CAGS logo on rainbow flagCAGS – Croydon Area Gay Society

For lesbians and gay men in and around Croydon

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Chairperson's Report to the AGM for 2012–2013

Despite an aging membership CAGS continues to thrive. This is due in no small measure to my fellow committee members to whom I would like to pay tribute this evening particularly as one of them is standing down from his post as newsletter editor after many years of unstinting service. I speak of course of Ross. He has built the newsletter up from my rather dull four page black and white effort into a vibrant magazine, twice the size with lots of coloured photographs to remind us of the enjoyment of past events or to whet our appetite for future ones. He has widened the scope of the articles and introduced clever logos to guide us through the various groups that the newsletter features. I was worried who could take over the editor’s role and maintain this high standard but Peter has kindly agreed to step into Ross’s shoes and if Peter’s fine display at the library for LGBT History Month is anything to go by he is likely to follow in Ross’s fine tradition. I cannot emphasise how important the newsletter is in bonding the group together and that and the social calendar are at the very core of CAGS’ existence. Which leads me to digress from the committee to thank all those who have hosted or organised events during the year. Your generosity in doing so is greatly appreciated particularly where it means opening up your own home. And I would also like to mention Peter’s welcome re-introduction of the pub quiz into the CAGS’ diary.

Reverting to the committee again Jim has done an excellent job as membership secretary. Despite the recession our numbers have kept up well and Jim provides a very useful breakdown of the membership and comparisons with previous years. He has also taken over responsibility for finding speakers for our Brief Encounter talks and these continue to entertain and stimulate all those who come along to listen. And I would urge members who have not yet taken the opportunity to do so.

With James’s careful collection of membership fees and Philip’s management of the accounts the CAGS’ finances are once again in the black and hopefully the problems of two years ago are now a thing of the past. Certainly your committee is much more cautious in spending any of the society’s money.

Bryn miraculously manages to create logical minutes from our rambling committee meetings and Stuart continues to contribute sensible advice to our discussions.

On the campaigning front Roger keeps us all up to date with what is current on the political agenda. Peter co-ordinated the CAGS’ response to the Equality Act and the membership was encouraged to take part in the gay marriage consultation, culminating fortuitously in the successful House of Commons vote being announced at the same time as a pre Brief Encounter dinner. A reply was received from the Queen to our loyal address to her as part of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations and our queries concerning the attitude of many of her Commonwealth countries to the LGBT community was passed on to the Foreign Secretary to answer. Needless to say there has been no response.

I have already mentioned Peter’s display on gay scientists and mathematicians for LGBT History Month and Ross and Roger did their excellent stand for local LGBT groups. Venturing outside the committee for a moment Ray continued to do sterling work for this event and managed to get both the Brit School and Croydon College to take part which was quite a coup. He has also been running the monthly Rainbow Reading Group which has increased in size over the year.

Ross continues to organise the popular Silver Rainbow lunches and to run the LGBT Croydon website which the committee see as a possible successor to Crocus which we had been hoping would be an umbrella organisation for LGBT organisations in the borough but which has sadly fallen into abeyance with its officers failing to give a clear lead or even to hold any meetings for its members (of which CAGS is one).

Looking to the future Roger is doing sterling work to build up an active lesbian section in CAGS, a deficiency the committee has been concerned about for many years. And Ray has been facilitating a self help group of LGBT asylum seekers to assist them in putting their cases to the Home Office, directing applicants to national organisations which specialise in these matters and providing a forum in which they can assist each other.

Many LGBT organisations have folded over the years because key personnel have been lost. CAGS is very fortunate in the quality and dedication of its committee members.

I am indebted to them and so should CAGS be.

David Page, Chairperson, 8 May 2013