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58th Annual National Conference 1999
Report on the 58th Annual National Conference held 24th / 25th April 1999 at the Pavilion Gardens, Buxton Saturday Afternoon It's Saturday afternoon and the start of the Conference. Naturally as we now had to be indoors the rain stopped and the sun came out ! The Conference was opened by the local Mayor, Councillor Joyce Brocklehurst. She liked our slogan “Life is what you make it”. The Presidential Address was given by Karen Grey, Vice-President who said she'd brought her husband Ian who was busy twiddling his knobs ! The last time we were in Buxton (in 1982) the clocks went forward but the occupants of one hotel all forgot to adjust their clocks. She hoped that this weekend everyone's views will be listened to and respected. She encouraged people to participate in the debate and make the most of the Conference. Numerate (hopefully !) tellers were elected and the voting strength was established as 77. Then after a struggle two ballot paper counters were also elected. The NEC proposed a motion of urgency to allow a National Chairman to be elected at the ANC despite the fact that nominations had not been received by the usual deadline. The motion was carried unanimously. Another motion allowing nominations for the post to be accepted up to the end of the Saturday tea break was carried unanimously. Minutes of the last ANC (held in Hastings last May) were accepted nem con. One of the tellers seemed to be less numerate than had been hoped as he had made 7 + 5 = 13 ! There were no questions on the Annual Report and it was accepted unanimously. Then onto the Federation's accounts. Clive Bryant asked how much the Nicholson House sale proceeds were. Carolyn Edwards, National Finance Officer, replied that it was sold for £150,000 out of which the fees of the estate agent and solicitor were paid. Some of the proceeds will be spent fairly soon on new computers for the office. The accounts were accepted unanimously. Onto the motions. The first motion to be proposed intended to award £100 (out of the sale proceeds of Nicholson House) to every group that increased its full membership in 1999 by 10% or by 5, whichever is the greatest, based on its membership as at December 1998. The motion was proposed by Donna Verrall on behalf of the NEC. Donna held a small show of hands which indicated that all groups present were currently trying to recruit members and would like £100 to spend. An amendment was proposed which would mean that the £100 awards would be taken out of general funds and not from the sale proceeds. The amendment was lost. Debate on the original motion then followed with arguments on both sides. Then the vote on the original motion. The voting strength was now 79 - 39 for, 33 against and 7 abstentions meant a majority of 54% and the motion was passed. The motion concerning the setting up of a National Think Tank was next. This was proposed by Adrian Barnard on behalf of the NEC. After arguments for and against, with the balance of speakers being in favour of the motion, the vote was 86% in favour and the motion was therefore passed. The third motion, to create the post of National Activities Officer, was proposed by Dave Orsler on behalf of the NEC. After a few speakers for the motion it was carried (only 1 vote against). Then onto the election of the National Chairman. The two candidates were Jarrett Smith of Coventry Group and Viv Squires of Solihull Group. After they made their proposal speeches they both answered questions from the floor. The Conference finished for the day.
Sunday Morning After a slightly late start on Sunday morning the voting strength was established as 74 and the Conference went straight onto a motion. The motion proposed that instead of sending full membership fees all to National the groups would only remit 57.5% (half the fee taking VAT into account). The NEC spoke against the motion. They pointed out that the National level of the Federation could not afford to lose this income. Various speakers, all against, followed. The vote was taken (10 for and 67 against) and the motion was lost. The final motion mandated the NEC to adopt various points concerning its Direct Membership scheme. The NEC spoke against the motion and pointed out that there would be a presentation later in the Conference outlining the NEC's intended ideas for this scheme. An amendment was proposed to add an extra point requiring Area Chairmen and the NEC to be consulted about potential Direct Members. The amendment was carried. After much debate the motion was passed. Ballot papers were handed in for the election of the National Chairman. The facility for debate then started. The first subject was group names. Northwich Group have dropped the “18” from their name with success. There was a lot of feeling that dropping it was a good idea. However other groups have had successful publicity which included 18 in the name. The next topic was raised by Clive Bryant who wanted the sale proceeds of Nicholson House to be split seven ways and shared between the NEC and the six Areas. It was pointed out that of the proceeds £60,000 was being kept in reserve to buy new headquarters in the future and that also an unknown proportion of the proceeds will probably have to be repaid to the Department For Education because they partly funded the purchase of Nicholson House. The NEC have been investigating possible uses for this money and had sought ideas for capital expenditure from the members themselves. As smells of lunch wafted into the Conference room and we went to press,
the discussion was continuing.
