EMAG Committee Meeting

6th Nov, 2000 at 7.00pm at the Institute of Civil Engineers

Present: Tom Lake (Membership Secretary) Adrian Howard-Jones (Secretary) `JB' Michael Lister (Treasurer) Vincent Nolan (Facilitator) Paul Braithwaite

1. Apologies from Edgar Harbourne (who sent a detailed email) and Brian Gott (who has sent many emails)

Resignations of KoS and BT due to foreign travel accepted with regret and thanks for their efforts on the committee.

2. Matters arising from last committee meeting. Minutes approved with minor amendment

3. ML reported a satisfactory balance thanks to generous responses to the Chairman's appeal from some members. About one third was committed to present recruitment expenditure.

4. Full Options Open to ELAS

AHJ had written to ELAS about this. The letter will be posted on the website after a short interval to give ELAS a chance to respond. Actuarial advisor had pointed out that merger with another society was a further option.

5. Recruitment

TL reported that Lake household had mailed 450 on Sunday - cost about 22p per address - labour involved made commercial price about 40p - 50p per address.

PB reported on ad in Saturday Telegraph, opposite an Equitable advertisement.

There was a discussion on the break-even returns necessary to make mailings (by volunteers and with paid labout) and press advertising self-financing.

6. Legal position `ring-fencing'

AHJ reported that he would meet with a leading lawyer who had been considering the position to discuss how to take this issue forward.

7. Expenditure Limits/Procedures

The procedures laid down in BT's note were accepted.

8. Meeting with ELAS Directors

Committee accepted non-exec director Jennie Page's invitation to meet with Alan Nash and other ELAS directors. A small team from the committee would prepare and attend.

9. Relations with Equitable Policy-Holders Group (EPHAG)

Agreed to accept EPHAG invite to their committee meeting 15th Nov (PB to attend). Circulated notes of their meeting with ELAS directors.

10. Minutes on Website

TL to circulate his digest of the minutes to committee before posting.

11. Press PR

PB will ask BG to prepare press release(s) on the issue of the possible options for ELAS as in AHJ's letter to ELAS.

Committee considered that politically based activity should await focus on an issue that could be tackled best politically.

12. Opinion Survey among ELAS members.

Short and long versions discussed. AHJ and PB to cooperate on a final version. Will help with both steering EMAG's activities, discussions with ELAS and PR.

13. Email Voting by Committee Agreed that 7 days should be allowed for important issues.

14. Constitution JB would tidy terminology and apply occam's razor. Comments by 8th Nov.

15. EMAG Members Meeting - Issues Update Decided to defer until new year as committee was fully occupied and email/website gave opportunity to inform.

16. Website 100 pounds approved for TL to place on an independent footing.

17. Next meeting In view of the good communication by email and much busines handled next meeting to be 29th Nov at 7.00 pm at ICE.