Annual general meeting

The 2007 annual general meeting of Arthritis Care was held at the British Library, St Pancras, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DBon Saturday 14 July 2007 at 1.30pm on Saturday 14 July 2007 at 1.30pm.

The event was chaired by Arthritis Care president Jane Asher and was attended by members, staff and volunteers. The meeting included an address by Helen Barbour, the widow of Arthur Mainwaring Bowen, founder of the British Rheumatic Association, which later became Arthritis Care.

Sharon Kilty, South England information services manager, gave a presentation about the virtual group being set up, which aims to put people with arthritis in touch with each other via the internet. Roy Whithear, honorary treasurer, gave an update on Arthritis Care’s hotels and also presented the accounts to members.

Neil Betteridge, chief executive, and Jo O’Boyle, director of marketing and fundraising, introduced 'Putting People with Arthritis First', the charity’s five-year strategic plan.

Rosemary Blair, chair of Arthritis Care, gave an address which drew members’ attention to the annual report of the trustees and touched on the charity’s future direction in line with the five year plan.

The meeting noted the election of Ann Frye, visiting professor University College London, as a directly elected trustee and Samantha Peters, chief executive British Society for Rheumatology, was elected as a specially appointed trustee.

The AGM was also notified of the election by the board of trustees of Rosemary Blair and Ann Heaton as chair and vice chair respectively.

The minutes of the 2007 AGM are now available for download.