Minutes of 2024 CDXC AGM
Preamble.
In view of the success of using the on-line facilities in recent years, in order to extend the reach of the AGM voting the Committee has decided to allow members to provide an online vote in advance of the AGM. Such votes cast will be provided as a proxy to the Chairman of the AGM who will cast them on your behalf at the meeting.
Each member was only vote once on each resolution: either online in advance of the AGM or in person at the AGM.
The following papers were available on the CDXC web site from 5th May and voting closed at midnight on 11th May.
• Minutes of 2022 AGM
• Chairman’s report
• Secretary’s report
• Treasurer’s report (includes accounts and auditor’s certificate)
• Proposal for 2023 / 2024 Committee members
For each document there was an email address where questions could be raised or clarifications requested. No questions were received.
The Constitution requires us to secure majority votes in favour of the following and these were the items put to the vote:
- Adoption of the 2022 AGM Minutes
- Adoption of the 2022 / 2023 Accounts
- Appointment of the 2023 / 2024 Committee
- Appointment of the 2024 Auditor
– – – – – – – – – – –
The following minutes are from the live AGM with reference made to on line voting where relevant.
Minutes of the CDXC 2023 AGM
13th May 2023, 11:00 BST at the Link Hotel, Loughborough.
Members present: 2E0LMA, G0DWV, G0KJP, G0MTN, G0UWS, G2NF, G3BJ, G3FVZ,G3RRM, G3RWF, G3SJH, G3SVL, G3TTC, G3UEG, G3UNA, G3VGZ, G3WGV, G3WKL, G3XTT, G3ZQH, G4CGG, G4DCI, G4FZN, G4HCL, G4IUF, G4JKS, G4LDL, G4MFX, G4PFF, G4PVM, G4TSH, G4TVR, G8GNI, M0BCT, M0IFT, M0KYB, M0NKR, M1DST, M1SMH.
Guests present: LA7GIA
1. Welcome.
Chairman Chris, G3SVL welcomed everyone to this the second “live” AGM since the Covid restrictions.
Apologies for absence were received from:- F5VHY, G0IFC, G0PHY, G0RPM, G1VDP, G3KMA, G3OQT, G3RZP, G3USR, G3WPH, G3YBY/F5VKT, G4IRN, G6NHU, GM4FDM, GW0RHC, M0AUG, MW0YVK, VE6SH, W1YRC, ZL3PAZ.
2. Minutes of 2022 AGM
The minutes of the AGM held on 7th May 2022 were accepted unanimously as a true record at the live AGM. Acceptance proposed by M0BCT & seconded by G3UNA.
(On-line voting: For = 213, Against = 0, Abstentions = 23)
There were no matters arising.
3. Chairman’s Report, Chris Duckling G3SVL.
In my report to last year’s AGM I said “Once again the Covid pandemic has deprived us of DXpeditions ..” but while the six months that followed was also rather devoid of travellers, since December 2022 they have been coming thick and fast. And with Cycle 25 on its way towards its peak, being part of the ‘DXers community’ that is CDXC is ever more valuable.
We expect to be donating more money to sponsor DXpeditions than we did in the ‘Covid years’ so maintaining and indeed growing our membership is essential if we are to keep our subscription rates at their current level. Do think of introducing new members who will benefit from, and contribute to, CDXC.
We had successful running of all three of our Challenges and I would like to thank Derek, G4XEE for the sterling work he puts in to adjudicate each one. Congratulations are due to all Trophy and certificate winners. I will announce them and present Trophies after the AGM. We tweaked the Trophy awards as from the start of 2023 to encourage legacy modes.
The Reflector continues to be an excellent forum for technical and DX help and is a real asset for members. Activity peaks during DXpeditions as you would expect: during February 2022, when Bouvet and Crozet were both active, we had 1,000 posts – the highest monthly number since April 2016. The two Skype channels provide DX spotting and real-time chat among members. I’m pleased to report that there have been almost no reasons to intervene with moderation on either platform during the year.
