ORGANISING AN RMT AGM

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: october 2012 :: RMTnews 16 A couple of years ago a meeting of the Southwest Regional Council discussed whether we would be capable of submitting an application to the union to host the 2012 AGM in the Southwest of England. Regional council secretary Bob Marles had been involved in organising am AGM in Exeter several years ago and Paul Rossiter and myself had experience in organising a couple of busworkers conferences here in Torquay. So we had the knowledge and capability, but where would be the best area to hold the Parliament of our union that had all the facilities a conference of this importance could offer? Southwest regional council covers 21 branches from Penzance to Exeter and Plymouth to Barnstaple. After a lot of deliberation Torquay was agreed on. The application was formally tendered to the executive committee for approval. Now the hard work began. Myself, Paul Rossiter, Bob Marles and Dave Avery formed the organising committee as we all had different skills, experiences and qualities. We had attended a total of nine different AGMs, so we knew what was required and with Dave’s knowledge of the hotel business in the bay we believed we had the qualifications to organise and facilitate an AGM to remember. Bob volunteered to be treasurer. I was nominated as chair with Paul in charge of fund raising and Dave the legs of the team. With all of us having shift patterns, it was decided who was ever available would do what was necessary in pairs. A venue was needed that offered conference facilities and rooms for fringe meetings, the standing orders committee, for office staff for the running of the union while away from Unity House, a press office and an area for RMTv. Several venues were investigated and quotes were passed on to Scott Perkins and Yvonne Sawford at head office. They came down for a site visit and took back recommendations to the EC for consideration. In the meantime the four of us had to come up with ideas for social events in the evenings. With Dave Avery’s contacts he found a hotel that could cater for the general secretary’s dinner while the rest of us visited locations of local interest that could facilitate 120 delegates and staff with a bar and offer food which was easier said than done. Finally, with a lot of time and effort we secured Kents Caverns for a Monday night to include a trip through the caves, local wine and beer tasting followed by a carvery and a cabaret. Next up was a trip on ORGANISING AN RMT AGM Organising committee chair Dave Gileby recounts the hard graft and satisfaction of hosting the union’s 2012 annual general meeting in Torquay