Present: Gaye Hiçdönmez, Simon Cole, Frances Melling, James Gabriele, Claudia
Turgut, Jonathan Soper, and Shirley Öztürk and Paul Ramsay as members of
council. Shane Campbell, Lady Moody-Stuart as (prospective) trustees and 27
members of the community.
There were no minutes of a previous meeting as this was an EGM, and these
minutes will be presented for approval at the next AGM together with those of
the previous AGM. The amended statutes had been circulated, were available on
the web site and there were a few copies available in the room.
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked everyone for
coming. He pointed out that this was an historic meeting. The BCC had been
operating in a ‘grey’ area for too long and if the changes to the statutes and
appointment of trustees were approved today the BCC would become a charity
registered with the Charities Commission. This was something that had the
wholehearted support of the Vali responsible for the activities of charities in
Turkey. Explaining the procedure the chairman said this meeting will be in two
parts; a vote on the amended statues, then the council was to appoint the
trustees, after which, the statues would be put to the meeting with the trustees
present.
The Chairman invited discussion from the floor.
Mr Duncan Blake explained, “That the purpose of the council had been
abbreviated to what they had been in the past, while raising money for worth
while charities and primarily for residences anywhere in Turkey, who are unable
to support themselves. Other purposes of the council in the past had been to
bridge relationships between the Turkish and British communities, to organise
social functions for British community members and though not called upon much
at the moment, to provide hospitality for visiting British servicemen. Hence,
that the purpose of the council was too narrow. That any future council, not
aware of this history would choose to ignore these important roles.”
The Chairman responded by saying, the had discussed this point at length and
come to the conclusion that nothing was precluded. If you look at the powers of
the council, you will see that even hospitality for forces is included.
The Chairman proposed that the amended statutes be accepted as the statutes
of the British Community Council. This was seconded by the Acting Hon Secretary
and put the vote. The statutes were passed..
The Chairman explained that it was now necessary, under the statutes just
passed, for the council to convene to appoint Trustees. He was sorry to say that
Rosemary Cordan felt that she couldn’t commit herself to being a trustee at this
time for personal reasons he explained, and asks that we excuse her. He pointed
out that two trustees were acceptable to Charities Commission and that the
council would be appointing a third in due course. He asked the two prospective
trustees to introduce themselves to the meeting.
Shane Campbell told the meeting to laughter that he needed little
introduction. He had been consular officer in this very building for twenty-five
years and was very familiar with the work of the BCC. Explaining the importance
of the BCC work and how badly the pensioners needed this income to survive.
Going on to tell of the background of the council that he would consider this
role quite an honour.
Lady Moody-Stuart told the meeting that she had come to Istanbul in 1986,
that she speaks Turkish. Introducing those present to many of the fund raising
aspects she has been involved plus setting up two charities. She feels very
comfortable joining the BCC as a trustee.
[The council convened and unanimously appointed Shane Campbell and Lady Judy
Moody-Stuart as trustees of the BCC]
The Chairman then welcomed the trustees as members of the BCC, thanked for
their assistance and said he was sure that the organisation was now in a
position to go from strength to strength.
He then put the statutes to the meeting again with the trustees present and
they were passed nem con.
That ended the formal part of the meeting, the Chairman then asked the Hon
Treasurer to present a banking report.
She said that commitments for 2006 were approx YTL 40,000 Income from events
YTD approx YTL 18,000 Anticipated income from ROY events YTL 12,000 Balance to
be met by interest earned YTL 10,000
The Chairman thanked the Hon Treasurer for her stewardship of hard-earned
funds, and asked the Hon. Relief Officer to tell the meeting a little about the
needs of the recipients.
C T explained the situation of the pensioners, and stressed the need for
people to visit them. (Report attached to minutes).
The Chairman thanked the Hon. Relief Officer for looking after the old people
so well, and asked the Hon. Events Coordinator to tell the meeting a little
about the events coming up.
