DRAFT NATESOL AGM MINUTES for 25th. Jan. 2012

at The Woodstock, Barlow Moor Road, at 18.00 for 18.30 over refreshments and followed by music.

1. Present: Daniela Bacova, Mike Beaumont, Jane Cabot, Beverley Davies, Lucy Edmiston, Keith Gould, Ewa Malicka, Will Nash, Jonathan and Marja Nicolson, Stephen Pennells, Hilary Poole, Michael Sherman.

2. Apologies (Mike apologised for the coldness of the room and the smoke from the chimney.) Apologies for absence had been sent by Martin Eayrs.

3. Minutes of the last AGM (12th. January 2011). It was noted that at the Annual Conference concessionary attenders had actually been charged £15. The minutes were accepted nem. con.

4. Matters arising from the minutes

a. Mike commented that we hadn’t taken up the advantage of advertising our sessions on the IATEFL website. However, given our timescale we probably would not be able to meet the deadlines for publication of Voices.

b. re. sect 8 NATECLA: There was still concern about the effect of Tier 4 visa restrictions. Bev. Davies said that two weeks before the beginning of term the government had made it possible for people to join ESOL courses for free if they were seeking work and that colleges in Greater Manchester had been offered extra funding. There was still a state of uncertainty, with local circumstances different across Greater Manchester. Will Nash said the restrictions to Tier 4 visas had affected private providers very severely with new inspection routines (the Independent Schools Inspectorate) charging four times what had previously been charged. Some institutions are having to depend on visitor visas and others have “gone bust”. Conversely university summer schools have benefited. It was felt there is continued pressure to push harder on cutting student numbers as this is seen to be a politically easy target.

c. re. Request for posting materials on our website. This is now happening regularly after sessions.

5. Chair’s Report for the calendar year 2011 (MB) Mike apologised for not being around as much as he would have liked. Sessions had gone ahead as planned, though one had had to be cancelled as the speaker withdrew. Plans for returning to Sheffield had had to be shelved, though he is talking to Sylvia Ashton (Sheff. Hallam Univ.) regarding a joint session with NATECLA later in the year. He also spoke of the possibility of a joint conference with MATSDA in Leeds next year and of building links with UCLan with the hope of spreading NATESOL cells across the North of the Country. He gave a brief overview of future plans and raised issues for discussion (see below). He thanked Glynnis McCourt and Will Nash for their work as past members of the committee and drew attention to the constant work of Jonathan Nicolson and Keith Gould.

6. Treasurer’s and Membership Report (JTN) Jonathan reported that, whereas we had started the year with about £1700, we had ended with over £3400. This was due to increased membership (51 to 57), profits from the conference, reduction in costs (we missed one session), and an increased number of institutions paying promptly. The conference profits were largely due to all those attending paying (i.e. presenters and sponsors), slightly more people, and increased charges. Slow payers are being chased. He also pointed out that so far we had had no venue costs (thanks to Salford Univ. and the British Council) with the next session hosted by MMU; however, it is probable that Salford City Coll. will charge for the 2012 conference.

7. Discussion and FutureFinances

a. Annual subscription and conference charges. On JTN’s advice it was agreed nem. con. that no change would be made this year to the fees (the concession rate for the conference being fixed at £15).

b. Use of surplus. It was agreed that we did not want to build up and sit on an excessive surplus and there was a suggestion that we might:

identify and support teachers working in isolation without opportunities for professional development;

support ELT Teacher Associations overseas (e g. SPELT in Pakistan);

ask local teachers what they might want;

provide a free bus to take people to the forthcoming teacher training day in Sheffield.

It was decided to discuss this at the next committee meeting and to send out a questionnaire seeking the feelings of the wider membership.

c. Forum on the Website.Keith said it would be possible to have a forum on the website.

d. Free Venues. We remain eager to hear of venues that we might use with no or low charges.

e. IATEFL Involvement. Will was not convinced of the benefit of holding joint events with IATEFL as their working with paid administrators and set deadlines meant they had closed registration for the last conference weeks before its occurrence and most of the registrations came thereafter. He felt it had brought in very few extra participants and most of the recruiting had occurred through our e-list. It was felt that they might publicise events and possibly send a speaker. To be discussed at the next committee meeting.

8. Election/Confirmation of officers and committee members The tradition of “open committee” was reiterated- all members being welcome to come to meetings and to be involved to the extent they want. Stephen gave notice that he would like to pass his responsibilities to someone else next year. The following were confirmed:

Mike Beaumont (Chair)

Keith Gould (Deputy Chair, website and e-list)

Jonathan Nicolson (Treasurer and Membership)

Jane Cabot (Paper mailings)

Stephen Pennells (Committee Minutes Secretary)

9. Next Committee meeting. This was confirmed as being at the Woodstock on the 22nd. Feb. at 18.30.

Mike thanked all for attending and the meeting formally concluded at 20.08, being followed by music by the Hard Times Kapelye Klezmer Band which was greatly enjoyed. Donations were collected for a schooling project in Kenya which band leader Richard Fay had visited and to which the Band’s fee was also being donated.

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