Activity on our Facebook site is somewhat disappointing with most of it posted by the Committee. Do think about sharing photos of your station, activity, new awards etc. We have stayed on Twitter and continue to monitor the situation under the platform’s new ownership.
Chris, G4FZN has worked on our YouTube channel and we intend to add more content in due course. If you have a relevant video please think about allowing us to add it to our channel.
Members may not have realised that CDXC has never directly owned the domain name ‘cdxc.org.uk’, it was held benevolently in our name. This was rectified in December 2022 when we formally gained ownership. We also acquired the domain name ‘cdxc.uk’ which we may use at a future date.
As is customary I would like to recognise the efforts of the outgoing Committee and those who assist the Committee in other ways: Reflector moderation, G3YMC; Facebook moderation, M0AFJ & M0NKR; Digest production, G4FNC and Digest postage, M0URX.
That brings me to proposed changes to the 2023/2024 Committee which will be put to the vote at this AGM. Ian, G3YBY who has served on the Committee for eight years is standing down. He has been pivotal in improving our promotions and press releases and has acted as a back up to Derek on Challenge adjudication tasks. This in addition to the routine work of the Committee. Thank you Ian.
Tony, G4LDL has been our secretary for 14 years – probably the longest serving secretary in the history of the Club. He has overseen the introduction of our membership management system, dealt efficiently with member queries, organised AGMs, Conventions, dinners and goodness knows what else. We will sorely miss him. Thank you Tony. As I announced a few weeks back, we co-opted two new members onto the Committee – Lee Allen, 2E0LMA and Pete Walker, G4RRM. They are standing for election at this AGM and I commend them to you. We will redistribute the various Committee tasks at the first meeting on the new Committee.
That concludes my report for the year. I am happy to answer questions on my report or provide further detail.
4. Secretary’s Report, Tony Bettley, G4LDL.
Our membership numbers have remained fairly constant across the year and at 31st March 2023 were (with 2022 figures in brackets):
Total = 727 (734), Overseas = 149 (157), UK = 570 (571), Other = 8 (6).
That is a “loss” of 7 overall. However we gained some 55 new members during the year (47 UK & 8 Overseas) which of course means 62 members failed to renew their membership. Of these 15 positively resigned; the reasons given being mainly to do with cost of living, change of circumstances etc.; the rest just letting their membership lapse with no response to subsequent reminders. This is not unusual.
Again we were able to recover some of this loss – mainly by publicity in the form of attendance at rallies (Norbreck, Newark, RSGB Convention and Friedrichshafen for example) and by targeting folk who had taken part in “special events” such as the Transatlantic Centenary.
Thanks to Ian G3YBY/F5VKT, Chris, G4FZN, Pauline G8HQW and others who helped make up lists, arrange and man the CDXC stand at these events.
Recommendations from Clubs and other members also contribute to gaining new members – so the message remains clear – keep up the CDXC profile however you can.
Sadly we had several members become SK during the period and CDXC offers condolences to the families of the following:-
Frank, EI6EF; John, G3HCT; Jim, G3TTJ; Gordon, G3WOV:
Regular bi-monthly Zoom Committee meeting have taken place (thanks Chris, G4FZN for the Zoom hosting) covering a wide range of topics from membership matters, DXpedition sponsorship, Challenge and Awards rules and adjudication, publicity, Digest matters and content and of course financial matters.
This will be my last Secretary’s report so I would like to thank all members for their forbearance during my tenure when things didn’t go right or answers were difficult to find.
I will still be around to assist when required particularly regarding some of the mysteries or our database system.
Chairman comment: Roger, G3SXW (SK) had been a stalwart CDXC member for many years before his illness caused him to lapse his membership. Chairman Chris asked that he be remembered for his contributions to the Club.
5. Hon Treasurer’s Report, Accounts & Audit Certificate, Andrew Thomas, G8GNI.
Presented below are the audited accounts and brief comments on the financial highlights of the year ending 31st March 2023. The accounts have been approved by the Committee and audited by the Club Auditor, Owen Williams, G0PHY.
