British Senate Past Chairman’s report to the 2016 AGM
I started my year as Chairman by re-stating that the Senate is all about fun and fellowship and thatmy programme wouldcombine enjoying of good food in unique environmentswhilst visiting places that celebrated Britain’s heritage and some of its current successes. Based on the comments made in the Attendance Book this was more than achieved with the year finishing with a truly Rolls-Royce experience. I am indebted to both the organisers and attendees for making the events so enjoyable.
Events review
As in previous years the least expensive weekends were not the best attended, and the most expensive weekends (the Epernay and Drumming Out weekends) were the best attended.
TheEast Midlands weekend(February 27th) was the least well attended probably because it was only added to my programme in November 2014. This was a little last as by then many Senators had made other plans for the weekend. The Horological Museum, Southwell Workhouse and Hill Holt Wood were, in their own way unique.
The Buxton – Chatsworth weekend exactly a month later had the Senate returning to Buxton, not for the Opera but to focus on Chatsworth and the Devonshire’s. The highlight of the weekend was having a superb dinner in the Dome, which, when built, had the largest unsupported dome roof in the world.
The Porthmadog weekend (May 1st) was a welcome return to North Wales. The heavy rain on Saturday meant that Snowdon couldn’t be seen in the mist and Caernarvon didn’t look it’s best. Saturday evenings dinner in the hotel dining room was shared with other guests who afterwards said how much they enjoyed our banter.
A welcome return to Epernay (June 29th). Frederic had changed jobs since the 2008 Senate visit andwas a consultant to small champagne houses. This time we visited two of his clients where we were made to feel most welcome. The only thing that marred the weekend striking French seamen closing Calais when most of us were travelling back.
Another welcome return was to Wrekin College, Mike Ashton’s old school, for the Shropshire weekend (July 24th) which focussed on the Ironbridge Gorge. Saturday at Blists Hill was warm and sunny, and the day ended with a superb gourmet meal in the College. Sunday started with a wet and windy walk up the Wrekin followed by reception at the Headmasters house. Then lunch in the Cricket Pavilion that rounded off a splendid weekend.
The Leicester AGMweekendrevolved around King Richard 3rd. The programme included visiting his grave in the Cathedral, the Museum built on the car park where his body was found. Sunday was spent on a guided tour of Bosworth Battlefield that ended Richard 3rd‘s reign.
A light lunch at the Abbey Pumping Station proceeded the AGM and then there was time to visit The National Space Centre which was packed with interesting exhibits. The marvellous formal Dinner was held in Leicester’s Masonic Hall.
For the last event in 2015 the Senate joined the JCI UK Annual Conference (November 20th) in Barnsley. Friday’s social with JCI UK delegates was much more light hearted than I remember Junior Chamber Conferences being in the late ‘70s. All 3 finalists in best dressed Centurion competition were Senators which somehow seemed appropriate. Saturday morning was spent in the Barnsley Museum, lunch taken in the Town Hall with an impromptu tour of the Council Chamber and then onto the award winning Acorn Brewery for the rest of the afternoon. Saturday evening’s formal dinner included a Gladiatorial display which was both interesting and entertaining.
Sociallymy 2015 Year ended at the Derby Drumming Out (Jan 14th 2016) where all enjoyed a Rolls Royce experience from Thursday evenings Jazz, Friday’s optional City Tour, Rolls Royce visits, Saturday’s National Brewing Centre tour and lunch with Burton’s Mayor, a unique dry Bumblebee and finally to the Drumming Out Dinner at one of the UKs top 10 hotels for a City Centre weekend break, with its Derbyshire themed dinner.
I am truly indebted to all my Event Organisers for making such a success of all the events.
International and JCI Events
My international travels started at the ASE Spring Board (April 16th) in Harstad in Norway’s northern half. A superb programme, welcome and introduction to Norway. This was followed by Istanbul’s European Conference(Jun 3); sadly, this didn’t match experiences at the 2002 Istanbul Conference. It did however help cement the view held that JCI must do more for Senators attending events. The Crayfish Conference (Aug 7th) in Halmstad followed the customary programme this year with the return of the British Senate Cabaret. JCI Halmstad’s membership was less than 10 and must cast doubts about how much longer the Conference can be organised.
Back to Scandinavia for Norway’s Senotium (September 4th) this time in Tromso which lies within the Arctic Circle. A full and interesting programme included on Saturday touring the Arctic Museum which gave a great insight to living and surviving in the 19th Century. Then after lunch to tour the world’s most northerly Brewery followed a few hours later by a formal dinner. The weekend finished on Sunday evening with a BBQ in Marianne’s remote, off grid, family cabin a 45-minute drive from Tromso.
After more than 30 years I attended my second JCI Ireland Congress(October 2nd) in Letterkenny Donegal. My first visit to the North West Eire and its spectacular Atlantic Coastline. A full and interesting programme where we were made to feel most welcome and a reminder that the Irish really know how to enjoy themselves.
If there hadn’t been a really good conference pre-tour and there being much of interest in Kanazawa, the World Congress (November 3rd) would have been really disappointing. Other than a Senate Bar and Dinner there was nothing organised for Senators. The one good outcome from this is that the ASE are now redoubling their efforts to have more provided for Senators at JCI Congresses.
My last International trip was to the US Senate Winter Board meeting (January 7th 2016) in Savannah, Georgia just a week before my Drumming Out. The US Senate is much more formal in its approach, seeming to put great emphasis in keeping the costs low. A great insight into American dietary expectations. Savannah itself is well worth visiting especially as it has the Georgian State Railway Museum.
Members and subscription
Of around 800 Senators only 315 paid the full subscription in 2015, 109 paid less than the recommended level in spite of the Councils effortsthat have been ongoing over several years.
It seems likely that subscribers will slowly fall as the years go by as fewer Senators are being awarded than 40 years ago and elderly Senators are slowly passing on. This will clearly have an impact on our future subscription income
Financial
A small surplus of £101 was generated against a budget expectation at the start of the year of a modest loss of £471. The variance was largely due to £300 of Merchandise sales from previous years being included and a saving of £100 in the Chairman’s £3,000 expenses.
I am extremely grateful this support.
The three largest cost elements of your 2015 budget of £12,800 were:
- £4750 Magazine printing
- £3200 Postage
- £3000 Chairman’s expenses
ie all but £2,250 of our £13,300 expenditure. The remainder is spent on JCI UK Support, Website Development and Liability Insurance. Full details are shown in the Treasurers Report.
And the largest income categories of the £12,800 were:
- £8500 British Senator subscriptions
- £2500 Foreign Senator subscriptions
ie all but £1,800 of our income. Other income is Merchandise Sales, Sponsorship and Event income.
The challenge for future years will be how to balance the budget without reducing our £18,000 Bank Balance to an imprudent level.
. . . and finally
Let me conclude by thanking the 2015 Council for their support during the year, and again thank the event organisers and all Senators who came along and made the events so much fun.
I feel that my year as your Chairman was the high point of my ‘JC’ career. It reminded me of how much I gained from joining Burton Junior Chamber in 1973 and introduced me to International events in 1980. It is such a shame that so few 18 to 40 year olds can enjoy similar, lifelong benefits.
Whilst the JCI Creed says that ‘service to humanity is the best work of life’ I believe that Senate Chairman is one of the best roles that anyone can hold and would encourage all Senators to consider taking the challenge.