Equitable Members Action Group

Minutes of Committee Meeting, 29th Nov. 2000=20

Present: Edgar Harborne, Jeremy Lever, Michael Lister, Paul Braithwaite, Tom Lake, Brian Gott, David Browning, Vincent Nolan (facilitator); Jack Denbin (representing EPHAG)

Apologies: Adrian Howard-Jones, Richard Nolan, `JB'

1. Resignations: The resignation of `JB', owing to pressure of other commitments, was accepted with regret and appreciation for his contribution to EMAG

2. Minutes: The Minutes of the Meeting held on Nov. 6th were approved

3. Financial Report: ML reported that the cash at bank was 3,384 pounds. Subscriptions and donations had totalled 5,110 pounds

4. Recruitment: Subsequent to the meeting, TL submitted the following report "My apologies for leaving out a whole bunch of replies: We have received 73 returns from a mailing of 2000 so far. I hope that the minutes could show the correction! This is enough to allow us to use paid labour carefully.

Michael Lister and I propose the following: 1) Continue to appeal for volunteers to help (25p ish cost per 1000) 2) Member X says he is currently not in work and would like to do some paid mailing - Michael is proposing to ask him to do some mailing at piece rate if he is willing (making cost say, 45p-ish per 1000) 3) I will do the distribution (but not the reception of cheques) for the 10 days that Michael is away. 4) While Edgar is here we should work on the 2nd generation letter - to give a really strong value proposition - as Brian Gott says. Consider including names of Committee members. Refer to the encouraging response so far.

The number of members might reach 5% i.e. 22,500. We need to arrange for capture of these names when they return. At say 100p per name capture and handling this amounts to only a small proportion of the subscription.

" ML will contact ELAS re the purchase of a further 20,000 names on sticky labels. The response from the Telegraph Advertisement appeared to have been negligible.

5. Opinion Survey: PB gave a preliminary analysis of the returns to date (approx. 10%). They suggested some unexpected results and a high level of dissatisfaction with the way the Board was handling the situation. PB will present a report by Dec. 6th.

6. Website: Edited minutes had been posted on the website. There is room on the website for further contributions. Profile of committee members will be put on website; members are requested to submit their profiles to TL.

7. EPHAG: JD reported on EPHAG's meeting with ELAS on Nov. 2nd. They are seeking a further meeting in the week of Dec. 4th. They would like feedback on our meeting with ELAS on Dec. 1st. They are seeking to find out: how the bids are going, whether the estimate of the deficit has changed, whether GAR holders are capable of adding to their funds and if so what the exposure is and why ELAS have had such a lousy press. EPHAG would like to know what EMAG's stance will be when the bids are announced. They would also like to set up a liaison between EPHAG and EMAG to avoid conflicting statements to the Press

PB reiterated his request that EPHAG correct the misinformation that EMAG are dedicated to retaining mutuality and to include EMAG's website address in ephags next mailing. Also requested being circulated with EPHAG's committee minutes.

8. Objectives for Meeting with ELAS on Dec. 1st: Committee members expressed the following wishes for the meeting with ELAS on Dec. 1st (in addition to the 5 topics AH-J had already submitted to ELAS) a. Whether ELAS would be willing to accept agenda items from EMAG at the AGM (Answer - only in the form of questions) b. ELAS to consider EMAG acting as proxy at EGM and suggest EMAG as proxy c. Legal objective - appoint a QC to examine JL's case for legal action on behalf of non-GAR policyholders, and if the result was positive, to fund a legal action d. If EGM to be held in April/May, would they hold AGM at the same time e. Get info about the offers made (only information was that offers, plural, had been received) f. Find out what options will be available g. Propose a comprehensive consultation exercise h. How does Board anticipate allocation of bidder's funds.

9. Options for ELAS: EH will circulate his proposals on Options for ELAS

10. Press Relations: Draw up a Press Release immediately after Dec. 1st meeting with ELAS. Agree by Committee within 3 days. It was suggested that information should be placed with selected journalists in advance of a general Press Release. VN agreed to act as spokesperson to respond to media interest

11. Next Meeting: Monday Dec. 4th at 6.30 p.m. at Royal Society of Arts, 8 John Adam St., Fellows Meeting Room (PB the contact)

Vincent Nolan 1st Dec. 2000