Special General Meeting, 2003 March 19

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Special General Meeting, 2003 March 19

held at The Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1

Guy Hurst, President

Ron Johnson, Nick Hewitt and Nick James, Secretaries

The President opened the Special General Meeting of the 113th session, and called upon Dr Nick Hewitt to read the minutes of the previous SGM. These were approved by members. Mr David Tucker, Treasurer, was then invited to summarise the Association's financial affairs.

Mr Tucker reported that details of the Association's accounts had been published in the October 2002 Journal. In summary, the Association's finances were healthy, with a small operating loss dwarfed by a number of enormously generous bequests. However, Council had recommended increasing the subscription charge, with Ordinary Membership to rise by one pound to £35. Other membership categories would rise proportionately, and this would be the first increase in the subscription charges since 1998. This proposal was seconded and carried.

The treasurer went on to urge those members who had taxable income to sign Gift Aid forms at the earliest possible convenience. The process was straightforward: members simply had to sign a single form, but this allowed the Association to reclaim the tax paid on the cost of subscription. For typical taxpayers, each such signature was worth £9.50 per year to the BAA, and this was clearly of great assistance to the Association's finances.

The President expressed his gratitude to Mr Tucker for his hard work over the previous year, before closing the meeting.

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Dominic Ford

© 2003 Dominic Ford / The British Astronomical Association.