The 2001 CAFCA AGM was held at the Christchurch WEA on September 17. Approximately 40 members were present. Bill Rosenberg chaired. Apologies were accepted from John and Katherine Peet, Betty Roberts, Dennis Small, Ray Scott, Liz Griffiths, Christine Dann, Ann Rosenberg, Reg Duder, Joan Hay and Lloyd Whitten. The 2000 Minutes were read by the secretary, Murray Horton, and accepted.

The 2000/01 accounts were presented (these were posted to all members with Watchdog 97, August 2001. Ed.). Bill Willmott asked, from the floor, about the status of the $6,500 formerly on term deposit with the Taranaki Savings Bank. The meeting accepted the accounts and thanked Liz Griffiths for her essential work as bookkeeper, and Bruce Finnerty for his work as the honorary auditor.

Bob Leonard reported on the CAFCA/ABC Organiser Account, which pays Murray Horton. The Account has dropped somewhat, hovering around $14,000 per year, the great bulk of which is used to pay Murray. It had dropped by $1,500 from the previous year. At any given time, the Account holds less than $5,000 – the comparable figure used to be $6,000+. Bob once again stressed the importance of donations. The proportion of income from regular pledgers accounts for 64% of the Account; 36% is from donations. There are currently 26 regular pledgers. The meeting passed a vote of thanks for Bob. Bill Willmott spoke, from the floor, urging members to increase their pledges and donations to the Account (see below, for Organiser Account details. Ed.).

Election of officers. Murray Horton was re-elected as secretary. The committee was re-elected - Bill Rosenberg, Dennis Small, John Ring, Reg Duder, Ray Scott. Liz Gordon, from the floor, asked if there were any women on the committee. Answer – not since Liz Griffiths resigned from it, in 1999. One woman member, from the floor, offered to consider joining the committee or helping in some other active way. Liz Griffiths is bookkeeper; Bruce Finnerty the honorary auditor.

Murray Horton presented a heavily edited version of his annual Organiser’s Report (see below. Ed.).

Arising from that, there was an animated discussion, both from the chair and the floor, about the current US-led war hysteria and the major implications for our issues and work. There was a general discussion on the global crisis arising from the attacks on New York and Washington DC and their implications for worldwide civil liberties and human rights. Concern was expressed about the anti-globalisation movement being lumped in with "terrorists".

The following resolution, from the floor, was carried unanimously: "That this AGM urge the NZ Government not to participate in any military action arising from American retaliation for the attacks in the US". Murray Horton was instructed to send a letter to Prime Minister.

General Business. There was a discussion of the Air New Zealand shambles. Liz Gordon, from the floor, urged us to stress "we told you so", as this is a perfect illustration of the failure of privatisation, of selling public assets overseas, and of the whole competitive free market model. It was decided to express solidarity with the 16,000 dumped Ansett Australia workers, who have been treated so shamefully by Air New Zealand, and to make direct contact with their union(s) to that effect. Murray Horton was instructed to do that (see the article on Air New Zealand, elsewhere in this issue. Ed.),.