HAVING MY VOICE
The very first Community Pharmacy Northern Ireland (CPNI) Annual General Meeting (AGM) sprang to life over Zoom in my living room ‘COVID-19 hideout’ at 8.00 pm on 25 February 2021.
By Terry Maguire
the meeting, suggesting ‘an oversight’ accounted for not having one in the last thirteen years and he then handed us over to our presidential- looking chairman. James McCaughan.
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For ‘legal reasons’, CPNI had decided to have an AGM, he told us, as he too welcomed all 36 of us. I had hoped that the AGM might be something the Board would see as a healthy and necessary thing to do.
James’ State of the Union speech was encouragingly positive, delivered in his usual friendly, affable style.
Pharmacy had done well, he told us, and he reflected that, last February, CPNI were organising industrial action when COVID-19 struck and it was decided it was our time to shine, and so action was called off.
This was inspired thinking, as it resulted in community pharmacy getting just returns for its sterling efforts when other doors to the health service shut.
James then handed over to the Honorary Treasurer, who discussed the abbreviated accounts which, in financial terms, looked healthier than a butcher’s dog. Asked if anyone had any questions, I came forward with two questions.
Firstly, I wanted to know if he thought that an AGM should be given the same accounts from 2019 that are available on the website of Companies House. Did he not feel that I should have the right to see how my money was being spent by CPNI on my behalf?
He did suggest that I - and any member for that matter - could view the full accounts by making an appointment to visit the office? This is hardly practical at the moment but at least it was something…
Secondly, I addressed the cash balance which - to me - seemed rather large. He suggested that it was to allow for a ‘fighting fund’ which contractors had demanded and would be used so support legal challenges.
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pharmacyinfocus.com
t was a first and all the more joyous as it was such a long time coming! CEO Gerard Greene, tweaking the Zoom controls, welcomed us to
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