The accounts for the year show a surplus of £1,347. The main highlights in income and expenditure over the previous year are as follows:
Income
Subscription income has declined slightly. With the reduction to four Digests a year, advertising income is now spread over an eighteen-month period. The annual dinner and the increase in interest rates have contributed to an overall increase in income.
Expenditure
Printing and postage costs have increased by 13% over the previous year with a consequent increase in the cost of the Digest. Marketing expenditure reflects the cost of CDXC’s stand at Friedrichshafen plus the purchase of two new advertising banners. CDXC made a contribution of £150 to DX World, sponsored WRTC 2022 and several DXpeditions, as follows:
| Marquesas Islands OC-027 |
TX7G |
250 |
| Chatham Island OC-038 |
ZL7/K5WE |
250 |
| Papua New Guinea OC-240 |
P29RO |
250 |
| Congo |
TN8K |
250 |
| Rockall EU-189 |
MM0UKI |
250 |
| Saint Brandon Island AF-015 |
3B7M |
400 |
| South Cook Islands (OC-083) & Niue (OC-040) |
E5 / E6 |
500 |
| Clipperton Island NA-011 |
TX5S |
1,000 |
| WRTC 2022 |
531 |
|
|
Net roundings, charges and currency movements |
131 |
|
|
Per Income & Expenditure accounts |
£3,812 |
Balance Sheet items
The amounts pre-paid total of £700 reflects the deposit paid to the hotel venue for the 2023 AGM and Annual CDXC Convention.
Current liabilities include:
1. The reserve for subscriptions paid in advance;
2. DXpedition sponsorship, which is charged in the accounts for the year in which sponsorship is pledged. Pledges which remain unpaid at the end of the financial year are recognised by provisions carried forward;
3. Other Creditors at 31st March 2023 are:
a. A £670 donation to CDXC in 2014/15. This will be utilised from time to time to satisfy DXpedition sponsorship requests which match special conditions stipulated by the donor which relate to the upload of logs to LotW and other QSO confirmation criteria;
b. Members fees paid in advance for the 2023 CDXC Convention;
c. Accrued advertising revenue;
d. £500 allocated for the provision of trophies.
Accumulated Net Current Assets carried forward of £21,690 indicate a continuing healthy position and a continued sufficiency of working capital to meet the day-to-day needs of CDXC.
Subscriptions
Given CDXC’s overall financial position, subscriptions will continue at current levels for 2023/2024. These are: for UK members – £18; for Overseas members taking the eDigest only – £18; and for Overseas members taking a paper Digest – £24.
Note: CDXC does not capitalise assets held such as loan equipment but writes them off when incurred. Therefore, there is no need for Fixed Assets or Annual Depreciation to be recognised in the Accounts.
Andrew Thomas, G8GNI.
Approval – Acceptance of the accounts was requested and agreed by all present.
(On-line voting – For = 221, Against = 0, Abstain = 15)
6. Committee for 2023/24.
The proposal for the 2023/2024 Committee is as follows:-
President Don Field, G3XTT.
Chairman Chris Duckling, G3SVL
Membership Secretary Chis Kirby, G4FZN
Treasurer Andrew Thomas, G8GNI
Digest Editor Peter Chadwick, G3RZP
Member Derek Bate, G4XEE, (Challenges Adjudicator)
Member Lee Allen, 2E0LMA
Member Pete Walker, G4RRM
At this point the existing committee stood down and the meeting was handed over to Don, G3BJ who asked if there were any further nominations. There were none so he proposed that the new committee, as shown, be elected en bloc.
Voting Live– Majority voted to accept with no votes against.
(On-line voting – All proposed had a minimum of 198 votes from 236 who voted).
Election of Auditor – The Committee proposed Owen Williams, G0PHY be elected as Auditor.
Voting Live– Majority voted to accept with no votes against.
(On-line voting – For = 230, Against = 0, Abstentions = 6)
7. Any other business.
There being no other business the meeting closed at 11:24