NO. 78 Newsletter Oct 2009
Treasurer’s Report
Although I cannot finalise the figures until the beginning of October I am pleased to report that the totals are looking much more healthy than last year. It has always been accepted that a loss is made on the Show but last year was totally unacceptable, this year there is still a loss but it will be less than £1,000. The yearly overall figures will also show a vast improvement and we should finally show a profit as opposed to a loss of over £3,000 last year.
We must not get complacent, a lot of hard work by many people has helped this improvement and for it to continue we need to keep working hard. I have registered the Society with the Inland Revenue for Gift Aid purposes and we are now able with the help of every member to apply to reclaim 25p back on every £1 that has been paid by you to the Society in membership or donations. If you are a taxpayer you have already paid this tax, it will not cost you anymore and we just need you to sign a form when you pay your membership. I hope that the Taxpayers amongst you will do this for the Society; we need every penny we can get.
Wendy Spencer
Chairman’s News
What a fabulous Show we had! It wasn’t just the weather that made it so different from last year; the Committees all rallied round and worked even harder to make it the success it was, and WHAT a success it was.
It has long been David Marshall’s ambition to have the Children exhibiting with the Adults and the main Marquee was a picture of splendid colour from whichever aspect you were standing. To look down from the Floral Art through the flowers to the Children’s area with all those collages of heads was breathtaking. I said on the day it was a “feast of colour” and it truly was.
None of this would take place without the support of the members who measure up and put the staging together and of course prior to that, the Showground Committee who work tirelessly to create the backbone of our Show. Most of all of course ENORMOUS thanks are due to the Exhibitors, we put the Show together, the Exhibitors make it. So a heartfelt vote of thanks to ALL Exhibitors who put in hours of work prior to Show Day and on Show Day itself and made the Show the success it was.
Finally my thanks to the local Traders, Sponsors and members of Ainsdale Village who supported us. Maybe everyone thought it was our last Show – we all know with stringent policing of our funds by Wendy this is just not going to happen!
Forthcoming social events
In order to raise funds for next year’s Show the Society is holding the following fundraising events open to members and non-members:
Wednesday 11 November 2009: Ladies Pamper Evening with Fashion Show and various demonstrations and stalls at Sacred Heart Church Hall, Liverpool Road at 7.30pm. Tickets £3.50 including a raffle and refreshments. Wine and homemade biscuits at a small charge. Tickets obtainable from the Entertainment Committee members, at the winter talks or by phoning Janet Greenwood on 577853.
Sunday 15 November 2009: Christmas Floral Demonstration “Seasonal Seduction” by Jonathan Moseley at the Little Theatre, Southport at 7pm. Tickets £6.50 available from Miss Ainsworth on 577763
Wednesday 2 December 2009: Rosemary & Thyme’s Christmas Special – Floral and cake demonstrations and Body Shop stocking fillers at Sacred Heart Church Hall to commence at 7.30pm. Tickets £4 to include Mulled wine and coffee and a raffle. Tickets available via the winter talks or Mrs Pearce on 576345
January / February 2010: Skittles Night at the Ainsdale Club, Liverpool Road. This event is planned for the new year, but details are yet to be finalised by the Entertainment Committee who are now busy arranging the arena events for the 2010 Summer Show.
Annual General Meeting
The AGM on Wednesday 4 November 2009
at 8pm at Sacred Heart Church Hall,
Liverpool Road, Ainsdale.
All members are welcome to the AGM, this is an opportunity to join one of our Committees: Children’s, Entertainment, Publicity, Queen’s, Schedule, Showground.
Gardening Advice from the RHS
As the Society is an affiliated member of the Royal Horticultural Society you can contact them free of charge for specific gardening advice on 0845 2608000 or e-mail gardeningadvice@rhs.or g.uk quoting our membership number 10562714