BRANCH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
28 FEBRUARY 2011
NEDBANK TRAINING FACILITY
CHESTNUT HOUSE, PALM SQUARE
BEACON BAY, EAST LONDON

WELCOME

ATTENDANCE:

Lizelle Maurice (Chairperson)
Bianca Sommerfeld (Coordinator)
Bonnie Currin
Laurette Schafer
Deidre Freeman
Poonam Harry
Cingashe Nogaya
Sibongile Tabata
Roxy Meier
Manisha Ramdhin
Nyameka Mbane
Barbra Allan
Kerry Stewart
Pozisa Mayekiso

APOLOGIES:

Zine Madyibi
Laura Mileham
Annatjie Erasmus

MATTERS ARISING:

1. Lizelle welcomed the members and thanked the ladies for availing themselves for the meeting.

• Lizelle opened the meeting with a meet and greet session to allow the members to introduce themselves.
• The minutes to the 2010 AGM where accepted and adopted by Poonam Harry.
• The voting strength was established and the required amount of members was present for the meeting to commence.

2. Chairpersons Report

Lizelle indicated that the year 2010 was a learning year for herself and the current committee, which was both exciting and challenging. Lizelle also indicated that with all the lessons learnt in 2010, 2011 will be a bigger and better year for the current and new committee.

• Lizelle gave an overview of what the BWA covered in 2010 in terms of the functions and new partners (please see attached report)
• Lizelle indicated that the new approach that was taken for the monthly networking function had served as very useful to our members and beneficial to the branch. The concept of the networking events was to host the actual event at the premises of the company hosting the event, this giving the hosts better exposure and marketing of their businesses.
• Lizelle also indicated that as part of the BWA social responsibility project there was a Love Gift initiative rolled out at all Networking function, where all the guests donated gifts or cash towards a charity selected by the guests or the host and usually this amount raised would be doubled by the host and then handed over to the charity selected. The charities that had benefited from this initiative in 2010 are: SPCA, St Bernard’s Hospice, Green Sleeves Orphanage and Carl du Toit School for the Deaf.
• Lizelle indicated that due to the running costs of marketing the networking events effectively there was a cost of R1000.00 charged for the networking events, this income went towards the overhead costs of the BWA office.
• Lizelle indicated that a decision should be made by the member’s weather to close off the networking function to strictly members only as of 2011. The reason for this is that, non members are frequenting these events and not signing up as members but are benefiting from the networking at the events. Lizelle also felt that because of this the non members are receiving the same benefits as members which are not fair. Lizelle requested that the members give their feedback regarding this issue.
• Lizelle indicated that although the RBAA in 2010 made a loss she felt that it was important to uplift the image of the BWA and also to raise the standards of the RBAA event.
• Lizelle indicated to the members that if the East London branch could have a target of 500 paying members by the end of 2011 at a cost of R500.00 each this would generate an income of R250 000.00 for the branch which would allow the BWA to offer more to our members and also to cover the issues that have not yet been touched, Lizelle added that the BWA has not even touched the tip of the ice berg when it comes to the amount of women the BWA could develop in the Eastern Cape.
• Lizelle had again indicated that in 2010 the committee were finding their feet and planning ahead and now that 2011 is upon us there is so much that will be done.
• Lizelle indicated the BWA would be staring a BWA Business Book club which will be run by Poonam Harry and will be held quarterly where the BWA will host an Author from South Africa. Lizelle indicated that the branch would like to launch the book club with Dr Molepo who is a well known Author in South Africa. Lizelle also indicated that Dr Molepo will be in East London on the morning of 10 March 2011 for a business workshop and that she would be inviting him to a brief appearance at the Networking event on 09 March 2010.
• Lizelle went through the calendar for the first half of the year and listed the confirmed partners of the BWA for this period namely: Sanlam, SEDA, JSE and Nedbank(please see the attached calendar)
• Lizelle spoke about the Regional Business Achiever Awards Nomination Process which has been launched and the closing date for these nominations are 31 March 2011. Lizelle requested that the members of the BWA nominate 1 phenomenal, deserving businesswomen to allow all women the opportunity in participating in the process.
• Lizelle requested that all the members present commit to encouraging 10 businesswomen to join the BWA by the end of March 2011 and to commit to signing up 5 new members by this period. This suggestion was welcomed and the members indicated their participation.
• Lizelle indicated that in 2010 there was not much focus on the corporate businesswomen which was a threat to our corporate members. Lizelle requested that the members send through their suggestions to assist the BWA in strengthen their relationship with their corporate members and to give them the services they need.
• Lizelle mentioned that a survey had shown that of the 25 Top achieving companies in South Africa, 50% of these companies had women in top positions and of the 25 worst performing companies there were no woman in top positions, which indicated that women are the driving force of the economy.

