BRANCH OFFICERS GET RESOUNDING THUMBS-UP AT PACKED AGM

A record turnout of members at the Branch's Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 11 January has voted unanimously to keep the same platform of elected officers to run the local Party. All last year's officers for the six positions of Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Officer and Campaigns Secretary were nominated to stand again unnopposed and unanimously voted in for the Year 2001.

The new officers are therefore respectively: John Hellings, Anne Sacks, Mark Hanlon, Charles Stanley and Steve Boyer (who holds both the campaigns and membership positions).

The AGM saw 20 Members and two guests come along. They also voted for a renewal of the Branch's seven delegates to the North Southwark & Bermondsey (NS&B) Constituency Labour Party (CLP) General Committee (GC). Although a bit of a mouthful, it is the GC which runs the CLP's affairs, and to which Branch Parties like ours are ultimately responsible. The GC is made up of delegates from each Branch Party within our parliamentary constituency, along with delegates from Trade Union, Co-Operative Party and affiliated socialist societies' branches within NS&B. Altogether there are about 40-odd GC delegates who meet once every three months in formal session. At other times the GC delegates powers to its own elected officers and the CLP Executive Committee.

Our seven GC delegates are therefore: John Hellings, Anne Sacks, Charles Stanley, Steve Boyer, Simon McKeown, Anne Smith and David Gilmore. Our Secretary Mark Hanlon is automatically a GC delegate by virtue of his Branch position.

Finally, the AGM agreed that Anne Sacks should continue to be our Branch's direct delegate to the CLP's Executive Committee (EC). Each Branch Party within the constituency is entitled to one EC delegate. Both John Hellings and Anne Smith are also on the CLP Executive Committee, as they are respectively the CLP Vice-Chair (Fundraising) and the CLP Women's Officer. Both these constituency positions along with all other CLP officers will be elected at the CLP GC's AGM on 15th February.

What we said before the meeting:

START THE NEW YEAR LABOUR'S WAY

Rotherhithe and Surrey Docks Labour Party kicks off the New Year with a packed programme of crucial decisions for all members of the Party in our Branch ... at the January Annual General Meeting. This Meeting is going to be held on Thursday 11th January starting promptly at 8pm at Trinity Hall, Bryan Street, Rotherhithe, SE16.

We have really high-powered guest speakers coming along and definitely confirmed:

1. Valerie Shawcross, our London Assembly Member - do you have questions about congestion charges, the fate of the Dome, the government of London, or anything else - Val's coming to hear what you have to say and to respond to your concerns.

2. Steve Lancashire, the Southwark Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration and so therefore the Canada Water 'regeneration' scheme. Steve is a great Councillor and cares a lot for our part of the world - bring along your views about the Canada Water project, learn what is the state of affairs so far, and - because Steve has kindly agreed - any other concerns about the Council and let your views be heard. Steve will diligently take up Southwark Council issues you wish to raise.

3. Elect your Officers of our Branch - up for grabs are the positions of Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Campaigns Secretary and Membership Secretary. Are you happy with the current set of Officers. Would you rather try your hand at it? It's your chance to decide.

4. Nominate members to stand as Officers of our Constituency Labour Party - the positions are roughly the same as at Branch level, plus there's a whole raft of other influential positions which must be considered.

Our Branch AGM on Thursday 11th January - starting at 8pm and finishing at 9.30pm - is YOUR chance to input your views, make your choices, and meet some of our most influential elected representatives. It's our Party - and it's our time to decide, so be there. Everyone is welcome.

If you need help with transportation to get to the Meeting please telephone the Chair, John Hellings, on 0207 237 2287 and we will do our best to provide you with a safe journey both to the Meeting and back home. Don't miss it.

Thursday 11 January 2001, 8.00pm prompt

Trinity Church Hall, Bryan Road (off Rotherhithe Street) SE16

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