Social Science Centre, Lincoln

4th Annual General Meeting, 16th May 2015.

Croft Street Community Centre, Lincoln. 11-4pm.

Apologies:

Paul Boyce, Lucy McGinty

Attending:

Andrew McCulloch

Angela Porter

Bob Cannell

David McAleavey

Gerard de Zeeuw

Joss Winn (Note-taker)

Laura Stratford

Martha Vahl

Mike Neary

Peaceful Warrior

Sam Kelly

Sandie Stratford

Sarah Amsler (Chair)

Stephen Hopkins

Bradley Allsop

Andrea Abbas

Simon Legg

Stephen Hopkins

Tony Jeffs

Wendy Vause

Agenda:

Morning: Co-operative business (11:00am–12:30pm)

◦Opening of the day & review of previous AGM minutes/actions

◦Review of the SSC Constitution

◦SSC financial report

◦Report on courses (Know-How: Do-It-Ourselves Higher Education) and information about upcoming curriculum design workshops + activities/events

◦Any other business

Lunch (12:30–1:00pm)

Bring and share!

Afternoon: Talks and discussions (1:00–4:00pm)

1:00–1:15pm Co-ops – It’s all about the people

Bob Cannell, Suma Co-op

1:45-2:00pm Co-operatives in the East Midlands

Angela Porter, Lincolnshire Co-operative Development Agency

2:30–2:45pm The history & archive of the Lincolnshire Co-op & the place of education

Andrew Jackson, Bishop Grosseteste University

3:15–3:30pm Informal education and the free university

Tony Jeffs, Durham University

4:00pm Closing

Minutes

  • Agree 2014 minutes
  • SSC [ISRF] project will look at governance
  • ACTION: We will organize a half day workshop on decision-making and technologies. Sarah to bring paper on democratic decision making.
  • ACTION: Meeting on 28th May about SSC [ISRF] project – decide whether to use the project to discuss governance issues.
  • Wendy noted that she did attend the 2014 AGM
  • 2014 minutes (2b) on 'conflict resolution' - the proposal relating to termination of membership was not agreed.
  • 2014 AGM minutes agreed.
  • Matters arising
  • Equalities Act – Mike and Gary checked this. We are liable.
  • ACTION: Mike will circulate a description of the role of the Secretary.
  • Joss wrote paper on membership. Working group set up, not active.
  • See minutes from previous meeting which also discussed actions from previous AGM:
  • Constitution
  • Question around what is a ‘member’? Socially, intellectually, politically? Who is the co-operative? This was also discussed last year.
  • Should statement of values be included in the constitution?
  • Should membership be open?
  • ACTION: Andrew to send statement of values around again
  • ACTION:We agreed to organise a year-long project using the constitution to develop meaningful definitions and practices of 'democracy', 'non-hierarchical self-organisation', 'membership', and 'consensus', with attention to issues of power and communication, and with a view to revising the constitution, our 'business plan', statement of values if necessary and producing principles of organisation, teaching and how to propose and run courses/activities (also to discuss whether the constitution should include a stronger statement of SSC values) Stephen has written an outline of this up. See attached plan.[All]
  • The series of research workshops organised by Joss and Mike to develop a framework for a co-operative university may be part of this, as the SSC is the site for it; there will be a meeting on 28 May to discuss this link.
  • ACTION: Sarah, Lucy and Andrea will work on producing principles for the new short courses and share experience and suggestions from this perspective.
  • ACTION: We agreed to use some of our money to pay for training in decision-making and other relevant skills -- to be determined and organised at a meeting in the near future -- these may be related to the co-operative university research workshops. [All]
  • We agreed constitution on the basis that it’s a working document for next year.
  • Financial report (attached)
  • Need to revise the business plan or dispose of it.
  • Members agreed the processes of reporting the finances.
  • Members thanked Stephen for his work on role as Treasurer.
  • Secretary: Mike Neary agreed. Treasurer: Stephen Hopkins agreed.
  • Stephen will step down in one year.
  • Agreed that elected roles (secretary and treasurer) should be for maximum fixed terms of 3 years. Changing of roles should not coincide.
  • Know-how course: Mike gave summary of the course. It struggled to find a focus of study but did look at methodology and process. In the New Year, we developed a more structured timetable of discussing our own research. Moved to Mint Lane, well attended. Didn’t write up each session as we had before.
  • Curriculum planning day for Fall 2015 will be on 26 July, 1-4pm, Mint Lane
  • ACTION: Ask for 200w from each person to publish on the website. Thanked PW for helping coordinate the use of Mint Lane building. [All]
  • ACTION: Sort out website and how we find information. [Joss]
  • ACTION: Prioritise discussion about co-ordinator role at next meeting (June 6th).