Action Items / Responsible Person

3. Treasurer’s Report

Laurette welcomed the members and indicated that the financials being presented were un-audited and are not a 100% true reflection of the financial status of the branch.

• Laurette indicated that going forward the AGM will be held after the audited financials were available.
• Laurette indicated and congratulated Bianca on the increase in membership from R38 289.00 in 2009 to R81 898.00 in 2010 which is an income difference of R 43 609.00.
• Laurette indicated that due the branch not being self sustainable in 2010 the BWA Head Office had to loan the East London Branch the funds to pay the coordinators monthly salary until December 2010 which will be repaid by the annual Nedbank sponsorship in 2011. This means that the branch will start the year 2011 with no funds in the bank, but also the branch will have no debt starting in 2011.
• Laurette indicated that as at December 2010 the branch managed to break even and start the year 2011 of with no accumulating debt.
• Bianca indicated that the audited financials would be circulated for comment as soon as the audit has been completed.
• Please see the attached financial report Action Items / Responsible Person

4. Committee Members

Lizelle thanked the 2010 committee and also tendered the resignations of the committee members stepping down due to work commitments namely:

• Linda Promnitz (served her 2 year term)
• Michelle Augustine (served on the committee for 1 year)
• Ntsiki Njamela’ (served her 2 year term)
• Tracy Ball (served on the committee for 1 year)
• Zimasa Daniels (served her 2 year term)
• In the absence of the outgoing committee Lizelle thanked them for their input and time served to the BWA.
• Lizelle indicated that as Linda Promnitz was the Deputy Chairperson for the branch and she has now stepped down the branch is now in need of a new Deputy Chairperson and Lizelle requested the members to elect a new deputy and to vote. The deputy elect was Bonnie Currin and she accepted the nominations and this was confirmed by all members present.
• Lizelle indicated that there were still seats available for more dedicated committee members and she felt that there could be as many committee members as the branch required as all committee members added value to the organization.
• Lizelle introduced the nominated committee members namely: Sibongile Tabata and Roxy Meier who have accepted the nomination to serve on the BWA Branch committee and Lizelle asked the members to vote and accept the new committee members. Manisha Ramdhin and Pozisa Mayekiso indicated their availability to serve on the BWA committee and were nominated as Co-Opted Committee members for a period of 1 year.
• The members voted and the 4 new committee members were accepted and welcome to the branch Committee.
• Lizelle indicated that the next committee meeting will be held on 07 March 2011 and that the various portfolios that are held within the branch committee would be discussed with the new committee members.
• The members welcomed the new committee and wished them well. Action Items / Responsible Person

7. General

Lizelle discussed the Go Red Campaign which is a national BWA initiative which is aimed at the BWA and or members promoting health living (please see the attached information regarding this initiative)

• Bonnie indicated that the BWA has now launched a Business column within the EC Today publication which runs on a weekly basis and that she is inviting all BWA members to submit an article for this column which will be viewed for publication and if the article is used reference will be given to the writer for exposure.
• Lizelle requested that BWA members submit information on a monthly basis for the weekly newsflashes and newsletters, which consists of any information that will be useful to our members.

Action Items / Responsible Person

• Lizelle indicated that the year 2011 is going to be a great year for the BWA and thanked all the members for their membership and support at the many BWA functions.
•  Lizelle indicated that she welcomes any suggestion to assist the committee in bettering their roles as committee members and organization as a whole. Action Items / Responsible Person

Lizelle thanked everyone and wished everyone well.

Next committee meeting: 7 March 2011, 17:00pm sharp

Meeting adjourned at 18:55 pm