Council met on the 18 August 2009 at Fenton House, 122 Wells Road, Bath
Mr. Blake reported on the meeting with Compustat and advised that instructions had been given for them to produce draft text for letters to be sent to lapsed members as agreed at a previous Council meeting. 
Dr. Kaye reported on the internet survey that he had produced and that was now available on the Society’s website.
Mr. Blake reported that Mrs. S. Beaugeard – Services Liaison Officer would retire on the 22 October 2009. 
Noted that the Society had received 20 applications for Post Graduate bursaries.  Of these one had been awarded. Council reviewed the Distinction Handbook noting that this revision would be made available in PDF format on the Society’s website.  It was agreed that once all the new information had been received and incorporated into version 2 then it would be available as a printed booklet.  Mrs. Wilman raised the question of presentation of Distinction Certificates.  It was noted that this would normally be done by the President or Vice-President but it was agreed that in the absence of both of these then the Regional Organiser would be authorized to make the presentations.
Council noted that there had been an approach from India to exhibit the International Print Exhibition in that country.  It was agreed to consider the costs involved.    
It was agreed to continue with the RAC Exhibition and that the Exhibition Committee be asked for suggestions for the content of future showings. 
Mr. Bailey tabled costings for Think Photography 2010.  It was agreed to consider this matter at the September Council meeting.
Imaging Abstracts – Mr. Birch stressed the need to get Society material from PIRA following the latter’s decision to cease publication of this journal.  Mr. C. Roberts, Past President, had been in contact with PIRA but had not received any satisfactory answers.  It was agreed that a letter drafted by Mr. Birch be sent to PIRA.
Mr. Birch and Dr. Kaye reviewed the new website.  Council was very appreciative of the work that these two Trustees had done in collaboration with Omni.  The need for Groups and Regions to take ownership of their own sites was stressed and it was agreed that where the Society’s site could not accommodate the needs of a Group or Region then the use of an additional site would be permissible provided that it complied with corporate guidelines.
It was noted that 4 members of the CPA would be visiting the UK in October 2009 for the opening of the CPA exhibition.  There was now a need to finalise the programme for their visit.
Mr. Birch stated that he was still trying to arrange a meeting of those members of the Visual Journalism Group that had expressed an interest in trying to resurrect the Group.
Historical Group leaflet – Council received a request from the Group for financial help with the production of a leaflet to try and attract new members.  It was noted that the Group had certain connections to course tutors and this might help the Society as a whole and should be a joint approach.
Council considered a proposal from Mrs. Agar for the creation of a booklet to market the Society and be used as a recruitment tool.  If this project went ahead it would mean that other individual pieces of Society material would be redundant.  Council asked for further information prior to giving final approval. 
The next meeting will be held on the 25 September 2009 in Bath.