Packed meeting for Ardglass Community Centre AGM
There was a large and enthusiastic turnout at the recent AGM for Ardglass Community Centre.
The committee was able to report a continuing strong financial position with further renovations to the Community Centre.
It supports a wide range of community events being held in the village throughout the year. The AGM was also supported by trustees Marcy McCargo and Parish Priest Father McCluskey.
Local Alliance Councillor Cadogan Enright was independent chair for the meeting and congratulated the outgoing committee for their work.
Cllr Enright said: “This sort of volunteer community work is the bedrock of our social network here in Ardglass and Lecale in general.
“Without people like this the tight-knit supportive envelop of our local community could not exist. This committee started with very little in their bank account and a building that needed renovations to support all the activities that community groups around the village need to run.
“The outgoing committee has done a remarkable job and it is a pleasure to be asked once again to chair the AGM.
“I commend in particular the work of Margaret Smyth who received on behalf of the committee the ‘Health and Wellbeing Award 2022’ in the Council’s Civic Awards ceremony during the summer.
“It is no surprise to see the large turnout supporting the community centre AGM and the willingness of volunteers to be appointed to the new committee.”
Margaret Smyth was appointed Chair of the incoming committee, with Elaine Darragh appointed as incoming treasurer. Tracey Close was appointed vice chair and Vicki Haslett was appointed secretary.
Incoming Chair Margaret Smyth said” “We were delighted to achieve charitable status this year and our committee is going from strength-to-strength.
“I want to thank Father McCluskey for the Church’s ongoing support of our work in Ardglass and also Newry Mourne and Down District Council for their ongoing Service Level Agreement.”
Councillor Enright, who is also a Chartered Accountant, commended the committee’s use of on-line technology and said: “This may be the first cashless charity in County Down where all funds are paid by community centre users on smart-phones directly to the Community Centre’s bank account.
“This provides tremendous transparency and results in annual accounts that can be drafted in just half an hour annually. I would commend this model to other community organisations in the district as a valuable method of saving volunteers time.
