AGM Report for 2003

- By Peter Dunn

Well, another AGM has come and gone, and another committee has been appointed. On behalf of the Club and incoming committee I'd like to thank the members of the outgoing committee for the efforts they put in during 2002. Notably Hagen Kerr for his services to the Club as president (El Presidente!) over the last two years, John Tailby for his organisation of a very successful Call to Arms, Bruce Ferguson for his continued services as webmaster and Geoff Cooper for once again throwing himself into the fray as editor of Dispatches.

Congratulations to Paul Goldstone for being awarded the Warlord of the Year. There were several nominations for the award, but the committee elected to give it to Paul for his services to the Club, his efforts at growing Flames of War and the assistance and guidance he has provided many new members of the Club. And just to make sure there are no allegations of impropriety, it should be noted that Paul wasn't actually present at the meeting where the decision to make him WotY was taken.

Of course, to keep up one of the traditions of the Club, the WotY has to end up on the committee. As Paul was already on the committee, he had to go up. Everyone is happy with Peter Dunn as secretary, and no one ever seems to want the job of editor, so there was only one place for him to go. Despite Paul's quick thinking defensive nomination, he was elected president by a substantial margin. Submissions for Paul's presidential title are being taken at this time.

Peter Dunn explained that the Club is in a healthy state, making modest profits for both Call to Arms, and for the Club as a whole. We had a peak of 112 members in 2002, which must be some sort of record, and raises the possibility of outgrowing our present venue in Khandallah. There have been a few meetings recently when the hall has been packed, and this is an issue the committee is aware of.

The issue of bidding for NatCon was on the agenda again, and once more the Club elected not to bid. However, we will be offering moral support to the Hutt Club should they elect to bid for NatCon 2004. This after the motion to rescind that motion narrowly failed. Given the huge number of enthuasiastic bids for NatCon 2003 at Christchurch last year, I imagine anyone who demonstrates even cursory interest in NatCon 2004 with get it. Other matters discussed at the AGM included weeknight meetings and the issue of reciprocal membership with the other Wellington Clubs. In both instances the status quo is to be maintained. Finally, Peter Dunn advised us that as no invoice had been received from the NZMWF for either 2002 or 2003 no money had been paid to that body. So technically that means that the Warlords are no longer members of the NZMWF. As the NZMWF presently resembles a not particulary ambulatory corpse I doubt it matters much. For some reason I keep having this vision of Geoff standing there singing "Ding dong, The Witch is dead, the wicked Witch is dead!".

Lastly, a new committee was selected (I can't say elected, as no voting took place…), so welcome to Rhys Batchelor, Richard Fields, Jayson Reynolds and Sean Smith.