Another year dominated by the worldwide pandemic of Covid-19, but with improved treatment regimes and a massively successful vaccination campaign, we appear gradually to be returning to some form of normality. We have held one face-to-face Council meeting, and our October National Exhibition went ahead with fair success. This AGM held at our final show of the year \u2013 the Help the Birdkeepers Show \u2013 represents the last gathering of a trying year, and hopefully we can look forward to a continued return to normal life next year. This should include all shows, as well as our social Days Out at various avicultural venues around the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The National Exhibition fortunately produced a much-needed boost to our finances, while previous years of prudent financial management have allowed the Society to survive, while many other charities and societies have not been in such an enviable position, and have gone under. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unfortunately, we lost our very capable treasurer in the summer, and we have not been able as yet to find a replacement. Our secretary Les Rance has successfully continued to run the office, partly working from home, and continued to produce the monthly magazine on time, as well as the on-line BirdScene. Lynda Kleinhans continues to cover one morning in the office, while Anne Wellington has proved a useful and efficient addition to the office staff in busy periods leading up to our shows. The permanent role of treasurer is to be taken over by a part-time book-keeper, with Secretary and Chairman maintaining over-all control of the accounts, and acting as joint signatories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I continue to spend some time on most days working on Parrot Society affairs, including maintenance of our website; answering queries with a veterinary or scientific slant from PS members or the public; dealing with political\/legislative matters; and writing articles. Personally, it has been a busy year, with several deaths and chronic illnesses occurring among family and close friends, as well as a move from Buckinghamshire to Kent. Anyone who has been through both issues will know how time-consuming they can be!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We will be sorry to see the retirement of Garry Steptowe from Council this year. He has been a long-term trustee on Council, and served as Treasurer from 2002-2004, as well as performing the taxing \u2013 but financially worthwhile – task of Gift Aid claims for several years. He is a tireless worker at our shows, assembling and dismantling aviaries, as well as supervising and assisting in the pay kiosks for much of the morning on show days. His encyclopaedic memory for Parrot Society history and psittaculture in general have proved invaluable on many occasions, and his practical and common-sense approach to Council meetings will be sorely missed. Retiring from his primary career in banking several years ago, he has had several more successful years with a complete change as a contract gardener. We wish him and his family and new grandchildren well in his full retirement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am pleased and honoured to have served, and continue to serve, as Chairman of The Parrot Society UK. It has been a challenging year once again, but so far, we have weathered the storm, and together I feel that we can continue to move forward next year. I am now feeling undoubted effects of the advancing years, but as long as I am able, I shall continue to be involved in The Parrot Society UK to the best of my ability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, it remains for me to wish all members and your families a happy and stress-free Christmas, as far as you can. Stay well and healthy, and we look forward to a brighter and better year in 2022. Thank you for your time, interest, hard work, and support!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Another year dominated by the worldwide pandemic of Covid-19, but with improved treatment regimes and a massively successful vaccination campaign, we appear gradually to be returning to some form of normality. We have held one face-to-face Council meeting, and our October National Exhibition went ahead with fair success. This AGM held at our final show […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[44],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1089133","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chairmans-blog"],"yoast_head":"\n