Mixed Pond Association: 2023 Annual General Meeting June 19th 2023
Minutes
Attendees
Chair: Mike Sands (MS)
2022-2023 Committee Members:
MPA members
Apologies:
1. Approve Minutes of April 2022 AGM. MS
Minutes of 2022 AGM approved.
2. Receive the Co-Chairs’ report for 2022. MS
4. Receive the MPA’s draft accounts for 2022 and the Treasurer’s report on the Club’s financial position - CM
7. Nominations received for new Committee members for 2023 – FM
Other committee positions:
8. To elect the officers and MPA Committee members for 2023 – FM
2023-24 committee:
9. Agree date for 2023 Committee to meet to decide and allocate roles and tasks - FM.
10. Tea Party and evening events (dates tbc). FM
11. Reports on Heath Forum meetings (VB)
12.. ‘Capital Projects’ update. MS.
13. Any other business. FM
FMoir (chair)
Minutes
Attendees
Chair: Mike Sands (MS)
2022-2023 Committee Members:
- Charles Marks (CM)
- Spencer Hyman (SH)
- Victoria Brittain (VB)
- Felicity Moir (FM)
- Margaret Dickinson (MD)
MPA members
- Nilani Chandradeva (NC) - taking minutes
- Geoff van Sonsbeeck (GvS)
- Jilliane Edelestein (JE)
- Carmine Najjar (CN)
- Richard Boudreaux (RB)
- George Cselko (GC)
- James Lawley (JL)
- Penny Tompkins (PT)
- John O’Connor (JOC)
- Jon Shelton (JS)
- Nick Phillips (NP)
- Lucy Springett (LS)
- Stephen Yates (SY)
- Darian Leader (DL)
- Jeremy Watson (JW)
- Mark Lamb (ML)
- John O’Conner (JOC)
Apologies:
- Janette Rutterford (J Rutterford) (committee member)
- Mary Pollock (MP)
- Ros Goodfellow (RG)
- Adrian Boylan (AB)
- Adriaan de mol van Otterloo (AdmvO)
- Kasia Sikora (KS)
- Jackie Risman (J Risman)
- Hasit Raja (HR)
- Tony Biebuyck (TR)
1. Approve Minutes of April 2022 AGM. MS
Minutes of 2022 AGM approved.
2. Receive the Co-Chairs’ report for 2022. MS
- Due to the popularity of swimming, life-guarded swimming started earlier in the year than usual and closed later than usual. The lifeguarded season of Mixed Pond is suspected to increase into the winter.
- Tea parties at the beginning and end of the season in 2022 were well attended and supported by donations. MPA provided a specially designed cake and the “Dive in Belles” performed.
- Initiated and helped to manage an evening social, funded by HMPA and KLPA. There was a shared proportion of the guest list between associations. MPA paid towards fees for a live quartet to provide entertainment.
- The MPA entered a team for the Hampstead Heath duathlon, and all successfully completed the course.
- Representation: MPA sent representatives to all sports and wellbeing forum meetings. MPA had separate meetings with representatives from the City of London Corporation to discuss building works that are (currently) taking place. MPA requested that Mixed Pond was given an equal share of the development budget, and this was agreed on by City of London Corporation.
- Paid membership growth was only up 4% this year. Membership growth in the last two years has not been as high as expected given the general increase in interest in outdoor swimming. Speculated that factors like compulsory charges means that it is difficult to draw in new members to the MPA.
- Members 2022 - 225 (+4%)
- Members 2021 – 216 (+6%)
- Members 2020 - 203 (+56%)
- Members 2019 - 130
- 2022 Membership revenue was up by 3%.
- The subscriber mailing list continues to grow (signups via the website form). There are 847 subscribed members on the list (compared to 717 this time last year - so up 18%). This includes paid and non-paid members.
- Over the past 3 years, the mailing list has grown well each year.
- Mailing List Subscribers 2022 – 845 (+18%)
- Mailing List Subscribers 2021 – 717 (+26%)
- Mailing List Subscribers 2020 - 569
- Mailing List Subscribers 2019 - 336
- NOTE: 2023 Membership - as of 18.6.2023 there have been 165 memberships paid for in the past three weeks since opening membership. This has generated over £1,000 in membership fees so far.
- Membership Revenue 2022
- Total membership fee revenue (inc PayPal fees) for 2022 was £1,427 (up 3% on 2021)
- Revenue 2022 - £ 1,427
- Revenue 2021 - £ 1,386
- Revenue 2020 - £ 1,411
- Revenue 2019 - £ 703
- Although the membership fee is £3, the average fee paid was £6.34 per person when optional donations are included (down from £6.41 last year and £6.94 in 2020).
- Total membership fee revenue (inc PayPal fees) for 2022 was £1,427 (up 3% on 2021)
- Discussed that we should do more to advertise MPA e.g. put posters up at the Mixed Pond to advertise MPA.
- When members sign up, they must pay a £3 membership fee and an optional donation. This donation amount seems to be in line with previous years.
- Discussed electrical supplies to the Mixed Pond: the current power at the Pond doesn’t allow for the aerator and kettle to be used at the same time. MS said the original plans for the current works at the Pond included improving this, but this has now been moved to next year’s development schedule.
