THE FRIENDS OF ST JAMES THE GREAT, THORLEY
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 12th MARCH 2010
TREASURER'S REPORT - YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2009
This year was again, financially, very successful and due to that and our stewarding of our reserves, we have been able to accumulate further sums towards the upkeep of the Church and churchyard. There was an excess of receipts over expenditure of £136, not as much as 2008 but as you will see, we have paid a deposit of 1/3rd of the cost of the new organ. All our excess funds are deposited with the Church's Central Board of Finance until they are needed. The Accounts I am presenting tonight show how the income was received and expenditure incurred in the year ended 31st December 2009 with comparative figures for 2008
. I will now comment on some of the detail.
1. Subscriptions and Donations both show a slight increase this year which is encouraging and we have gained some new members, but we can always find room for some more so if you would like to invite your friends to become our "Friends" that would be lovely.
2. It is now the norm for members and donors to gift-aid their contributions and this is a great benefit, particularly in these days of low interest rates.
3. The Festival of Flowers and Music was again a huge success and our thanks are to you all for your tremendous support and hard work. It really is hard labour for some, hours spent creating the flower arrangements, moving all those tables, usually Bill, Steve, Peter, Colin and some ladies, then standing behind stalls for hours, rushing from one duty to the next and in the kitchen - well, I know horses sweat and ladies perspire but it really is horse work in there at times. . I have produced details of the figures for you, alongside the Accounts.
4. October saw our Quiz Evening again, not so well attended as in the past but great fun nonetheless. £177 was raised.
5. Sunday teas and soup lunches in the winter months have both generated another year on year increase. These afternoons are a vital outreach opportunity for our Church and our thanks go to the small band of volunteers who take on this work. It is not onerous or difficult, you'd be amazed what can be produced with packet cake mixes these days, so if you could help on the odd Sunday throughout the summer it would be very much appreciated.
6. Once again, I would like to thank Bob and Brenda Williams for running the ever popular whist drives which raised £274 for the Friends..
7. Lesley Parker's contributions have again been wonderful. The plant sale in May raised £117 and the Craft Fair in November£544. After this horrible winter, some of us may have lost garden plants so we await the Plant Sale eagerly.
8. Repairs and Maintenance costs remain high, with our ageing equipment needing costly repairs. Our thanks to Peter and Margaret Morley for all their hard work in this area.
9. Finally, I would like to thank Geoff Pickering for once again examining our Accounts to check I haven't made any howlers, so far he hasn't mentioned any.
If you have any questions I shall endeavour to answer them
Rosemary Jones
12th March 2010
Flower Festival |
2009
|
2008
|
£
|
£
|
|
Raffle |
498
|
569
|
Donations |
1309
|
1209
|
Refreshments |
1121
|
1371
|
Ice Cream |
80
|
45
|
Souvenirs |
239
|
109
|
Plants |
282
|
196
|
Flowers (note 1) |
12
|
25
|
Stalls and Sale of Fruit |
629
|
608
|
St Barnabas Centre |
(120)
|
(120)
|
Expenses (note 2) |
(185)
|
(148)
|
Craft Fair |
365
|
300
|
Programmes |
221
|
226
|
Books |
311
|
446
|
BBQ |
72
|
125
|
Totals |
4834
|
4961
|
Stalls |
2009
|
2008
|
£
|
£
|
|
Recycled goods |
126
|
65
|
Tombolas |
282
|
269
|
Cakes and Produce |
220
|
177
|
Children's Activities |
1
|
97
|
Totals |
629
|
608
|
Notes
1. Cost of flowers met by sponsors £580 (2008 £685).
2. Other expenses include donation to Organist, advertising and printing.