Chairman's Summary
Council elections
I am delighted to announce that Council elected Tom Rogers as the next President to succeed Geoff Ridgway at the AGM in October 2010. Council elected me to continue as Chairman for a second term of office, and Bob Spencer has been co-opted onto Council for a further year. Members will have the opportunity to put themselves forward for forthcoming Council Member vacancies as well as to apply for the post of JHI Editor, and we will be writing to Members in May to provide details of the application procedure.
Governance and strategy
Since he joined us in November last year, the Society’s Chief Executive
Council discussed and approved key documents including a Risk Register, Trustee Code of Conduct, Officer and Council member role descriptions, and a Conflict of Interest Policy. Council also endorsed Tim’s proposal to expand and modernise the Society’s Constitution to bring it in line with current best practice, and also to create a supporting set of Regulations. Members will be asked to vote on the resulting Constitutional amendments at the AGM on Tuesday 12 October 2010.
Tim has been working with Council members to identify the key strategic issues that the Society should address, and there will be a Trustees’ Away Day in May to provide an opportunity for Trustees to discuss these issues in depth and to set the future direction of the Society.
Council reviewed management accounts and an end of year forecast as part of the ongoing budget development process.
Updates
Council members shared updates on HIS activities, in particular:
· The Society’s investments portfolio had performed well, with the losses of 2008/09 now having been recouped.
· Council is pleased to be able to hold membership fees at their current level for 2010/11.
· Planning for the HIS 7th International Conference to be held in Liverpool on 10-13 October 2010 is going very well, with a strong scientific programme and impressive exhibition in place. We are pleased to be able to provide significant discounts for members to attend. For full details visit the conference website www.his2010.com.
· Recent meetings had been very well received, including the Trainees’ Day in November 2009, and the 2009 BSAC/HIS/AMM Educational Workshops. It is intended that similar events will be planned for the forthcoming year.
· We were pleased to be able to provide two major grants rather than one this year. See http://www.his.org.uk/grants_&_bursaries.cfm for details of awards and how to apply.
The next Council meeting will be on 16 June 2010, and I look forward to providing my next Summary, which will include feedback from the Trustees’ Away Day in May.
Adam Fraise
HIS Chairman
