ElectricAid held its 2017 Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 1st May, in Gateway 3, East Wall Road. It was a fruitful and well supported gathering. Change and renewal were the main themes of the day. We reviewed another strong and successful year where revenue and project funding grew strongly, although membership did show a marginal decline for the first time in 5 years. We funded 152 separate development and relief projects with a fantastic total of €1.18 million – and listed each and every one to the meeting. This accountability is at the heart of the AGM process.
Éadaoin Smith (incoming Chair), Hilary Boyse (Treasurer), Tina Pittock (outgoing Chair), Anne Hogan (Secretary) and James Foley (outgoing manager).
After 15 years of remarkable service James Foley is retiring from his post as ElectricAid’s Fund Manager – this was his final AGM. All agreed that he will be sorely missed and that that we wish him well in the future. The new management team of Fergal FitzGerald and Diane Fannin, assisted for now by our placement student, Michael Sweetman, are in place and raring to go!
There were other changes to the officers and committee. Tina Pittock stepped down after 3 successful years as Chairperson. Tina’s leadership and passion for those less fortunate was inspiring and effective. Tina continues on the Committee. Éadaoin Smith has been elected to the Chair, after a long and hard-working stint as Vice-Chair. Déaglán Ó Dónaill, a former ElectricAid stalwart and Chair, returns as Vice-Chair. The irreplaceable Anne Hogan and the inimitable Hilary Boyse continue as Secretary and Treasurer, respectively.
Our Trustees were not up for election or appointment this year – all continue. They are Paul Cox and Joe Lawlor (ESB Appointees), Mark Lane (EirGrid appointee) and Tony Merriman and Gerry Mooney (staff elected). Pearse Crilly and Emma Fagan stepped down from the Committee. Our newly elected members, Bernadette Kilduff and Sinéad Conlon bring a great blend of experience and youthful enthusiasm. The rest of the Committee are continuing and valuable members – Tina Pittock, Anthony Le Courriard, Peter Kelly, Finola O’Donnell, Niamh Delaney, Gareth Fox, Pauline Holland and John Kelly.
The final and major new development was announced by Tina – the successful conclusion and signing of a new 4-year agreement with ESB, which incorporates a Service Level Agreement, and includes an increased ceiling of ESB matching funding – a 10% increase to €275,000 per annum. Sincere thanks were expressed to ESB for their renewal of their sustained 30-year support for ElectricAid. This agreement sets ElectricAid on a stable development path all the way 2021!
Featured image shows some of the incoming 2018-2019 Committee: (L-R) Peter Kelly, Finola O’Donnell, Tina Pittock, Niamh Delaney, Hilary Boyse, Bernadette Kilduff, Anthony Le Courriard, Déaglán ÓDónaill, Pauline Holland.
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