41st Annual General Meeting

Monday, 6th November 1995 - The Belfry Hotel, Wishaw

Chairman: G Criticos

Chairman's report

George Criticos began by outlining the changes which had occurred during the previous year. The secretariat was now based at South Bank University and Stanley Watson had taken over as secretary to the Society. With Michael Byrd having taken over as treasurer this meant that the Society's administrative arrangements had been completeTy revised. He was pleased to say that they were working well.

Relations with the American Society of Bakery Lngineers had been enhanced by Mr Criticos's visit to its conference in Chicago. The conference had proved to be most interesting and he had learned a lot from what he had experienced. During discussions with Thom Kuk, president of the American Society, there had been a mutual recognition of the need for both societies to work closely together in the future. Thoughts on this theme had been developed in a subsequent meeting with Mr Kuk when Mr Watson had visited Chicago in September. Mr Kuk's presence at the Belfry Hotel for the autumn conference was a clear indication of the importance which the American Society placed on the relationship.

Turning to membership matters, the chairman emphasised the need for a continual recruitment campaign and appealed to members to do whatever they could to persuade colleagues and friends to join the Society. Whereas previously large companies had been willing to allow members of staff to attend the Society's conferences and other events, times had changed and this facility had been denied to many who had previously belonged to the Society.

There was therefore a need to identify ways of recruiting new members and it was within that context that he was appealing for help.

The chairman expressed his thanks to members of the executive committee for the support they had given to him during the year and for all the hard work which they had done on the Society's behalf. He especially thanked Paul Morrow who had been first vice-chairman, and chairman of the programme committee, during the year 1994/95.

Finally he had said what a great privilege it had been for him to have served as the Society's chairman during a year which marked the 40th anniversary of its foundation.

Treasurer's report and presentation of accounts

The Society's treasurer Michael Byrd was indisposed and therefore unable to present the accounts in person. In his absence the accounts were offered to the meeting for approval, which was given.

Although questions were invited, none was forthcoming. However, mindful of earlier comments about the level of membership, Albert Waterfield suggested that the Society should be looking at the possibility of offering members the facility of paying subscriptions by direct debit and it was agreed that this would be considered by the executive committee.

On the executive committee's recommendation it was agreed that subscriptions for the year 1996/97 would remain at the current rate of £47 per year.

The secretary advised the meeting that the treasurer had been intending to propose the appointment of a new auditor. In his absence the meeting accepted a recommendation that the executive committee should be empowered to make an appointment at its next meeting when it was hoped that the treasurer would be present to offer his personal recommendation.

Educational Trust

In the unavoidable absence of the Trust's chairman, John Coombs, a report from him was read by the secretary. In it he explained how the trustees had pursued the idea of an educational exchange with the Australian Society. This had been costed with provisional arrangements having been made in England. However a subsequent meeting with two members of the Australian Society had revealed differences as to how this exchange should be managed and after further discussions it was regretfully abandoned.

John Coombs had resigned as chairman of the Trust to be succeeded by Neill Hastie. Since the latter was present at the meeting he took the opportunity of advising those present that the trustees had already decided to revert to the original format of offering a scholarship to people who were able to persuade them first of all of their need and secondly of the value of the project which they would undertake if they were offered a scholarship. He confirmed that in addition to himself, the other trustees were John Coombs, Colin Everson and Geoffrey Prince.

Election of officers

On the proposal of the retiring chairman George Criticos, seconded by Ian Melling, Paul Morrow was unanimously elected chairman of the Society for 1995/96.

Also unanimously elected were Ron Kirk as first vice-chairman and John Haynes as second vice-chairman. The meeting welcomed the announcement that Stanley Watson and Michael Byrd were willing to continue in their respective roles as secretary and treasurer.

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