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2011 CAFCA Annual General Meeting Minutes

The 2011 CAFCA AGM was held at the Christchurch WEA on September 26. 13 members were present. Jeremy Agar chaired. Apologies were accepted from: Bill Rosenberg, Viola Palmer, Trish Murray, Geoff Morris, Christine Dann, Leigh Cookson, Liz Gordon, Luke Trainor and Maurice Ward. The 2010 Minutes were read by the Secretary, Murray Horton, and accepted.

The 2010/11 accounts, which had been distributed with Watchdog 127, August 2011, were accepted unanimously. It was recommended that details of CAFCA’s three term deposits be included with them. The finances are in a very healthy situation. Murray Horton reported that, as at the day of the AGM, CAFCA’s total bank balance stood at $58,000, in round figures (there are three term deposits totalling $40,000). It was noted that the finances were even healthier than usual because CAFCA had recently received a $9,000+ bequest from the estate of the late Ron Resnick. There was discussion from the floor about CAFCA’s wise policy of having solid financial reserves, particularly in light of the ongoing 2010/11 earthquakes disaster in Christchurch. Murray reported that there were 449 members, as of that date (an increase from the number at the 2010 AGM, the first increase in members that CAFCA has had for several years).

Jeremy Agar moved, from the chair, a motion of thanks to Bob Leonard, who had been the Treasurer of the CAFCA/ABC Organiser Account since the mid 1990s and who had presented its annual report at every AGM up to and including 2010. Sadly, the February 22nd earthquake meant that Bob and his wife Barbara had to immediately evacuate their severely damaged home and permanently move to Wellington. The motion was passed unanimously. CAFCA Committee member Warren Brewer stepped in and replaced Bob as Treasurer of the Account, which pays Murray Horton – his gross annual income is currently $37,367.35 ($15 per hour). As of the March 31 end of the 2010/11 financial year the Organiser Westpac cheque account held $5,261.23. In the 2010/11 financial year the Account spent $34,340.58 and income was $37,367.35 (a surplus of $3,026.77, a turnaround on the deficit for the 2009/10 year). Donations totalled $7,124.40 (21%) and regular pledgers $22,916.20 (67%). But Warren noted that the remaining 12% of income for the Westpac cheque account used to pay Murray came from a transfer of $4,000 from the Organiser Account’s Kiwibank term deposit, and interest free loans of $1,500 each from both CAFCA and ABC (which have both been repaid).There are 59 regular pledgers (up from 50 the previous year), including those who pledge annually, half yearly and quarterly.

Warren reported that, more recently, the Westpac cheque account has been considerably bolstered by an identical $9,000+ bequest from the estate of the late Ron Resnick. Accordingly, the latest (September) monthly bank statement shows that account has $12,000+ in it. And the Account currently has $11,127.55 on term deposit with Kiwibank, which next matures in November (this was reinvested upon maturity in November, plus an additional $5,000, making the total $16,127.55. It is invested for 12 months at 4.5%. Ed.). Warren Brewer moved a motion for an immediate $1 per hour pay increase for Murray, taking his pay to $16 per hour, to be accompanied by a broader publicity campaign to attract more donors and pledgers. This was passed unanimously. The meeting passed a vote of thanks for Warren, who took over as Treasurer of the Organiser Account in unprecedented circumstances and who was hampered by a lack of basic data (rendered inaccessible by earthquake damage and Bob Leonard’s abrupt departure). Warren has had to spend a considerable amount of time on Organiser Account business, getting signatories replaced (Bob Leonard was not the only one who left Christchurch) and reconstructing data. He accepted nomination as Organiser Account Treasurer and was duly elected.

Election of officers. Murray Horton was re-elected as Secretary/Organiser. The committee was re-elected unopposed - Bill Rosenberg, John Ring, Jeremy Agar, Lynda Boyd, Warren Brewer, James Ayers and Paul Piesse. Quentin Findlay and Colleen Hughes both resigned in 2011 and were replaced by James and Paul. Jeremy Agar is Chairperson. Bill Rosenberg and Lynda Boyd (who live in Wellington and Auckland respectively) are “distance” members.

Murray Horton presented his annual Organiser’s Report. The discussion that arose during and after that constituted general business. The AGM concluded by screening a 2011 Australian TV current affairs programme which revealed how Bougainville Copper Ltd (a subsidiary of Rio Tinto) dictated what the Papua New Guinean government should do during the bloodstained 1988-98 Bougainville war, including financing and arming it. The programme, which puts NZ’s TV “current affairs” to shame, offered a rare insight into how mining TNCs use any means, including war, in pursuit of profit.

For reasons of space (not to mention the minor detail that I haven’t written it yet) the Organiser’s Annual Report, which usually appears in the December Watchdog, will be published in the April issue. MH.


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