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President's Report - May 2007

News › President's Report - May 2007

By John Drewienkiewicz

I am delighted to introduce this edition of Crossfire to you, as the President for 2007 of the ACW Round Table UK. I will cover three items in this brief report, namely the Lee Weekend, the need for new blood, and the Club Constitution.

Many members have already experienced the main event of our ACWRT Year, namely the weekend at Oxford in late January, where we spent an enlightening two days following the career of Robert E lee. The gathering was prompted by the 200th Anniversary of his birth, and we had 4 excellent lectures, of which the highlight was the appearance of Frank O'Reilly, a frantic auction, and a devilish quiz. It is reported elsewhere but it is already being discussed as a possible pattern for the future, since one gets many more lectures for less travelling. It is also significant that the auction ensured that the event made money for the Round Table, an important consideration.

Turning to membership, you will be aware that the annual subscription has had to be raised to X25 a year. This is regrettable, but necessary. The subscription funds the three issues of Crossfire that we currently enjoy each year, based on a membership of about 180. This reflects our current position. Members will be aware that we experienced a fall in membership in 2005 and this led to our having to draw on the financial reserves of the Round Table in 2005 to an unsustainable degree. Last year Tony Daly alerted us to the problem but it was too late to increase the annual subscription, so that had to wait until this year. In the meantime he ensured that the meetings covered themselves financially, which halted the extent to which we were living beyond our means. The long-term solution is for all of us to spread the message and to invite other like minded folk to join our excellent society., while continuing to run events which cover their costs.

Finally, the Constitution. We had one, it has fallen into neglect, and it needs another look. This will ensure that the Committee Members are all aware of their responsibilities and that things do not 'fall down the cracks'. It is a useful check list and your Committee will be reviewing it in the next weeks and months in order to offer a revised version to the membership at the Meeting on 13 October, when we will have the Round Table Annual General Meeting before the talk.

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