Hi Folks

It's October and we all know what that means. (Well maybe you don't but you're about to!) October is GAL AGM time. The opportunity for you to find out what GAL have been getting up to in the last 12 months and a chance for you to participate in choosing new GAL committee members to serve on our committee for the next year. It's also a time when we usually say goodbye to some hard working volunteers but (hopefully) say hello to some new ones!

The AGM will be held at the SPCA AWC, Bothwell Bridge, Hamilton on Sunday 29th October at 11am sharp. We'll have a run down of the last 12 months in the life of GAL and reports from all our volunteers who have been doing specific jobs for us this year. Please note that the AGM is only open to fully paid up members of GAL.

At the AGM we'll also be voting in a new committee to run GAL for the next 12 months. As a GAL member you have the right to nominate people onto the committee. The Management Committee is made up of 4 'Honorary' members and additional 'Representative' members. The Honorary positions are Convenor, Vice-Convenor, Treasurer & Secretary. These are currently held by Glenda Young, Esther Steele, David Melville and Jason Lang respectively. The current Representative Members are Denise McGranaghan and Susan Lang.

If you'd like to nominate anyone into any of these positions you need to let me know in writing at least 3 days prior to the AGM who you wish to nominate. Remember, you must speak to the person you are nominating first and any person you nominate MUST be a GAL member. For anyone joining the committee, it is expected that, in addition to attending our monthly committee meetings, they will take a full and active part in the running of the charity. This includes taking up 1 or more GAL 'jobs' (for example Events Co-Ordinator, Volunteer Co-Ordinator etc).

Every member will be receiving, in the post, over the next couple of days an invite to the AGM with instructions on how to nominate.

Working as a volunteer has tremendous ups and downs. It is also hard work for our current core bunch of volunteers. If you can spare a couple of hours each night and some weekends then WE NEED YOU. This year we're looking for able bodies to get involve in the continuing Kennel Fund activities (organising events, can collections and just coming up with great ideas to raise funds for our dream). We also need people experienced in Event organising who can take on the role as GAL's Event Co-ordinator for the next 12 months. We also have a number of other jobs that need done, some ongoing through the year and some 'one off' projects we'd like to get off the ground. If you can help please let me know and I can give you more details and assess how best your skills would benefit GAL.

We hope to see as many of you as possible at the AGM. It's important for the charity as a whole that we get a good attendance. It's also great to hear your feedback on GAL. See you all on the 29th.