Wed, 11 Mar 2009
2008 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING MINUTES
Isle Of Man Natural History & Antiquarian Society Minutes of the 128th Annual General Meeting
Held at the Manx Museum, Douglas, Isle of Man on Saturday 15th March 2008 at 2.30 p.m.
The President, Kate Hawkins, took the Chair of the meeting and welcomed the 48 members present to the 128th Annual General Meeting.
1. Apologies
The Rt. Revd Graeme Knowles, John and Hilary Bool, Dr. and Mrs. Paul Bregazzi, Michael Bridson, Paul Chambers, Mrs DC Cringle, Allison Fox, Andrew Foxon, Charles Guard, Andrew Johnson, Judy Kee, Martin & Elaine Moore, Geoff & Sue Pickles, Patricia Skillicorn
2. Minutes
The Minutes of the 127th Annual General Meeting held on 17th March 2007 were circulated to members prior to the meeting. Their adoption was proposed by David Wilson, seconded by Valerie Cottle and unanimously agreed.
3. President’s Report
Kate Hawkins: This year as President has brought home to me just how impressive the Society’s record is in several respects. Firstly it has dawned on me how, over the many years of its existence, the Society has steadfastly continued to foster the communication of knowledge about the Island through its consistently excellent Proceedings. Thanks to the talents of our editors, and I count the current Honorary Editor very much among them, the Proceedings retain consistently high standards that are the envy of similar societies in other countries.
Secondly, I have become more aware of the Society’s role in establishing some of our most cherished institutions. The Manx Museum is one of these of course but I also discovered, in preparing my talk about the Calf of Man Bird Observatory in November, just how much the Society helped to place the new Observatory on the ornithological map in its early days, not least by contributing to the cost of bird rings and publishing the first annual reports.
Thirdly, I continue to be impressed by the generally high level of interest shown in our field meetings at a time when there are so many events organised by other organisations on the Island to choose from. This is due in no small part to our current Hon. Excursions Secretary organising a mouth-watering programme but it is also down to you, the members, continuing to show support.
We should not rest on our laurels of course, there is still plenty of work on and we need to keep thinking of new ideas to attract more members, in particular how to tempt children and young people to join us in local studies. Our twice-yearly Newsletter is a more palatable way of delivering information to a wider audience, but it is important that contributors to it do not just consist of the Committee! So, if you do have something to say: a short article perhaps, notices of relevant events, reviews of books etc. please contact one of the Committee’s members.
One milestone this year has been the ‘going live’ of the Society’s website, thanks to the hard work and skills of Charles Guard. Do visit this – it’s your website and again, if you have any suggestions for updates, any photographs of Society activities or indeed any comments at all please let the Committee know -–www.manxantiquarians.com.
Over this last year there has been a varied programme of activities. The winter lectures brought topics as diverse as war internees n drag and Manx butterflies. We shall hear later on about excursions around the Island and further afield and also learn about field work activities and how our new look Proceedings are shaping up. The Secretary and I represented the Society at the Lord Bishop’s last sermon at Malew Church and several members attended a day conference on Biodiversity and Conservation at the Erin Arts Centre in February. The Committee has taken an active role in planning issues and has commented on behalf of the Society, particularly in connection with buildings and features of historic interest. Later in the meeting you will be asked to consider a proposed resolution on the Society'’ involvement in preserving old farm buildings.
This AGM marks the beginning of the new subscription rates agreed last year. I think that members will find the Proceedings, and other benefits of belonging to the Society, will make the higher cost of the subscription worthwhile.
To me, the role of President has been as much about facilitating as leading, and in this I have been very ably supported by the Committee and other officers, particularly as ever, by our Secretary who produced minutes and letters at lightning speed. My thanks go to all. In particular I would like to thank Charles Guard who is retiring from the Committee this year after devoting much time, support and skill to the Society.
Finally, ladies & gentlemen, I think this Society should be proud of its many achievements and can look forward to maintaining a modern, friendly, enthusiastic and inclusive approach to promoting interest in Manx history and natural history. I hope you will agree.
4. Treasurer’s Report
Ian Wrench presented the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2007. Copies were available at the meeting and he apologised that they were not sent out with the Notice of the meeting. This was not deliberate. He did not get the timing right. Copies were available at the meeting.
The accounts showed a deficit for the year of £1,566, principally resulting from the production of a copy of the Proceedings and the creation of the Society’s website, offset by the receipt of a full year’s investment income in 2007.
He drew members’ attention to the figure for lectures, excursions etc., this was for the Irish trip, self-financed by those who went. There had been no changes in the Society’s investments during 2007 and the deficit was reflected in the reduction of our bank balance. Overall we are in a healthy state, with net assets of £49,509. He thanked our Auditor, Eddie Fryer, for his usual good services.
The adoption of the Treasurer’s report was proposed by Jonathan Kewley, seconded by Martin Moore and unanimously agreed.
