Membership Matters
I am pleased to welcome new members to KAS since the last Magazine. However, this year has been strange with the Covid-19 constraints, meaning that all conferences and meetings have been cancelled. Nevertheless, I am also sure that you will welcome receiving this copy of the Magazine.
The new category of ‘free’ membership for students has proved to be successful – they receive all communications and publications electronically. It is hoped that many will continue as members after the end of this year as younger members are the Society’s future.
The ability of any category of membership can join online via the website has also been a successful move. Although not without a few teething problems, the form has been adapted to make the bank details more visible. The whole system should be made more accessible when an online payment system has been implemented sometime in the future. It is also possible to send in a completed form with a cheque if that is a preferred method.
This is my final report as Membership Secretary as I have decided to stand down after approximately 21 years. I think someone with more technical experience and with a fresh look at everything will be of great benefit to Society. I wish my successor every success and hope that he/she will gain as much enjoyment as
I have experienced, especially meeting members at conferences and other meetings and many lovely notes of thanks on renewal forms etc. Let’s hope that this opportunity will be available once the Covid-19 situation improves enough for safe social contact.
I took over as Membership Secretary in May 2001 from Margaret Lawrence, who was a dear friend and has recently died. You will find a short appreciation of Margaret within this Magazine.
Margaret had kept the membership records mainly kept on record cards. Still, with the then Secretary, Andrew Moffatt, we changed to a computerised database. Later on, this was changed to a more sophisticated system which will allow even more computerisation and automatic processes. I have been very grateful to Chris, my husband, for the tremendous help and support he has given me. I shall also miss many friends, especially on Council.
Remember that without you as members KAS could not exist!!
Shiela Broomfield
Membership Secretary membership@kentarchaeology.org.uk