The Minutes of the AGM held on Sunday 18^th February 2008 were accepted as a true record of the meeting.

Proposed: Mrs D Bishoprick

Seconded: Mr S Ives

Vote: For Unanimous

None

President Report: Mrs Daws said that the club had run a successful Puppy Competition and Dinner Dance, and thanked the sub committee for their hard work, she said it had been a spectacular evening. It had cost the club some money, but that the committee had expected that this would happen, but wanted to give something back to the membership. The Open show had been held at Roade Village Hall in Northamptonshire, which had proved to be a popular venue, and would be used in 2009 again for the Open Show and Puppy Competition. Mrs Daws said that generally entry numbers were declining, and we would have to work hard to attract a good entry and get plenty of spectators.

Mrs Daws said she thought Mrs Ann Van Den Heuval Cowen had done a good job judging the Championship Show at Nantwich, which was one of the best venues in the country. She said everybody had enjoyed the buffet, and gave special thanks to Mr & Mrs Davis who had provided the wine, and thanks also to Mrs Davis who had provided a beautiful hamper for the raffle which went to competitors from Holland. Mrs Daws also thanked the committee who all work hard as a team. She said that the use of email had saved postage money and improved communications and although this was a difficult time for Bulldogs, we had overcome problems in the past and would again prevail.

Hon. Sec Report Mrs Aldridge gave thanks to the strong and supportive committee.

Our year started with the club dinner dance and puppy competition, which proved to be a very popular event, with over 100 people dining, and 36 puppies entering the competition. The dinner dance was held in the prestigious Barnsdale Lodge Hotel which accommodated us very well indeed. Thanks went to the three judges, Mr Onishi, Mr Brian Taylor and Mrs Susan Rowe, and to all the committee who gave so generously with table flowers and raffle prizes and also to the sub committee for their time and commitment ensuring this really was a prestigious event. Also, thanks to Chris Thomas for his report in the dog press.

The open show was held at a new venue as our original date coincided with Leeds utility day. The new venue at Roade in Northamptonshire proved to be very popular with the exhibitors and committee, and is to be used again this year. The club gained an ‘excellent’ score from the K.C. inspector.

The champ show was again a really successful and happy show, and our thanks go to our judge, Mrs Anne van den Heuval Cowen, and to all the committee who, again gave so generously, in particular Mr & Mrs Daws, Mrs Norris and Mr & Mrs Davis who provided a wonderful spread for all our guests.

It was a difficult end of year for our breed, having learned from the kennel club their intention to introduce an interim bulldog standard with 59 changes. The British Bulldog Club is a very active and supportive member of the Bulldog Breed Council, and works in close liaison with all the other member clubs to help resolve any issues threatening the breed, and also to push forward improvements in health and wellbeing.

Grateful thanks were given to all committee and friends of the British for their help and support.

The Secretary explained that although a loss was shown on the balance sheet, new rubber mats had been bought which had not been detailed in the assets, and that 2007 and 2008 Ch. Show venue had been paid during 2008.

She also explained that it had been very difficult to get people to pay for their web adverts which also affected income. The meeting agreed that any people who would not pay for their advertisement should have their advertisement removed from the website.

The balance sheet was adopted.

Proposed: Mr B Daws

Seconded Mr C Bradshaw

For Unanimous

There were no new nominations for officers,

All the retiring officers were re-elected

Mrs M Williams told the meeting she was retiring. Grateful thanks were given to Mrs Williams for her work on the committed over many years, and in particular for auditing the accounts.

All the retiring members of the committee were re-elected.

Mrs M Davis had been nominated by Mrs J Daws and Mr S Ives. Mrs Davis gave a resumé of her cv to the meeting, and was duly elected onto the committee by a unanimous vote.

The annual subscription is to remain unchanged at £4.00 single, £5.00 joint, £6.00 Overseas

The meeting voted unanimously for the Club to remain a member of the Bulldog Breed Council. The reports presented to the committee by the club representatives were acknowledged.

The Club representatives are to remain Mrs E Aldridge and Mr R Haydock.

The Club will continue to adopt the Breed Council Judges List

Mr C Thomas is now the Breed Council Press Officer.

A sub committee of 7 people have been voted to handle the KC proposed alteration in the breed standard.

The meeting was informed of the committee decision to make a donation of £100.00 to the Breed Council to help with the costs of delegates attending the Kennel Club to negotiate on the Breed Standard.