analysis the figures they makes sense.
Firstly, it was good the Memberships remained quite consistent.
Secondly, with regard to Registrations, not as many Members are
breeding, therefore new Registrations would be lower. Other new
Registrations are out of everyone’s control, as they can just happen.
A Member only has to upgrade a Pony when they are 2 years old, so there
are no more upgrades to be done. With regards to Transfers, these are out
of everyone’s control as well, as they just happen.
Therefore, she did not believe there is any need for a survey, when you take
into consideration the Registration / Upgrade process. Following Committee
discussion it was resolved that a survey was not required.
· Membership Cards – M. Stringer
M. Stringer advised that stocks of Membership Cards was low and she would need to get more before the new Membership year. She had a price from Vista Print for 500 $62.99.
B. Voysey offered to get a quote from the Printer whom we got the original Cards from Allbiz Supplies. B/F to January Meeting for discussion.
· NSW Members Behavior – B. Voysey
Several Members had submitted letters of concern to the National Committee about a NSW Members’ behavior at the NSW State Show, as well as at previous Shows. In addition to the letters, other Members supported the complaints made. All letters had been sent to the National Committee prior to the Meeting, so that they had time to read them and have full facts of the incidents in question to discuss at the Meeting.
The Member involved had shown total disregard for the Society, it’s Rules and its Members and had put AMPS® and it’s Members into disrepute.
B Voysey stated that it was particularly disappointing as this Member had been given assistance in the past and had continued to break the Rules, which she obviously had no respect for. Following discussion, the Committee felt that action needed to be taken and that the Member who had acted so inappropriately should receive a letter from the President, addressing the issues. The Member would of course be allowed the required ‘Right Of Reply’ with a time limit prior to the next Meeting, so that the matter can be discussed and a decision made as to what action was needed to be taken.
· Measurer’s Membership Renewals: M Stringer raised the fact that an Official Measurers had not renewed their Membership and had continued to measure and that we need to check on this happening.
B Voysey confirmed that at Membership Renewal time she contacted all SA and NSW Official Measurers and reminded them they needed to renew their Membership to continue in this role and all had done so in the required time.
13. To accept and ratify payments.
· M. Stringer and J. Spiteri to be reimbursed $40 each for parking at Equitana, as they were charged $20 per day for parking this year
Correctly Moved & Seconded AIF Carried
14. Next Meeting Date
· 15thJanuary 2025 7pm (Vic) Committee Zoom
15. Meeting Closed
· 8.15pm (Vic Time)
