3 March 2008
Vineyard Hotel
The AGM was followed by a presentation by Top Billing Producer Patience Stevens, and her presenters, Jeannie D, Aiden and Janez. Simon Lewis, the Deputy Editor of the Top Billing Magazine was also on hand to talk about the publication. The team provided a fascinating insight into the production and consumer interest in the lifestyle programmes produced by Tswelopele Productions, which is co-owned by Patience Stevens and Basetsana Kumalo.
1. Welcome
Ferose Oaten, Chairperson of the BWA welcomed all the members present. She welcomed Patience Stevens, producer of Top Billing, who was also a previous Regional Business Achiever winner and thanked her for making the time to spend with us. A special welcome was extended to:
- The BWA Committee
- Sumaya Adam – Regional Head for Business Banking for Nedbank (Southern Peninsula)
- Ferose Oaten thanked the sponsors of the event, who all provided gifts for the goodie bags. They were:-
- Contact Personnel
- Graduate School of Business
- AVTS Roadworthy Stations
- Ernst & Young
- Rubenesque Lingerie
- Rahman Incorporated
- Blue Planet Harvey World Travel
- Apffelstaedt and Associates
It was noted that Yvonne Finch immediate past Chair would assist with the official proceedings.
2. Apologies
1. Marian Dorrington
2. Lyn Witten
3. Barbara Court
4. Caren Willett
3. Proxies
1. Wilma Stemmet
2. Zahida Ebrahim
3. Jacqueline Ferreira
4. Tammy Samandan
5. Maureen Hargraves
4. Voting Strength
Yvonne Finch established the voting strength, and indicated that at the present time, the BWA Cape Town membership is 308, 15% was required for a quorum. We have 48 ladies present which means that the quorum has been established.
5. New Agenda Items
No new agenda items were proposed.
6. Minutes of the Previous AGM held on 19 March 2007
Copies of the minutes were reviewed, and there were no corrections recorded. The adoption of the minutes was proposed by Truida Prekel and seconded by Alison Maytham.
7. Matters Arising
No matters were raised.
8. Chair Report
• Full document has been was handed to the members present. The following were the main points covered:-
o Listed members as at end of January 412, data base of over 900 members in the Cape, who were previous members of the BWA
o Audience reach for the year was 1333 at 25 different events
o Social responsibility:
R20 000 in goods delivered to the Phillippi Home for Abused Women
R12 000 raised for the Bursary Fund
o Challenges addressed by the BWA in 2007
Open letter from the BWA President to Pres Thabo Mbeki on crime
Engaged women on the exclusion of white women in employment equity, and BWA unanimously concluded that it was premature to divide women along racial lines before first addressing issues of gender inequalities.
o Women in Corporate Leadership Census still the only measure of progress up the corporate ladder.
o Tribute to Wendy Browne, our Nedbank Champion who passed away recently and would be fondly remembered by members of the BWA
o Thanks to the entire Committee:-
o Thanks to Cheryl Steyn, the Cape Town coordinator.
• Comments from the floor:
o Cherry Burchell from the GSB felt the BWA needed to focus on growing black women in the organisation and perhaps extend our reach into the townships
o Ferose Oaten agreed and noted that at present the BWA membership was approx 45% black women and 55% white. She also said that strategically, that the BWA will increase its current 10 branches to 22 branches to include branches in townships of the bigger cities.
• Truida Prekel, thanked Ferose for everything she does for the BWA and commented on her ability to handle her position with such grace and dignity. Every year the program gets richer - and she enjoys the “Green theme” chosen by the BWA this year and looks forward to how it will be carried through.
• Zosh Khil suggested the BWA look at starting a forum to support entrepreneurial women with smaller business issues and perhaps they could assist each other with shared experiences.
• Anneline Black suggested the BWA website have a – “Small practical info list “ on where to find for eg: an ironing service for the busy businesswomen.
• The Chair’s Report was proposed for acceptance by Roz Messenger, and seconded by Cherry Burchell.
9. Treasurer Report
The report was presented by Logandree Gounden, and she said that the report was unaudited, and that the auditors are currently completing the Head Office audit. The audited financials would therefore be presented at the National AGM at the end of March, and would then be available to all members. She also repeated what the Chairperson said, that more money was spent on functions this year, so as to provide more value to members.
• The report is attached, and was proposed for adoption by Elspeth Donovan and seconded by Jane Notten.
10. Committee for 2008 - 2009
Ferose Oaten explained that 12 women may serve on the BWA committee, and that 2 would be stepping down after serving for 4 years. In addition, there are 2 more vacancies. Nominations had already been received and accepted prior to the AGM for Amanda Greeff and Anneline Black. They were invited to the podium to introduce themselves.
Nominations were also received for Cherry Burchell and Zosh Kihl, who both accepted the nominations. The house accepted all 4 new committee members.
Alison Maytham stated that being a committee member is very hard work and her suggestion was that perhaps we as the BWA should find ex businesswomen to assist with committee duties on an ad -hoc basis, as they would have an abundance of skills and time to share.
Gita Lison and Logandree Gounden would be stepping down from the committee, although they will be co-opted back onto the committee should they be available to assist. Zahida Ebrahim was co opted onto the committee during the last year, and her seat was ratified at the meeting.
• Proposed: Alison Maytham
• Seconded: Truida Prekel
For the record, the BWA Committee for 2008-2009 will be:-
1) Ferose Oaten (Chairperson)
2) Alison Maytham (Vice-Chairperson)
3) Elspeth Donovan
4) Nina Joubert
5) Jane Notten
6) Caren Willett 7) Zahida Ebrahim
8) Rene Bonzet
9) Anneline Black
10) Amanda Greeff
11) Zosh Kihl
12) Cherry Burchell
11. General
Ferose asked Gita Lison and Logandree Gounden to except a small token of appreciation for their service on the committee.
12. Closure
The official proceedings of the AGM was closed at 9:30am and the presentation introduced.
13. Thanks
After the presentation by the Top Billing Team, Alison Maytham paid tribute and thanked Patience Stevens and presented her and her team with gifts from the BWA.
Alison also thanked Nedbank for their sponsorship of the BWA, and introduced the new Nedbank Champion, who will also be serving on the committee, Sanette van Vuuren.
She concluded the proceedings by thanking the members for their support and attendance.