Report to AGM of the Branches and Members Committee  14 May 2010  

Meetings since AGM in Leicester, 9/5/09:

1.Birmingham Midlands Institute, 6/6/09;

2.London Institute for Hist.Research,19/9/09;

3.London NCVO,Branch Officers' Meeting,7/11/09

4.London NCVO, 6/2/10. 

Committee Members:

• Chairholder: Mr.Ian C.Mason, FHA
  Hon.Sec of Cumbria Branch;
• Deputy Chairholder: Mr.John Till
  Shropshire Branch Officer;
• Professor G.Batho; G.Bisson;T.Blunden; R.Burgess; J.Golding; R.Hill; R.Hughes; T.Lomas; E.Matthew;
  E.Muirhead; A.Rogers; J.Saul; A.Wagstaff; E.Yates;
  D.Waller

 

Changes inspired by Branches and Members Committee

• Rationalisation' of Quota Payments from Head Office, (‘minimum of £200 and no branch to receive less than under present system')
• Joan Lewin Awards to Branches,
  £2,500 p.a.
• Branch Officer Resources online:
  advice sheets as Setting up a New Branch, Guidelines to Marketing and Guidance to Branches

 

Feedback to Head Office and Encouraging each other

• Concerns of branches in straitened times:
• Increasing costs of room hire;
• Ensuring a succession of honorary officers;
• Withdrawal of support from some hard-pressed universities;
• The marginalisation of historical studies in schools and colleges;
• Examples of good practice to imitate:
• Liaison with secondary schools and local societies;
• Data projectors and radio-microphones for speakers;
• Coping with health and safety legislation.

Photograph of Cumbria  Branch proudly collecting its Joan Lewin Award & evidence of a change detectable in relations between head office and branches?

• Head office warms to associate members now termed ‘branch members'
• Welcome letter to new branch members from HA President, Professor Anne Curry
• Quota payments to branches from head office improved to smaller branches