Minutes of the PHANZA Annual General Meeting (Draft)

5 December 2009

Turnbull House, Wellington

The meeting opened at 4.07 p.m.

Present:
Bronwyn Labrum, Ann McEwan, Malcolm McKinnon, Lyn Williams, Margaret Pointer, Eileen Barrett-Whitehead, David Grant, Briony Coote, Susan Butterworth, Graham Butterworth, Aileen Wood, Jamie Mackay, Paulette Wallace, Paul Diamond, Michael Kelly, Gavin McLean, Hilary Stace, Janine Cook, Neill Atkinson, Kirstie Ross, Imelda Bargas.

1. Apologies:
Rebecca O’Brien, Tim Shoebridge, Bronwyn Dalley, David Young, David Green, Anthony Dreaver, Angela Lassig, Rachael Egerton, Claudia Orange, Robin Watt, David Verran, Stephen Hamilton, Margaret Tennant, Louis Shaw, Karen Cameron, Emma Dewson, Marguerite Hill, Barbara Gawith, Redmer Yska, Kathryn Mercer.

2. The Minutes of the 2008 AGM
The 2008 minutes were approved as a true and correct record.
G McLean/ S Butterworth

3. Office Holder’s annual reports
The report of President Neill Atkinson was read and approved.
M McKinnon/ B Labrum

The report of Treasurer Kirstie Ross was read and approved.
P Diamond/ E Barrett- Whitehead

NB: Members attending discussed the strong bank balance of the organisation and what this money could be used for. The idea of supporting a project to digitise the AJHRs was discussed and it was noted that PHANZA had been asked to be represented on an experts group for this project. Following this discussion Bronwyn Labrum proposed the following motion:

“That the Committee be charged with investigating how to support the project to digitise the AJHRs or other digital projects that would be of use to members”.

This motion was carried unanimously.

The report of Secretary Imelda Bargas was read and approved
N Atkinson/ K Ross

Neill Atkinson vacated the chair and Imelda Bargas took over

4. Election of officers for 2010:

President: Neill Atkinson
I Bargas/ M McKinnon

Imelda Bargas vacated the chair and Neill Atkinson took over

Treasurer: Kirstie Ross
N Atkinson/ E Barrett- Whitehead

Secretary: Imelda Bargas

N Atkinson/ B Labrum

5. Election of Committee for 2010:
The meeting was advised that most of the committee members elected or co-opted in 2009 were happy to continue. N Atkinson nominated:

Eileen Barrett-Whitehead

Bronwyn Labrum

Emma Dewson

Marguerite Hill

And asked that the Committee be given the power to co-opt 2-3 further Committee members during the year.

This motion was carried unanimously.

It was noted that Janine Cook and Redmer Yska had expressed an interest in being co-opted on to the Committee. Hilary Stace suggested Margaret Pointer may also be interested.

Neill Atkinson offered the Committee’s thanks to outgoing Committee member Michael Kelly.

The meeting applauded him.

6. General Business:

Imelda Bargas explained that PHANSW had been organising a professional historians’ conference to be held in Norfolk Island in July 2010. They had asked PHANZA to assist where possible in the organisation of this events and she has been the corresponding member in New Zealand receiving regular updates on their progress and providing information relevant to New Zealand.

Those attending were asked whether they support a proposal to assist PHANZA members attending to present a paper. There was discussion of the pros and cons of assisting members to attend the conference – including having a representative of PHANZA there, and concerns over the costs involved in the location. Following further discussion it was suggested that PHANZA members might be able to apply more generally for support to attend conferences, with the caveat that they promote the work of PHANZA and write something up for PHANZINE.

Ann McEwan proposed the following motion:

“That the Committee be charged with investigating how to support members to attend public history conferences”.

This motion was carried unanimously.

Michael Kelly bought up the issue of workload for Imelda. Imelda noted that it was not just her workload but also that of the treasurer. It was recommended that the Committee look at the different roles that are performed and whether any of these roles can be divided up and given to other members.

The meeting closed at 5pm.