- MD asked how we can encourage people to join the MPA and asked for clarification on the difference between what paid members receive and those that are non-paid members of the mailing list. CM explained that paid members get invitations and priority at certain events e.g. only paid members are invited to the AGM and last year were given priority at the BBQ.
4. Receive the MPA’s draft accounts for 2022 and the Treasurer’s report on the Club’s financial position - CM
- Total Income for 2022 = £1,427.00
- Total Expenses for 2022 = £572.35
(Included £375 for supplies/food at the two tea parties. PayPal transaction fees (£96.12) and website/membership system fees (£101)). - The opening balance at the start of the year was £2,909.77 and the opening balance for 2023 is £3,737.42 so net income after all costs/expenses for 2022 = £ 827.65
- Reminded members of the aims of the MPA.
- The aims of the MPA are:
- To promote the interest of users of the Hampstead Mixed Pond.
- To provide a voice for Mixed Pond users in any relevant media, press or consultative body e.g. Hampstead Heath Swimmers Forum (now the Hampstead Heath Sports and Wellbeing Forum).
- To promote the continued use of the Mixed Pond for public and club swimming.
- To promote the preservation of the Mixed Pond and its surroundings as a predominantly natural environment characterised by native plants and providing appropriate habitats for varied wildlife (FM noted that this should be considered when discussing the potential sauna developments with City of London Corporation).
- To further the benefits of open water swimming generally and to support organisations and individuals campaigning for better access to open water for the purposes of swimming.
- JR, HR and TB are outgoing members and were thanked for their work.
- SH gave thanks to CM and MS for their fantastic work.
7. Nominations received for new Committee members for 2023 – FM
- SH nominated FM and MD as Co-Chairs. Seconded by KS.
- FM nominated GvS for Treasurer. Seconded by AdmvO.
- MD nominated NC for Secretary. Seconded by FM.
Other committee positions:
- GC would like to join the committee and will be nominated for a committee position after paying for 2023-24 membership.
- MD nominated SH and KS onto 2023-24 committee. Seconded by FM. All in favour.
- Discussed that it would be beneficial to have more contact with afternoon swimmers, as few are on the current committee.
8. To elect the officers and MPA Committee members for 2023 – FM
- Current Committee is:
- Chair: MS
- Membership Secretary: CM
- Treasurer: CM
- Secretary and email queries: Vacant
- Merchandising: Vacant
- Mailing list email Communications: SH and MD
- Web Content Editor: Vacant
- Events Facilitator: FM and KS
- MPA Committee members: VB and JR
2023-24 committee:
- Co-Chairs: MD and FM
- Treasurer: GvS
- Secretary: NC
9. Agree date for 2023 Committee to meet to decide and allocate roles and tasks - FM.
- Meeting on 26th June, at 6pm.
- CM will discuss finances with GvS.
- MS will sort bank mandates with GvS.
- MS, MD and FM will discuss with other associations (KLPA and HMPA) about whether there is a benefit of being part of the Hampstead Health Sports and Wellbeing Forus (since Swimmers’ Forum no longer exists).
- MS will update Katherine Radusin and Paul Jeal on the committee handover.
10. Tea Party and evening events (dates tbc). FM
- On hold until works are completed.
- Usually take place at the beginning and end of the season.
- KS suggested we discuss tea party plans with CoL; as swimming is still taking place, they might be able to facilitate tea party as well. In theory, works should be finished by end of August. Tricky to have tea party at the end of season as well.
- September tea party (will be discussed at next committee meeting.)
11. Reports on Heath Forum meetings (VB)
- Swimming fee gone up by 5% - less than inflation.
- Concern about works at the Parliament Hill area of the Heath; need to understand if this will impact those visiting the Mixed Pond.
- City plan to develop a Sports Strategy: FM reported “As it is widely stated that moderate activity like walking and swimming will improve health outcomes, we suggested that if the sports plan was going to make a big point of health as the reason for it then it should be a sports and activity plan. This seemed to be noted as possibly relevant. I then mentioned that the incidence of most of the conditions mentioned is highest among people on low incomes and that any strategy based on health outcomes therefore needs to concentrate on activities which can be provided for free or at very low cost.”
- NC discussed that new committee plan to work with Mental Health Swims and Swim England on social prescribing.
12.. ‘Capital Projects’ update. MS.
- No further updates
13. Any other business. FM
- MD discussed Wild Swimming Walks book: will need to be reprinted soon and MD happy to work with MPA members on updates to the book.
- Mark Lamb introduced himself and that he proposed the idea of a sauna at the Mixed Pond to City of London. ML said he has already emailed MS and Marc Hutchinson at the winter swimming club. FM said that ML should contact her with his proposal.
- KS advertised party at the Lido on 22nd June.
- Ladies Pond closed Monday 26th - Thursday 29th June, expect more swimmers at the Mixed Pond.
- General concerns about ongoing works and when they will be finished.
- DL expressed concern to NC and SH about swimmers with mobility requirements having to wait in the queues to the pond, without a place to sit, and asked if MPA could provide chairs as lifeguards do not have any spare. SH said he will talk to Paul Jeal about this, as City of London should provide these.
FMoir (chair)