5. Reports of Officers
Hon. Editor: Valerie Cottle reported that Proceedings Volume XII No. 1 was out on time and she was now working on No. 2. She thanked all the contributors. Reports of excursions were being included as she felt they were a very important part of the Society’s activities as well as being enjoyable outings.
Hon. Excursion Secretary: Barbara Doyle reported that the second attempt to reach the summit of South Barrule failed but looking for invertebrates in Ballaglass Glen had proved very successful. The visit to Ellerslie Farm and the Chapel of St. Runius had to be cancelled due to the foot and mouth restrictions but was planned again for this summer. Taking twenty children to the Energy from Waste Plant had also proved successful, with twenty returning safely. All the excursions had been well attended. The excursions for the coming summer would be listed in both the Newsletter and the accompanying programme which would be mailed the following week.
Hon. Membership Secretary: Andrew Foxon’s report was read by the President: “I was immensely grateful to Jack Kaighin for passing on the membership lists and documents in such good order. It made coming to grips with the membership lists (and the secret coding on the labels!) so much easier.
Each year sees a number of members lost from the roll through death or by choice, but overall we saw an increase in the number of subscriptions and memberships, so that at the end of the membership year we had 112 life subscriptions, 169 by annual cheque and 76 subscriptions by standing order, resulting in a total number of 470 members – up by 18 over the previous year, with us welcoming 20 new individual or family memberships in the year.
I am especially grateful to those who pay promptly and hope I have now smoothed some of the delays I hit late in 2007, which meant that I was less prompt about banking subscriptions I had been given. You should see an improvement already this year!
Hon. Librarian: Susan Chambers reported that Summer 2007 saw the publication of Volume XI, Number 4 of the Society’s Proceedings, the last number in Volume XI and also the last to be sold spearately from members’ subscriptions. In the short time for sales since then, 115 have been distributed and sold to members, other societies and libraries.
Volume XII No. 1 is now published and available to those members who have paid their subscriptions for 2008 and Life Members to buy. She has spent a considerable amount of time on the computer checking the catalogues of libraries in the UK and Ireland and, as a result, has identified a number of libraries with book stock pertaining to the Isle of Man. From this information she has compiled a mailing list of libraries and to these is sending publicity regarding the publication of the Proceedings. She has cast her net wide and awaits any catch!
6. Election of Officers The following were willing to stand for election and as no other nominations had been
received the following were elected for the coming year:-
President of the Society: Jonathan Kewley
Proposed by Kate Hawkins, seconded by David Wilson and unanimously agreed.
Vice-President of the Society: Frank Cowin
Proposed by Kate Hawkins, seconded by Nigel Crowe and unanimously agreed.
Hon. Treasurer: Ian Wrench
Hon. Secretary: Clare Bryan
Hon. Editor: Valerie Cottle
Hon. Librarian: Susan Chambers
Hon. Excursion Secretary: Barbara Doyle
Hon. Membership Secretary: Andrew Foxon
Committee: William Cain, Marshall Cubbon, Kate Hawkins, Andrew Johnson, Patricia Skillicorn
Proposed en bloc by Anne Kaye, seconded by Bernard Osborne and unanimously agreed.
7. Motion
Concerning the construction of replacement houses in the Manx countryside:
Nigel Crowe thanked the Committee for allowing him to raise this important issue and the recent efforts of the Society to raise the profile of the issue. The established pattern of quarterland farms and other groups of traditional buildings in the Manx countryside were of central importance to the historic character of the landscape, yet the transition of farmsteads from agriculture into high status residential use posed a threat and Nigel considered that the issue of “replacement dwellings” and the future of Manx farmsteads were legitimate concerns for the Society. DoLGE was advertising off-Island for expert firms to progress, over three years, the possible registration of some 300 buildings including some farms, and although this development was welcome, replacement was still a threat.
In conclusion, Nigel called on the Society to seek an assurance from the Planning Authority that it will continue to adhere to the relevant policy governing the extension of traditional houses and the erection of replacement houses in the countryside, as set out in the Strategic Plan (adopted by DoLGE and approved by Tynwald).
On a show of hands, all present were in favour of adopting Nigel Crowe’s Motion.
David Wilson drew the Society’s attention to the Southern Plan and asked for a letter of support be sent to DoLGE asking to take part in the consultation process.
8. Appointment of Auditor
Ian Wrench thanked Eddie Fryer, Hon. Auditor, who had expressed his willingness to act as Auditor for the coming year. His appointment was proposed by Ian Shields, seconded by Sheila Shields and unanimously agreed.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 3.25 p.m.
President
Following the formal business of the meeting, the newly-elected President, Jonathan Kewley, thanked Kate Hawkins for all she had done for the Society in her year of Presidency. She then gave an excellent summary of the ongoing research project recording dragonflies and damselflies in the Isle of Man.