POSTED ON: Monday, 1st June 2009 (2 COMMENTS)

News - The PACE Annual General Meeting 2009

A year passes so quickly and here we are again at AGM time. this year, the meeting was held at BPM Media's stunning new offices on the 6th floor of the Fort Dunlop development. A big thank you goes to them.

News from the AGM includes a new PACE charity for the coming year, the announcement of the Chairman's Cup and Longley Merit Cup winners, the appointment of two new Honorary Vice-Presidents and also the announcement of a new PACE Chairman.

PACE's new charity is the Teenage Cancer Trust. The Trust is currently funding a special wing at the Birmingham Children’s Hospital which should hopefully materialise in 2010. It has also been given the agreement to build a specialist area at the Royal Orthopaedic and, our new super hospital, the Queen Elizabeth Birmingham. All charities are grateful for cash donations but our objective this year is to raise money for specific requirements that will help these young adults to secure a better quality of life.

The Chairman's Cup is awarded to the member of PACE Council that the Chairman believes has made an exceptional contribution over the past year. This year, current Chairman Terri Smart has given the accolade to Lizy Burrows of Aston Villa Football Club. Lizy's tireless work as a key part of the events team and her vital contribution to the events programme has been invaluable. The Longley Merit Cup, which was first awarded way back in 1931, goes to another member of the Council that has made a positive input of the past 12 months. This time, however, voted for by the Council as a whole. The recipient this year is Steve Price of Unsuitable and One Black Bear. Steve has been the chief architect of PACE's new website that you are currently browsing and continues to strive to improve this and all other areas of PACE member communication. Congratulations go to both of them.

This year, PACE has chosen to recognise two long-time contributors with an Honorary Vice-Presidency. The first going to recently departed ex-President, Dean Lovett, CEO of McCann Erickson Communications House Birmingham and the second to ex-Chairman, Paul Bramwell of Brilliant Media Birmingham. Both have been incredibly supportive of PACE over the years and continue to be actively involved. Thank you and huge congratulations to Dean and Paul.

Finally, PACE sees a changing of the guard in the post of Chairman. Terri Smart of The Smart Corporation will be stepping down and handing the reins to Selena Higgins of Global Radio. A big thank you goes to Terri whose massive contribution while in the post of Chairman will continue as she remains on Council. Selena will be grateful for that for sure. Selena has been on Council for over ten years. She takes the post in trying times but no-one is more qualified than her to take PACE forward. Congratulations to Selena.