63rd AGM Minutes

Held at the Priory Street Centre, York

On the 8^th March 2011 at 7.30pm.

Present: Members were recorded in the attendance book.

Apologies: Janet Bygate

1. The minutes of the 62^nd AGM were tabled, accepted and signed.

2. Matters arising

There were two actions. The first on the Hon.Sec. to post the minutes of the AGM to the website and make paper copies available at a meeting shortly after the AGM. This has yet to be done. The second action was on the appropriate Society Officer to advise the Society of the current membership. The Hon. Treasurer reported we have 77 current members including the new member voted in immediately before the AGM.

3. President's Report

This is the shortest year on record, 4 months since our last AGM this is due to York Philatelic Society now being in line with other Yorkshire Societies, i.e. Summer to Summer.

At the December’s members meeting displays by given by Peter Byrne, Keith Brandon, Janet Bygate, David Antill, Phil Hyde, Phil Weir, Robert Jack and Ralf Peacock – well done everyone. With 22 members attending the New Year meeting “To and From India” by Max Smith we were treated to an excellent display of presented material and early Victorian covers in the second session, well done Max. Attendance was 23 members and 4 visitors.

The February meeting by Joe Goodall on Morocco Agencies was an excellent meeting with 18 attending and 8 apologies.

Thanks on your behalf goes to you all for your help at meetings. Finally thanks to Tony Ward for his work behind the scenes in putting the programme together.

4. Secretary's Report.

This report is for the period November 2010 until now as a result of the change in our Society calendar. There is, therefore, very little to report. Meetings have continued to be well attended and visiting speakers have been given a good sized audience which I am sure makes them feel it is worthwhile visiting our Society to give their talk.

The 14^th December was our Christmas Member’s evening, we had a good number of displays and a great evening. Thanks to Joe for the catering. On the 11^th January Max Smith came and talked to us about “To and from India by Sea” and on the 8^th February Joe Goodall gave us a talk on “Morocco Agencies”. These are all the events since the last AGM.

This coming year we have a number of visiting speakers, and a visit to Bridlington Philatelic Society late in April.

Our annual competition is now in October which gives everyone plenty of time to work up displays for entry – please do try and produce an entry or two to keep our competition alive.

As always I would like to record my thanks to Trevor Collins for continuing to run the bourse every meeting. I would also like to thank, on behalf of the Committee, the work of Susan Kotek as auditor and Captain Philip Hyde for his work in publicising the activities of the Society which he has again done exceptionally well over the past year. Thanks also to Joe Kotek for his ongoing support.

5. Treasurer's Report

The accounts for the 62^nd year ended 31^st December 2010 were tabled. A copy is shown at Appendix A. This year saw a surplus of 1,505.92 which has led to our bank balance rising to 6,933.40.

6. Exchange Packet Secretary's Report

In 2010 there were 54 new boxes circulated amongst the 47 members of the packet. This resulted in sales totalling 3926.66 which equates to an average of 72.71 per packet. Trevor, through his contacts at auctions, has managed to secure new vendors which has enabled the society to offer a better service to its members, if anyone has any ideas to improve the packet, speak to Trevor or myself.

7. Publicity Officer’s Report

Details of the York Philatelic Society's Programme along with contact details have been sent to Stamp Magazine, Gibbons Stamp Monthly, the National Philatelic Society and to the Coin and Stamp Mart. These details were also left at the Stamp and Coin Fair, York Racecourse in January.

Copies of the York Programme were left with stamp dealers in York and at the Wiggington Stamp Fair.

Each month the York and County Press, the Gazette and Herald and the Yorkshire Post are advised of the meeting at Priory Street that month and what will be taking place. Radio York and Minster FM are also advised but seldom pass the details on.

The Yortime website is also kept up to date with the meeting details and contact changes. They have details of the York Philatelic Society Website. These details have also been passed to the York and District Citizen’s Guide, the Handymag and the Local Link. The Handymag has published the details of the Society from time to time but I have not seen anything in the other two publications.

Details of the Society have been passed on to the ABPS and the Yorkshire Philatelic Association along with the fact that the York Society is now in line with the YPA and the date of the Annual General Meeting.

8. Y.P.A. Report

The main item to report on is the Y.P.A. Management Meeting, Held at Morley 0n 27 November 2010.

Despite the bad weather a good number of representatives were present.

Unfortunately, the Treasurer was not able to attend the meeting and consequently the current financial state of the Association could only be discussed in the broader detail. However the Secretary reported knowledge of losses and after discussion a sub-committee was set up to consider and advise on the Associations financial situation. (Comprising David Brown, Richard Wheatley, John Colton, (together with input from Trade liaison officer, Mike Lewis.)

A short report of YPA Convention 2010 hosted by Leeds PS was given by Yvonne Wheatley. The Society was pleased overall with the event but did report a slight financial loss.

Due to the early date of Convention 2011 (7 May 2011) some administrative re-organisation was made, although as York Philatelic Society in not having a Competition before the event, this makes no difference to our Society.

As you know, Next year Convention is being held at Sheffield during the ABPS National Philatelic Exhibition. This will give local philatelists a marvellous opportunity to see some fine displays at meetings and talks and to browse through stamp and postcard dealers stocks. The known cost to YPA to date is £270. Given YPA’s current financial situation, representatives were requested to ask their Societies if they would be willing make a contribution towards this cost – say £20-£25. All donating Societies will be listed in Convention literature. Accordingly, I now ask if York Philatelic Society is willing to make such a donation?

Meeting note by Hon. Sec.: This request was considered at the Society meeting in December and approved.

9. Election of Officers

Peter Byrne proposed that the following as the committee for the forthcoming year:

The above list of members was unanimously approved.

10. 2011 Events Programme

Events programme is available on the website as is the first part of the 2012 programme, the remainder of that is still under development.

11. Other Business

Mike presented his findings of the membership survey. 55 of our 76 surveyed members responded to the request for information. The findings have been broken down in a number of different ways which should be of use for different purposes. Thanks to Phil Hyde and Trevor Collins for help in completing this action. The President thanks Mike for his hard work on this activity.

Peter advised the AGM that the decision had been taken to buy auction lots for breaking down and selling at members at a club auction. Peter reported that a Commonwealth collection has been bought and the first 30 lots from this are on sale at today’s auction. The objective is to make new material available to members.

There were no other items of business. The President closed the meeting at 8.10pm.