Sunday Afternoon It's Sunday afternoon and the last session of the Conference. The big news of the morning session was of course the election of the new National Chairman, Viv Squires. Congratulations to her and commiserations to Jarrett. Another topic was raised under facility for National Debate - that of equal opportunities. There was then a presentation made to a representative from Shelter of a cheque for £1,602.41 (the Adopt a Jelly Baby proceeds). A special mention was made of Coventry Group who raised over £600. The next subject for debate was next year's ANC - to investigate what sort of accommodation and evening event members wanted for next year's ANC. Holidays were then discussed including adventure holidays and niche holidays. Andy Bond, National Chairman, gave his address. He said that everyone agrees that the Federation needs to change but said that it has to be well considered change. We must look before we leap ! Activities are important but are not the be all and end all. There are other important issues such as personal development and training in general. Apparently the Federation has changed him from a shy retiring individual into a fat overbearing bastard ! His final thought was that through unity comes strength. Corinna Haywood, Midland Area Chairman, gave a presentation on Direct Membership. A working party was set up to produce a set of guidelines for how it will work - enquiries, members joining and bulk postings being sent out. The additional cost for these postings has to be agreed but a minimum of £8.40 had been suggested. The scheme will be monitored by Jo Woodhead, National Executive Officer. A procedural motion was tabled to return to item 13.5, the discussion on the Direct Membership motion. A two-thirds majority was required but the motion failed to attract sufficient votes. Sandra Cawthra, National Training Co-ordinator, gave a presentation on the Personal Development course. She outlined the aims of 18 Plus and what personal development aims to achieve. The course has been updated and given a more professional image. It now consists of two modules - leadership & presentation skills, and team skills & communication. The course costs hundreds of pounds LESS than courses run by private companies and is run by professionally qualified trainers. The next module is the leadership & presentation skills one - on 27th-28th November. Sandra has sent out questionnaires to get the views of the members on training - please ensure you fill one in. The trophies were then presented
Cobb Dual Purpose 2-pint Jug Mug (best Area in the Federation) - not
awarded
National Recruitment Trophy - Havering Group Best New Group - West Kent Group Development Certificate (best Area undertaking development work) - not awarded Treasurers Trophy - Jeff Carter, Eight Rivers Area Charities Trophy - Reading Group £2093.08 Norbury Trophy (best magazine) - Get Active from Havering Group Gold Trail Trophy (most novel way of raising charity money) - Reading Group The Charles Padgham Training Trophy - not awarded Award Scheme certificates Silver - Terry Drake
National Chairman's Merit Awards - Mark Hewson and Keith Israel Karen Grey, Rebecca White and Linda Street were elected as Vice-Presidents. The answers to the Spice Girls competition were: Carolyn Edwards Tight Spice
The winner was Dave Filer, Coventry Group, and the winner of the National Quiz was Ellie Jones of Bradford Group. The closing address was given by Karen Grey, Vice-President. She talked about the excellent food we've had this weekend - she thinks we've had more food here than at the four Metropole Conferences all together ! She congratulated all the speakers, especially the nervous ones ! She congratulated Viv on her election and wished her well. Karen then reiterated who “National” actually are (your Area Chairmen plus other officers elected them) and pointed out that if members want something done or discussed then they should approach their Area Chairman. She then thanked the background workers, the ANC committee and helpers and ended her speech by quoting from an email received from Nigel Corby, a former National Chairman. “Be proud of your heritage and independence from political influence ! Pass on something better than you inherited.” The Conference was closed by Andy Bond. See you next year.
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