Report of the Robert Owen General Meeting

ROBERT OWEN SOCIETY MEETINGS

Wednesday 12th November 2024 proved to be a busy day at our Leominster HQ in the beautiful Grange Court. In the morning, we held a well-attended Board meeting. The members were concerned to hear of the recent ill health of the President and the continuing recovery of the Vice President. The Chair on behalf of the members wished both of our pioneers well and advised that he and the Secretary would plan to visit the President.

Members were encouraged to hear of the positive feedback on the new website and its immediate impact in engaging both members and the wider community. The hard work of the Vice Chair in working with the web developers and in the regular updating of the site was noted.

The draft end of year accounts and annual report were agreed prior to submission to the Society’s AGM for approval. Members noted the careful management of expenditure which had brought income and expenditure more into line. The hard work of both Vice Chairs in this matter was noted. Thanks were expressed to the auditor for his valuable work

The Society’s investment manager joined the meeting and presented a detailed and favourable report on the Society’s investments which included projections for the future.

There was a a lengthy and detailed discussion on the Society’s business plan for 2024-25 and beyond. The key outcomes were:

• The Robert Owen Society to engage actively with our communities either side of Offa’s Dyke to develop new local co-operatives which will serve need and produce income streams

• The Robert Owen Society to continue to act as a secondary cooperative for new businesses and enterprises incubated by the Society

• To continue to support the development and registration of Robert Owen Domiciliary Services Ltd

• To develop radio across the internet to work in tandem with the new website

• To continue the development of the new website and to add new features such as podcasts

• To promote the STEAM (Science; Technology; Engineering; the Arts; Mathematics) across the 3yrs to 18+yrs age ranges either side of Offa’s Dyke

A new share certificate will be designed and approved ready for issue.

The Robert Owen Society’s Annual General Meeting followed the Board meeting at 1400 hours in Grange Court. This proved to be a lively and fully engaged meeting with members enthusiastic to hear about the achievements of the year that has ended and the plans for the future.

The Board of Directors was re-elected with the addition of Mr Robert Beavan.

The Annual accounts and Report were discussed and approved. Thanks were expressed to the auditor, Chris Cooper, for all his hard work and commitment to the Society with a request that he carry on for another year.

The Business Plan as presented by the Board of Directors was agreed. Members were keen that every support be given to Robert Owen Domiciliary Services Ltd to ensure a successful launch in 2025.

This year it was decided that to introduce a members’ forum following the AGM as a replacement to the Robert Owen Academy Annual Lecture. The rationale was to ‘blue sky ‘community needs going forward. This proved to be highly successful, and the following points emerged:

 The grants culture has now finished. The future will be to respond to local community need with cooperative businesses which will create income to buy in back-office services etc through the Robert Owen Society in its secondary cooperative role

 Engagement with our schools and colleges which had been the reason for our creation in 1992 is now a priority

 Communities will need leadership in an increasingly troubled world to adopt left field solutions through cooperative activity

 Economic and social regeneration of our local communities must be a priority but through the adoption of cooperative business models

 The RODS cooperative model could well help communities to break new ground

 Cost effective delivery will be important.

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