The 2013 Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa AGM was held at the Christchurch WEA on September 24. 14 members were present. They were: Jeremy Agar, Murray Horton, Warren Brewer, Lynda Boyd, Brian Turner, James Ayers, John Ring, Paul Piesse, Colleen Hughes, Katherine Peet, John Peet, Denis O’Connor, Stuart Payne and Allen Cookson. Jeremy Agar chaired the meeting. Apologies were accepted from: Tony Milne, Viola Palmer, Gilbert van Reenen, Juliet Adams, Bruce Tulloch, Christine Dann, Geoff Morris, Brian Stephen and Steffan Browning. The 2012 Minutes were read by the Secretary, Murray Horton, and accepted.

Finances Very Healthy

The 2012/13 accounts, which had been distributed with Watchdog 133, August 2013, were accepted unanimously (moved by John Peet, seconded by Brian Turner) and without discussion. 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 $56,000, in round figures (there are three term deposits totalling $40,000), which was $1,000 up on the balance as of the day of the 2012 AGM.

Warren Brewer, who is the Treasurer for the CAFCA/ABC Organiser Account, which pays Murray Horton, presented the Account’s annual financial report (see below). Murray’s gross annual income at the time of the AGM was $35,600 ($17 per hour). As of the March 31 end of the 2012 financial year the Organiser Westpac cheque account held $7,675.60 (a decrease of $1,500+ on the 2011 FY - which had been heavily boosted by a $9,000+ bequest). In the 2012 Financial Year the Account spent $39,239.86 and income was $37,716.73 (a deficit of $1,500+). Donations totalled $8,104.30 (25%) and regular pledgers $28,517.58 (75%). There were 61 regular pledgers (the same as the previous year), including those who pledge annually, half yearly and quarterly. Warren reported that the Westpac cheque account had $6.953.61 in it, according to the latest (September 2013) monthly bank statement. And the Account had $18,853.29 on term deposit with Kiwibank (which matured and was renewed in November 2013).  Warren thanked James Ayers for his help in preparing the annual financial report.

Living Wage Rate For Organiser

The CAFCA Committee meeting of 12/9/13 resolved to recommend to the AGM that CAFCA adopt, in principle, that the CAFCA/ABC Organiser Account should pay the Organiser the Living Wage rate of $18.40 per hour. Accordingly, as part of his presentation as Organiser Account Treasurer, Warren Brewer moved a motion, seconded by Brian Turner, that the AGM adopt, in principle, that the Organiser be paid the Living Wage rate. This was carried unanimously. There was a further resolution, moved by Katherine Peet and seconded by Denis O’Connor, that the decisions/s as to how this will be actually funded be left up to the Committee. This was carried unanimously.

Committee

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, Paul Piesse, Colleen Hughes and Brian Turner. Jeremy Agar is Chairperson. Bill Rosenberg (who lives in Wellington) is a “distance” member. Dennis Small has resigned from the Committee since the 2012 AGM. In total, the Committee now numbers ten.

Murray Horton presented his annual Organiser’s Report. This was done from notes only and the full written version will be published in the April 2014 Watchdog. To briefly list the topics he reported on: Committee; Webmaster & Websites; new means of electronic communication; new method of distributing bulk e-mails; membership; finances; Organiser Account; Watchdog; Roger Award; media coverage; relations with political parties; Keep Our Assets-Christchurch; the campaign against the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement; Transpower; annual strategy meeting; 2014 national speaking tour; CAFCA’s 40th anniversary celebration coming up in 2015; Anti-Bases Campaign; Philippines Solidarity Network of Aotearoa; Christchurch earthquakes’ impact; future activities. There was no general business.

The AGM concluded by screening a 20 minute extract from the brilliant 2010 documentary “Inside Job” by Charles Ferguson, an incisive exposé of the causes of the Global Financial Crisis.

CAFCA/ABC Organiser Account

Financial Report 2012/13

- Warren Brewer, Organiser Account Treasurer

Presented to CAFCA AGM, 24/9/13

1. a) Other Income     CAFCA, ABC & Philippines Solidarity share of Internet costs.
   b) Other Expenditure     $2,000 transfer to term deposit. Balance misdirected cheques.
   c) Donations     2012 Includes the Resnick bequest $9,350.60.
   
2. Term Deposit (38-9002-0977676-00): $18, 853.29
   Currently invested at 4.30%, (matured & renewed 16/11/13)
   $2,000 was transferred from the working account at the time of renewal
   
3. Current Balance $6,618.73 (as of September 2013)
   
4. Living Wage: Resolution of the CAFCA Committee
   The CAFCA Committee meeting of 12/9/13 resolved to recommend to the AGM that CAFCA adopt, in principle, that the CAFCA/ABC Organiser Account should pay the Organiser the Living Wage rate of $18.40 per hour. This recommendation was adopted by the CAFCA AGM and the implementation of it, along with the necessary fundraising, has been entrusted to a subcommittee.