News

Council Meeting - November 2007

Council met on Tuesday 20 November 2007 at The Society’s Headquarters in Bath.

Council considered the 2006-2010 Strategic Plan that was in place at the commencement of the new Council session.  It was noted that many of the objectives had been met and that the plan needed to be amended to reflect this.  It was also felt to be paramount that the amended plan would need to reflect the results of the recent membership survey were paramount in the way that the plan was constructed.  It was agreed to make necessary amendments to reflect current strengths and weaknesses and once the results of the survey had been incorporated then it would be considered in detail in its final form. 
Responsibilities of the Members of Council were agreed as follows:
Dr. B. Senior – National Media Museum
Mrs. R. Wilman – Journal
Mr. I. Bailey – Finance, Human Resources and Membership Database.
Mr. D. Birch – Groups
Mrs. J. Black – Patronage and PAGB
Mr. R. Moore – Distinctions
Mr. R. Robertson – Regions, Overseas and Exhibitions.
Council considered the latest membership statistics and noted that there were a number of Associates and Fellows who had left the Society.  It was agreed that for an initial period contact would be made with these to try and determine the reasons for their decision not to renew their subscription.
Council considered the possibilities of implementing of a reduced student rate subscription for potential members under the age of 18.  After a brief discussion it was agreed not to implement this.
Council were advised that there was a staff meeting of Tuesday 27 November to discuss all aspects of the current work flow and how additional resources should be introduced if the need should arise.
Mr. Blake reviewed the Management Accounts for the ten months ended 31 October 2007.  The accounts showed a surplus of some £7k but Mr. Blake advised that the invoices for the Awards ceremony and the printing of Portfolio One had been included in these figures.  Mr. Blake advised that he would be projecting these figures to the year end to determine if funds needed to be realised from Investments to pay for items that were special projects and whose initial cost had been taken from the normal day to day cash flow.
Mr. Blake advised of the Special Projects bids that had been received so far.  These bids would be circulated to members of Council at the end of November in readiness for a discussion and decision at the December 2007 Council meeting.
Proposed by Mr. Bailey, seconded by Mr. Robertson ‘that the recommendations of the Distinctions Panels be accepted’.  This motion was carried unanimously.
Dr. Senior raised the question of problems that arose when applicants withdrew their panels prior to the assessment date.  He advised that this practice caused additional work for the Distinctions Department.  It also prevented members who were ready to submit from doing so.  Proposed by Mr. Moore, seconded by Mrs. Wilman ‘that the Society does not refund an applicant’s fee where he/she cancels within two weeks of the assessment panel’.  This was carried unanimously.
Council agreed that they did not want to see a waiting list for Licentiate Assessments of longer than three months.  Noted that there was a meeting of staff members next week whereby matters such as this would be discussed and how the Society could make more resources available to achieve this aim.  It was also agreed that the Distinctions Advisory Board should be asked to debate this matter.    
Dr. Senior advised that the Licentiateship training CD would be available by the end of December 2007.
Dr. Senior reported on the meeting with MAX PR and Events.  The contact for the marketing was due to run out at the end of 2007 and MAX was asked to submit a tender for 2008.  Noted that whilst the PR and Marketing was satisfactory in 2007 MAX had not been successful in raising sponsorship.  It was agreed that, subject to a satisfactory tender MAX PR and Events would be appointed for a further 12 months.  Finally the Trustees discussed the Corporate Patrons and agreed to investigate a possible increase in fees if the Society could increase the perceived value to be gained from the Patronage fee.
It was agreed that the 2008 Annual General Meeting would be held on Saturday 27 September 2008 together with the Advisory Board and Regional Organisers’ meetings. 
Mrs. Black asked Council to consider promoting Patronage for Overseas exhibitions.  Noted that there might be some difficulty with the PSA in America but there might be an interest in South East Asia where funds were available to produce catalogues etc.
The next Council meeting was scheduled for Thursday 20 December 2007 in Bath at 10.30 a.m.