MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
OF THE
NEUROANAESTHESIA SICIETY OF GB & IRELAND
19TH MAY 2007 – EDINBURGH
PRESENT : Martin Smith (Chair), 2 Officers, 4 Council Members and 33 Members
1) APOLOGIES : Peter Farling, Bruce Foster & Wim Blancke
2) MINUTES OF THE 2006 AGM : Confirmed as accurate representation
3) MATTERS ARISING : Nil
4) CONSTITUTION : The President reported two minor typographical errors which had been discovered since the sending out to Members. These were corrected. Prior to the meeting Dr S Midgley had requested Members to consider para 5.2 concerning the voting rights of retired members. Members agreed that the category of retired membership should be amalgamated with Associate Membership so that Retired Members have no voting rights at Annual General or Extraordinary meetings of the Society.
The new Constitution was then formally proposed by Steve Cruickshank and seconded by Praveen Manthri and carried unanimously.
5) PRESIDENT'S REPORT
5.1 Three priorities for the year – Training and education
- Communication within and outside of the Society
- Targeting Membership (especially Trainees)
5.2 Three additional members of Council will be elected in the Autumn
5.3 Reminder that an annual travel grant of up to £1000 was available each year for helping promote education in Neuroanaesthesia and Neuro Critical Care.
5.4 The Society was represented on The Joint Neurosciences Council, The Neuro Critical Care Stakeholders Group and the new Neuro Critical Care Net.
5.5 The Society had had input to the latest AAGBI “glossy” on “Guidelines for the transfer of brain injured patients” and had provided the content for the neuroanaesthesia and neurocritical care section of the RCoA Guidelines for the Provision of Anaesthetic Services.
5.6 The Society is to become a nominating body in its own right for recommendation to ACCEA for higher awards. Members are also encouraged to seek assistance of senior members of the Society during preparation of their CVQ.
5.7 Abstracts of the 2007 ASM will be published in the July issue of the JNA and it is hoped to continue this arrangement in the future. This will necessitate speedy assessment and choice of posters / free paper presentations by ASM organisers.
6) SECRETARY'S REPORT
6.1 Full membership stands at 233 with a small number of Members still to switch from Standing Order to Direct Debit. Trainee membership stands at 68.
6.2 In line with the aims of the Society, Council had been considering the holding of Regional educational symposia (in line with AAGBI and RCoA philosophy). These may be free to Members.
6.3 The Neuro Critical Care Net had its inaugural meeting in Nottingham in March and had support and representation from the Society. ICNARC are prepared to provide secretarial and administrative support. Support for the project must be multidisciplinary
6.4 Council has been reviewing recommendations for higher specialist training in Neuroanaesthesia and Neuro Critical Care. We will make our opinions known to any requesting body responsible for education and training.
6.5 Praveen Manthri was thanked for his continuing work as the web site administrator. New software will be made available for him to completely update the site and make it more interactive. This should be completed by the autumn.
6.6 The Linkman email address list is to be updated at the Linkman meeting by Linkmen present.
6.7 Some linkmen had raised some concern over the quantity and quality of questionnaires sent out in the run up to the ASM. The Secretary pointed out that that the instituting of such a request for information from each Unit in no way implied that the resulting report would be accepted for presentation in any form at the ASM. Council will review the process after discussion at the Linkman Meeting.
6.8 The Secretary thanked Mrs Granat in her absence for her continued kind and generous support of the annual Harvey Granat prize.
7) TREASURER'S REPORT
7.1 Annual accounts are now being formally audited and agreed by the Trustees in accordance with the Society's obligations to the Charity Commission.
7.2 The accounts are in a healthy state with a total value of £67,000.
Subscriptions will remain at £15 pa since subscription income in 2006 was £500 more than in 2005.
There was a surplus of income over expenditure for 2006 of £6000 more than in 2005, despite an increase in costs of running the Council.
Expected outgoings for the Society for this year are anticipated to be £7750 after taking account web site production costs and 3more members of Council.
Cash reserves will be kept to cover two years running costs of the Society.
7.3 The Harvey Granat prize is held in a separate fund and still remains at £10,000. Mrs Granat kindly pays the annual prize in addition to the £10,000 legacy.
7.4 A financial review is being prepared by Council to consider a medium to long term investment strategy and spending policy.
8) APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
Messers Lonsdale & Marsh to be reappointed
9) NEW PRESIDENT
Following an invitation for nominations, only one nomination had been forwarded for consideration and consequently Dr Basil Matta was elected unopposed and installed for a term of 2 years.
10) ANY OTHER BUSINESS
An enquiry from a Member regarding the possibility of providing access to the JNA via the Society's website as a benefit of membership. This was supported by the Membership and Council will investigate the cost of this suggestion.
The President proposed a vote of thanks to the Scottish Organisers for an excellent meeting.
11) DATE OF NEXT MEETING
To be 8th May 2008 at the Marriott Forest of Arden, Birmingham
The meeting closed at 18.00 hrs
Dr Nigel Huggins Dr Martin Smith
Honorary Secretary NASGBI President NASGBI