Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2025 SUMMARY
Thank You!
The HHCA would like to thank everyone who attended the AGM. The board members provided summaries of the year and outlook for 2025.
VACANCIES
The Board currently holds 4 filled positions and 5 vacant positions. If you would like to volunteer on the board there is still an opportunity. Just contact us to discuss your area of interest:
secretary
communications
director at large (x3)
Meeting Notes
The following are the summarized notes from the meeting:
Date: February 27, 2025
Time: 7:06 PM to 8:15 PM
Location: FCSS - 209, 2nd Ave W, Cochrane, AB. T4C 2K8
& Google Virtual Meeting
1. Welcome and Housekeeping
1.1. Cynthia welcomed those in attendance (in person and online).
1.2. Light refreshments were available at the back.
1.3. New Membership was available for sign up at the door and by e-transfer.
1.4. Washrooms were outside the doors to the left.
1.5. Egress was by the stairwell at the end of the hallway.
2. Call To Order
2.1. The meeting was Called to Order at 7:06 PM.
2.2. Quorum was met by counting 5 online Members and 5 in-person Members.
2.3. The Notice of the AGM was sent by email to the current distribution list, 21 days before the meeting date.
2.4. The AGM was advertised by email, on Facebook, the HHCA website, signs around HH, and door to door.
3. Introductions and Updates
3.1. Timothy Nesher – Events and Fundraising
· Timothy was on an earlier version of the bord, moved away and moved back to Cochrane.
· Timothy provided an update on the events program put on by the HHCA.
· Events in 2025 were bigger and better due to grant money this past year. Plans for 2025 include speaking with more local businesses for partnership opportunities.
· An annual calendar for 2025 is posted on the website. Include 2 events shared with Heartland: Garage Sale in May and Business Fair in September.
· We are asking local food trucks to participate and looking to build a new Small Business Directory.
· Next event will be the Easter Egg Hunt which is planned for April 19th, 2025.
· We are looking for volunteers at this and all events.
3.2. Cynthia Nemeth - President
· Cynthia has been taking up various roles, including Secretary / Admin, networking and building relationships with other CA’s, and communications (posters, social media posts, and now website updates).
· Looking for new people to fill board vacancies. Cynthia would like to spend 2025 transitioning new board members into positions to take over with confidence next year.
· Thanked the Board for contributing their time and the residents of HH for participating and contributing to the community.
3.3. Nikki Anguish – Community Garden
· Has filled various roles for the board over the past 5 years. She is ready to move on from the board but will continue to help with the garden.
· The HHCA has 20 garden boxes to rent each year. The cost is $20 for Members or $40 for non-Members. Water is provided by a nearby tap. The HHCA pays the water bill every month. We worked with the Town on this new monthly system to correct some mistakes because we were over-charged.
· The boxes will be available in 4-6 weeks for the 2025 season.
· Improvements to the garden itself included gravel between the boxes to eliminate trimming and erosion. Fence upgrades will be complete by May 1st.
1.1. Mark Haynes – Vice President
· Started out as Events director and now the Vice President.
· As we are looking for new board members and volunteers Mark suggests that the time commitment may be preventing people from coming forward but clarifies that it is only bursts of time at events, not year-round.
· He wants to spend 2025 working toward a strong community with a positive image within Cochrane.
· Heritage Hills is a place where we all care about our community and look out for and help each other.
1.2. Terri Haynes - Treasurer
· Terri reported that the accounting books are in order and up to date. We operate on a cash accounting system, not an accrual one.
· The 2024 audit is in progress.
· Overall we are sitting better this year than last year with help from the grants and garden rentals.
· The 2024 end balance was approximately $4,000. Some of which is slated for the Easter event and also for the remainder of the Garden Improvements – also under grant obligations.
· The largest expense is insurance of about $1,000 per year, we also have website expenses. Otherwise, we endeavor to keep spending to a minimum. When we spend money we look for ways to build assets, for example we purchased a coffee carafe which we can use at all future events rather than purchasing from Tim Horton’s per event.
· We are putting together a list of assets.
4. Questions and Comments from the Attendees
4.1. Events for people with no kids – looking at this, including changing dates of AGM to have it in a tent in the community in a warmer month coupled with adult event.
4.2. Casino for fundraising – we updated the by-laws in 2024 and have the ability to pursue this fundraising program. We need help to get it into motion.
4.3. Unkept green spaces – Cochrane doesn’t have an “adopt-a-park” program; specifically looking at entrance gardens / weeds.
4.4. Dog poop – a problem across Town
4.5. Membership – we had about 80 in 2024. Renewals for 2025 are at approx.. 30 so far. Going door-to-door is hit-and-miss: Louise did a fantastic job last year, but we had low response for this AGM. We expect more people to re-new or sign up at in-person events throughout the year.
4.6. Which events were successful – last year the BBQ had the biggest turn out, the Easter event is consistently a hit. The least successful was the garden launch – people who want a box just contact us directly. People always come out to see Santa and Halloween usually draws good numbers.
4.7. What drives success – family events with families/kids: the hockey tournament; Halloween fun and Santa as well.
4.8. How does the Town Support – sometimes they help and support (small event grant money, providing a community liaison but also losing this position after a year or two, irregular meetings with all CA’s to bring up issues but get no resolve or follow up); sometimes they stand in the way and say “no” to a lot of ideas and we get contradictory feedback from different departments.
5. Approval of 2024 Meeting Minutes
5.1. Timothy confirmed that copies of the 2024 AGM meeting minutes were distributed along with the Notice of AGM on February 1, 2024. The package was also posted on the website.
5.2. It is routine that at the AGM, the previous year’s meeting minutes are approved or amended.
5.3. Timothy motioned to pass the 2024 meeting minutes.
5.4. There was no objection from anyone in attendance, either in person or online.
5.5. The 2024 meeting minutes were approved.
6. Bylaw Updates
6.1. Timothy explained that in 2023 the Board worked on reviewing and improving the HHCA bylaws.
6.2. The draft bylaws were distributed along with the Notice of AGM on February 1, 2025. The package was also posted on the website.
6.3. Timothy motioned to pass the draft bylaws.
6.4. There was no objection from those in attendance.
6.5. The draft bylaws were approved.
6.6. The Board will register the amended bylaws with the Alberta Government.
7. Election of The Board
7.1. Timothy explained that all positions on the Board are available, went through each position, asked who was interested in each position and recorded the names of those interested.
7.2. The Members in attendance voted to fill each position of the 2025 HHCA board, with the following results:
· President: Cynthia Nemeth
· Vice President: Mark Haynes
· Treasurer: Terry Haynes
· Secretary: Vacant
· Events Director: Timothy Nesher
· Communications Director: Vacant
· Director at Large 1: Vacant
· Director at Large 2: Vacant
· Director at Large 3: Vacant
8. Adjournment
8.1. The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 PM