AGM 2024 - St Malo
Over 70 members – plus a few offspring and partners - assembled at Portsmouth continental ferry terminal on Friday evening, 23rd February, for the night crossing to St Malo. One of the attractions of Brittany Ferries is the French cuisine, and a fine dinner was enjoyed by all. On arrival at St Malo, committee members descended on the AGM venue to decorate the room with banners and set up the powerpoint presentation.
Most members spent the morning walking round the old walls of the city, enjoying magnificent views over the seascape, dotted with offshore islands and ancient castles. Other attractions were the tall ships in the harbour and the splendid 12th century cathedral with a very resonant acoustic.
Vice-Commodore Sue Surplice had done a brilliant job in organising the whole weekend – including asking PSSA member and Brittany resident Paul Rapp to find a suitable venue. Paul had chosen the elegant Hotel Chateaubriand – birthplace of the French author, traveller, politician, diplomat and philosopher François-René de Chateaubriand – and a better venue can scarcely be imagined. After a fine lunch in the high-ceilinged dining room, members withdrew to a conference room, with built-in audio-visual facilities.
The standard agenda items proceeded smoothly, with the members approving the minutes and the Treasurer’s report and receiving reports from the Commodore and other officers on the events of the preceding year. Details will be found in the minutes of the AGM, which will in due course be posted on the PSSA website. Substantial amendments to the constitution proposed by the National Committee were passed unanimously; while an amendment proposed by Philip Linsell was rejected.
The new committee was duly elected, with Sue Surplice as the new Commodore, Donna Gray as Secretary and Malcolm Bainbridge as Treasurer, with Jonathan Houston as a member without portfolio. Members were asked to consider standing for office in a year’s time, when the Association will be looking for a new Membership Secretary and a new Sailing Secretary. After the conclusion of formal business, Sue Surplice thanked outgoing officers Peter Lowry, Steve and Di Drew and Richard Sills, and welcomed her new committee. Finally, trophy winners were announced and trophies presented to those present. After which members repaired to local cafes for an aperitif, before embarking on the ferry for the return journey.