G H listed the dates of forthcoming events, and thanked J S for his support
on venues. Details given below:
| 29th Oct |
Agatha Christie Evening at Pera Palace |
| 4th Nov |
Dinner Dance Evening
at Ceylan Intercontinental Hotel dates tbc |
| |
Glass workshop in Beykoz and Archaeological port and harbour
visit |
| Dec |
Annual Christmas Pantomime – Dick Whittington |
| Dec |
Christmas Party |
| Dec |
Christmas mystery tour including Carols |
| 2007 |
Picnic fun day, quiz challenge bringing the community
together, May Ball, sports day BBQ, Boat trip plus any other
ideas are welcomed. |
F M informed that the Speech Bubbles had pulled out from the Agatha Christie
evening and therefore volunteers are required for the play.
The Chairman concluded the meeting saying: “BCC also stands for Bringing
Communities Closer” and that is what we are doing. He thanked everybody and the
Consul General for the night and handed over to the trustees. Lady Judy Moody
Stuart and Shane Campbell both expressed they will working together and keeping
a close eye on BCC. Lady Judy Moody Stuart proposed Mrs Gillian Gee, wife of a
former (now late) Consul General, as the third trustee who is very interested in
Turkey. The members expressed their satisfaction to this and the Chairman
confirmed that he would write to her formally asking her to be the third
trustee. The Chairman asked for any other business of which there was none, and
the meeting closed at 7pm
Signed as a true and accurate record of the meeting on 25th September 2006.
Trustees:
Shane Campbell MBE Lady Moody-Stuart
____________________________ ___________________________
Pensioners’ Report September 2006
• Mathilda Caragia
CT visited her on the 21st September at her friend’s in Moda and had a
delightful time with the two old ladies. As this was the first visit, CT did not
take the beneficiaries form. She is in dire financial straits so she agreed that
next time we would complete it together. Apparently she did not receive an
increase last year. She was in fine form but apparently needs a hysterectomy.
Says the food at Artigiana is fine but not enough! E.g. breakfast which
residents eat in their own rooms. Each month one jar of jam, one packet of sana
etc is doled out. Perhaps we can supplement from time to time? VS visits her
sometimes.
• Argentina Karsoglu (Tina)
CT found out that Beverley Westbrook has been visiting her for some time now.
She is the one who has been collecting her pension from the consulate. CT
contacted Bev who told her that Tina used to go to the UK a lot as a cousin
would pay for her ticket etc. She had a full hysterectomy while in the UK.
However, the cousin has since died so she is now here. Another cousin works in
the Greek Consulate so they pool resources. She wants to rent out an extra room.
CT phoned her and luckily found her in but on the point of going to visit her
son in Greece. She will be back at the end of the month and will contact CT, who
plans to visit her with Liz Yurdum, another volunteer. She is very happy to have
visitors.
• Ayda Cinnoz
She is visited regularly by Kay Oosthuizen who collected the information for
the beneficiaries form of which CT has copies. Her pension was increased to 500
liras per month at the meeting last month.
• Anita Szander
VS has visited her as she lives in the Galata area but apparently she does
not speak English so a joint visit will be organized with CT (or any other
Turkish speaker).
• George Mizzi
CT met him for the first time at Dorothy Poad’s funeral. There is a very nice
article about him in the August 2006 British Council Newsletter (copies
available from CT). He is thoroughly delightful. VS usually visits him.
• Leyla Burdon
She has been insistent that she does not want to see anyone but after a phone
call this afternoon, for the first time, she admitted that she was not very
well. She appeared to be all alone in her flat. She confessed that she was not
eating much and that the medicine she had, was old. CT said she would like to
visit her, perhaps this week, and she did not resist the idea this time but said
to call beforehand.
• Dorothy Poad
After being bedridden for about 3 years in Balikli Rum Hastanesi, Dorothy
died in early September. There was a mass said for her at Bomonti by Father
Felice, the priest who had been visiting her, followed by burial in Ferikoy
Cemetery nearby on Friday 8th September. This was attended by a few of the BCC
and some of the nuns and residents from Bomonti as well as the Vice Consul.
25.9.06
