THE BRITISH BUTTON SOCIETY
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2008
held on Saturday 29 March 2008 at
London Welsh Centre, 157-163 Grays Inn Road, London WC1
Beginning at 1.00 pm

President: Muriel Higgs
Secretary: Angela Clark
Attendance 47

APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence were received from Carey Bromell, Rex Butler and Dixon Pickup.

MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 24th March 2007 were agreed as printed in Button Lines.

AUTUMN SOCIAL MEETING
It was reported in Button Lines that the Society has incurred costs of £436 of the meeting in Birmingham held in October 2007 with an attendance of only 26 people.

Following discussion regarding the Autumn Social meeting held out of London in alternate years, the following were agreed:
a) The practice of holding two meetings each year should continue.
b) No entry fee for members should be introduced.
c) The committee will research venues for alternate years.
d) Attendance at cheaper venues outside the city would not be supported.

MATTHEW BOULTON
It was reported that the Bicentenary of Matthew Boulton will be celebrated in Birmingham during 2009. It was agreed that when the programme of events is known, the Committee will consider how the Society can be represented. Details will be published in Button Lines.

LIBRARIAN
It was reported that Mr Conrad Sheward had been appointed Librarian and was introduced to the meeting.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Muriel thanked everyone for attending today’s meeting and for their support. She particularly thanked the members of the committee who had worked extremely well during an eventful year.

The President reported deaths of two members; Michael Noakes, a very early member, and Edith Combley, the Society Librarian, whose funeral had been attended by the President and a committee member.

The outing to Platt Hall in Manchester had been well attended and was enjoyed by all. The duration of the exhibition of buttons from this collection at Manchester Art Gallery had now been extended.

The newly appointed Editor of Button Lines, Polly Plowman, and her team including Bob White and Geraldine Bragg were welcomed and are producing an excellent quarterly publication.

TREASURER’S REPORT
The Treasurer, Alison Palmer, presented the accounts for 2007, duly audited. The following were noted:

a) Advertisements in Button Lines are always welcome.
b) The final donation by Keith Riddle from the sale of his buttons has now been received and is most welcome by the Society.
c) Considerable expenditure has been incurred owing to the increased postage costs for Button Lines.
d) The current account indicates a deficit of £1,000.
e) The meeting endorsed the recommendation of the Treasurer that subscriptions from 2009 should be increased by £3 as follows:
Single £18, Joint £21, European £21 and Overseas £24.
f) The accounts were accepted and the examiner appointed.

Discussion took place regarding cost savings which were noted by the committee.

BRANCH REPORTS
Reports from Branches were given as follows:

London Jenny Curtis
Our meetings have been “moveable feasts”. We now meet in the Lucas Arms, Grays Inn Road, therefore, please check the date by telephone or website before attendance. Meetings have been most enjoyable and included an excellent talk by Jane Perry. New members and visitors always welcome.

Manchester Jenny Swindells
Meetings have gone from strength to strength and all are welcome to attend. New members to the Society have been recruited following a stall at the Textile Fair.

Birmingham Muriel Higgs
The branch has enjoyed a very good year with meetings at Carr’s Lane. Speakers include a representative from Groves and from the Assay Office.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS
The following were proposed, seconded and elected to the following posts for the year 2008/2009:

President Muriel Higgs
Secretary Angela Clark
Treasurer Alison Palmer
Membership Secretary Ian Scott
Committee Members Rex Butler
Jan Farrow
Sally Fletcher
Keith Jackson

Button Lines Distributor
It was reported with regret that Rex Butler had resigned as Membership Secretary and Distributor of Button Lines. Rex was thanked for his splendid work during the last three years and it was noted Rex is willing to continue to serve as a member of the committee.

The committee will consider the post of Button Lines distributor.

BBS WEBSITE
Discussion took place regarding a facility to share queries relating to identification requests from members and from the public. The facilitator agreed to research the possibility of publishing the results from the current research group on the Society’s website.

JAMES GROVE & SONS LTD
It was reported that a team from the Society is currently assisting James Grove in Halesowen to catalogue and identify their archive material.

FIRMIN
It was reported that a permanent exhibition is being established by Firmins and any old advertising material from members is welcome. Contact the President with any contributions.

MISCELLANEOUS
a) An article in the magazine Unite on buttons is scheduled.
b) Members are encouraged to stage small exhibitions at their local library. This will hopefully attract new members.
c) A newspaper article on buttons collected in Brent Cross to commemorate the holocaust was brought to the meeting and donated to the Library.
d) The Hotel Chocolat chain of shops produces attractive chocolates made from moulds of actual buttons.
e) The display table at the meeting included the Lucy Rie buttons donated to the Society.

CLOSE
At the close of the formal business members brought buttons for identification. Trading continued until 3 pm.

AC. March, 08