Society 2022 AGM Minutes
A minutes silence was observed for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Welcome: Professor Kerry Brown President
All members present were welcomed to the meeting. Professor Brown told the meeting that 2021 had a year plagued by covid and its aftermath, together with the loss of many loved ones including Mike Clinch a much respected Vice President.
During the year the Trustees has spent a lot of time looking in depth at the Society and how best to meet its charitable obligation of public benefit. This has resulted in a new strategy and some changes to the Constitution.
Society Administration: Clive Drew General Manager
The meeting was informed about the Trustees Elections.
As there were more vacancies than applicants there was no need for a formal election poll. Therefore the following changes were noted.
Elected Trustees:
Ms Elizabeth Dixon
Mr Richard Chaplin.
Mr Ed Knight
It was agreed that for future Trustee Elections details would be posted on the Society’s website as well as being distributed to the membership via email.
Constitutional Changes: Clive Drew General Manager
The first Constitution (v1) had been in existence since 2016 prior to the Society’s incorporation as a CIO. In the intervening years, with governance advice and training the Trustees have proposed changes to the Constitution to better reflect the Strategy the Society is following. The principle changes are a reduction in Trustees to 12, removing the posts of Vice-Presidents and Officers.
The resolution to agree Constitution (v2) was put to the Members present and prior to the meeting via proxy voting.
Votes were cast as follows:
For the resolution 83
Against 8
Abstentions 2
The constitutional changes have been approved by the Membership of the Society and the Charity Commission will be duly notified.
2021 Annual Review: Clive Drew General Manager
The meeting was taken through the 2021 Annual Report and Accounts. Contained within is the last set of accounts produced by the outgoing Treasurer Mr Barrie Beeching. It was noted that the closing Balance Sheet value had increased to £1.9m and increase of £168k from the previous year.
Since its inception the Society has been about investigating the history and archaeology of Kent and then sharing that knowledge with everyone, this is reflected in the new branding for the Society:
Discovering Kent’s heritage
Bringing the past to the present for everyone
The Annual Report sets out the steps the the Society will be taking to deliver the Strategy
Negotiations are ongoing with Maidstone Museum to put in place a Memorandum of Understanding that will set out clearly the relationship between the Museum and the Society, in order that we can make better use of our assets and the facilities.
Comments from the members were noted about the lack of communication form the Society to its membership. Moving forward it is hope that the introduction of a monthly newsletter would improve communications, as well as a refurbishment of the website.
Brian Reginald Fagg Legacy:
The Society had received a legacy from Brian Reginald Fagg a local historian based in Ramsgate, the legacy was £27k the Trustees decided to split the legacy between both Universities in Canterbury.
The Ian Coulson Fund at Canterbury Christ Church received £18k to be used for suitable Kent based Masters or PhD funding.
£9k was donated to the University of Kent at Canterbury so that the Archaeology students could help with writing up the Society excavations at Sedgebrook Roman Villa.
Results from the legacy will be reported in later volumes of Archaeologia Cantiana
Any Other Business:
None noted.
There being no further business Professor Brown Chair of the Board of Trustees closed the meeting at 12:15.