This is a short report highlighting the main points from the Meeting. The official Minutes will be published shortly.
Fortunately, the weather produced some sunshine, even though it was a bit cold, and we welcomed over 75 members.
Committee Members presented their Reports, covering our activities in 2025 and focussing on our 20th Anniversary celebrations. The Treasurer explained that because we had spent more on celebrations than had been budgeted for, our bank balance was lower than
we would like. Next year we need to increase the Annual Membership Fee to 8€ per member to restore our bank balance to a more comfortable level.
Lifelong Membership
The Committee proposed that anyone who had been a member for 20 years and had served on the Committee or been a Group Leader be granted lifelong membership free of charge. This was agreed unanimously and will be implemented once we are notified by those who qualify.
Travel
Particular mention was made of the Travel Contingency Fund, established in 2004. This is held to cover any losses on trips which we book directly, should a supplier fail and we have already padi over members money. The fund is currently around 1,500€ and we plan to increase it to around 5,000€.
Trips we book using Travel Agents are covered by their statutory insurance, which is similar to ABTA. By law, trips through agents include travel insurance for anyone resident in Spain, for insured events occurring on the holiday. However, this does not cover cancellations for which a separate policy can be offered through the agent if required.
With regard to Travel Trips it was reported that following an incident where a member suffered a heart attack whilst on a trip and required hospitalisation, we have changed the Terms and Conditions. These now include the collection of details such as SIP card numbers and emergency contact information. This information will be collected for every trip and deleted afterwards under GDPR requirements.
We have also changed the way trip leaders’ costs are treated. We have agreed that they may share the cost of their trip between the members of the group when calculating the cost of the trip. This recognises that trip leaders have the responsibility for all group
members throughout the trip. They are, in effect, ‘working’.
Your Elected Committee pictured below (excluding Membership Secretary – Jim Short who had other more important duties at his daughter’s wedding in Ireland) from left to right: Claude Grealy, Margaret March, Henrik Rasmussen, Mike Frost and Gillian Flaxman
All that remains is to say ‘thank you’ from the Committee to members for their involvement in this AGM and throughout the year, running groups and helping with a myriad of tasks at events and in the background to keep the association going.
Report by Margaret March, Vice President