Annual General Meeting

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Wednesday, 19th May, 6:45pm

Chester Humanists is a branch group of Humanists UK. Branches are the local community humanist groups of Humanists UK. They are part of Humanists UK, covering a specific geographical area.

 

At our Annual General Meeting we present a brief review of the year and appoint a committee to run the branch over the coming year. 

 

The Chester branch is looking to fill several positions and is keen to consider nominations from anyone who has a particular skill or area of expertise relevant to the running of a branch. 

 

The executive committee of the group will consist of the following officers: 

 

• Chair

• Vice-Chair

• Treasurer

• Secretary

 

Our branch also has a number of Committee Members “without portfolio” who take on various functions such as arranging events – acting as a focus for specific projects etc. 

 

The executive committee is responsible for the conduct and work of the group and answers to Humanists UK.  

 

Please note that all officers of the group must be Members of Humanists UK. 

 

It is also helpful of course to have had past involvement in some capacity with the local group. 

 

If you are interested in joining the executive committee please contact us at at least 7 days before the AGM by emailing   

 

There is further information about the executive roles below. 

 

Current nominees are as follows: 

 

Chair:  Peter Gaskin has been involved with Chester Humanists for the past 5 years or so. He is a Humanist Celebrant and a member of the Non-Religious Pastoral Support Network, School Speaker and has recently joined the West Cheshire Standing Advisory Committee on Religious Education (SACRE). Also a member of the West Cheshire Inter-faith Forum and part of the Dialogue Network he is particularly keen to raise the profile of humanism locally and to encourage community engagement. 

 

Vice-Chair:   Sarah Jones: has‌ ‌been‌ ‌a‌ ‌member‌ ‌of‌ ‌Chester‌ ‌Humanists‌ ‌since‌ ‌2016‌ ‌and‌ ‌has‌ ‌been‌ ‌a‌ ‌proactive‌ ‌member‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌group‌ ‌since‌ ‌then.‌ ‌Sarah‌ ‌is‌ ‌a‌ ‌trained‌ ‌Humanist‌ ‌Funeral‌ ‌Celebrant‌ and‌ ‌a‌ ‌Humanist‌ ‌Pastoral‌ ‌Carer‌ ‌and‌ ‌regularly‌ ‌volunteered‌ ‌in‌ ‌a‌ ‌local‌ ‌prison‌ ‌until‌ ‌her‌ ‌post‌ ‌as‌ the‌ ‌CEO‌ ‌of‌ ‌a‌ ‌local‌ ‌charity‌ ‌became‌ ‌a‌ ‌full‌ ‌time‌ ‌role.‌ ‌Humanism‌ ‌is‌ ‌an‌ ‌important‌ ‌and‌ ‌present‌ aspect‌ ‌of‌ ‌Sarah’s‌ ‌life,‌ ‌and‌ ‌is‌ ‌therefore‌ ‌always‌ ‌enthusiastic ‌to‌ ‌promote‌ ‌the‌ ‌work‌ ‌of‌ ‌Humanists‌ ‌UK‌ and‌ ‌Chester‌ ‌Humanists.‌

 

Treasurer: Brian Case: Member of Humanists UK for many years. Retired Chartered Accountant.

 

Secretary: Simon Dunning is a retired development engineer and long term atheist (boarding school Sunday church services convinced him). Upon retirement some reading convinced him he was a humanist. He joined Chester Humanists about 7 years ago and has been secretary for a few years.

 

Committee Members: 

 

Christine Turner

Tony Terry: Has been a member of Chester Humanists since 2015. A one time science teacher and currently supports our activities whenever and wherever he can. 

Henry Sidsaph: A lecturer in business at the University of Chester, Henry is the incumbent Chair of the branch who is stepping down in May 2021. He has a subject specialism in sustainable development and food networks and an interest in stoic philosophy. He helps the committee as a member supporting where possible. He lives in North Wales and has been a member of the branch for three years.

Web and Social Media: Michael Brassington discovered Humanism just a few years ago. He has undertaken Humanist UK training as a School Speaker and a member of the Dialogue Network. 

 

 

Roles and responsibilities of Branch Executive Committee members

 

Chair:  The Chair is responsible for leading the committee and  for ensuring the committee works towards its strategic goals. They should ensure that an Action Plan is in place and is monitored in order to deliver the strategic goals. The Chair also has a role in other key areas, such as responding to media enquiries, and is responsible for chairing committee meetings.

Vice-Chair:  is a supporting role to the Chair who can deputise at meetings and events and take on responsibilities representing the branch. 

 

Treasurer: The Treasurer is responsible for ensuring the branch has an agreed annual budget and for making sure the finances of the branch are on budget. The treasurer may be responsible for fundraising activities and for being the second authorising person for invoices and expenses.

 

Secretary: The Secretary is responsible for making sure a record of meetings and decisions are kept, that the Shared drive (our online file storage system) is up to date, and that members and supporters in the branch area are kept up to date with information about events, activities, campaigns, and general news. They are responsible for informing Humanists UK of changes to the membership of the committee, volunteers, and other personnel matters.

 

 

Thanks for your interest – your support could really make a difference. 

 

If you would like an informal chat before deciding whether to put yourself forward please call Peter Gaskin on 07817 364277 

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