2002 May 4^th (Saturday) 14:00 - 15:30 at Stoke Town Hall, Glebe Street, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 1HH

Before approximately 40 members were Edmund Grimley-Evans (EGE, President and meeting chair), David Kelso (DK, Director of Development), Joyce Bunting (JB, Honorary Treasurer) and Bill Walker (BW, Minutes Secretary). 19 members not present had submitted proxy voting instructions.

The trustees’ report, summary accounts and AGM agenda had been distributed beforehand; the minutes of the previous meeting were distributed at the meeting. Before starting the meeting we remembered those members who had passed away during the past year with one minute’s silence.

She explained that the Trustees’ report had been structured to meet legal requirements. She summarised the financial history, from the sale of Holland Park Avenue to the construction of Esperanto House. She thanked Viv O’Dunne and Lydia Arnold (the office staff), Derek Tatton and the staff of Wedgwood Memorial College for their support during the transitional period. She also thanks the trustees David Bisset and Bill Walker for their contribution in establishing the new building.

The ‘snapshot’ of investments at the end of the financial year (end-October) reflected the aftermath of the September 11^th tragedy, but their value had recovered somewhat in the subsequent months.

JB appealed for volunteers to take over the role of Honorary Treasurer, reiterating her wish to stand down.

The meeting accepted the Trustees’ Report and Summary Accounts by a majority, with no objections and two abstentions.

The meeting accepted the recommendation to re-appoint the auditors by a majority, with no objections and one abstention.

Stephen Thompson asked that the membership elect named individuals to the offices of President, Vice-President, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer. BW explained that, because of the timing of received nominations and candidates’ statements, the printing and dispatch of the AGM agenda, and the receipt of members’ proxy voting instructions, it had not been possible to accommodate such an election into this year’s AGM. However the request would be noted by the new management committee when planning future AGMs and when reviewing the Association’s constitution.

A vote was taken for each candidate individually. All the candidates were elected, in each case the votes ‘for’ exceeding any votes ‘against’ (including proxy votes).

• In the last year, he had visited every active federation, and most of the active local groups.
• The last four years had been totally dominated by the move from Holland Park Avenue, via Ipswich and temporary accommodation at Wedgwood Memorial College, to the new Esperanto House building. [During an excursion, members attending the congress had had the opportunity to visit the building and inspect the final stages of ‘fitting out’.] The library and office installation were planned for June and July respectively, with a formal opening in September. DK thanked the College for providing temporary accommodation, and thanked Viv O’Dunne and Lydia Arnold for working in such difficult circumstances.
• A new computer system had been procured and installed.
• The volume of sales through the book service had fallen considerably, and DK was now seeking a suitable volunteer to lead that activity.
• The relationship with Wedgwood Memorial College had been consolidated, giving rise to many benefits, both visible and invisible.
• On publications; EAB Update had continued, La Brita Esperantisto had been re-launched, NetNews had been developed in scope, the Website was regularly refreshed and receiving over a thousand hits each month.
• Work to develop a new (paid-for) beginner’s course was ongoing, and the Free Postal Course continued to operate.
• The annual congress had been held at Stoke on Trent, thanks largely to the work of Terry Page.
• Several centenaries were to be celebrated this year and next.
• A long-term strategy for development was being implemented, and hoped to embrace the "Esperanto Action" group.
• A number of initiatives were to be launched on September 17^th, to coincide with the opening of Esperanto House; the committee had agreed to allocate "serious funds" to support these.

DK stressed the important and essential contributions made by volunteers, and invited people to put themselves forward at any time, especially as "regional development champions".

He concluded by reporting that membership numbers have continued to fall, and were now below 500; the Association would need to set its goals accordingly. However the work of recent years had built a stable foundation for a new century, and would serve as a good platform for the future.

Edmund Grimley-Evans closed the meeting at 15:30, with thanks to the outgoing committee members Paul Hewitt, Grazyna Mitchener, Bill Walker and Fennel Waters.

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