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I would also say (as someone meaning to comment on blogs on it who hasn't found the time yet) that recommendations to the AGM for amount of subs for the subsequent year do not just come out of a hat or get made without a lot of prior modelling work and thought. The Treasurer looks at a range of different options and models what their effects would be as part of drawing up final recommedations, he takes comment and advice, looks at the books and what the commitments are, listens to what people are saying generally - but part of being Treasurer is that you take an overview, that you attempt to keep the books in balance and on the right side of the line so that budgeted and planned out-goings are met from income for the overall medium and long-term health of the organisation. And the simple fact is that a lot of CILIP income is from subscriptions, but a lot of it is also from CILIP Enterprises and from interest on investments. The recession doesn't avoid organisations just because they're charities. So normal income levels from non-subscription income are currently struggling, and we're trying to fund lots of programmes to increase benefit to members (now whether that's moving qualifications into an electronic environment, enabling ability to pay subs electronically, advocacy work on the benefit of libraries and value of trained specialist staff delivering services - this mornings press news http://tinyurl.com/yaqb9dq is Wirral seems to have changed its mind on library closures and is recommending to its Cabinet they stay open for instance, now lots of interested organisations and people were involved in seeking to influence that, but one of them was CILIP which gave evidence to the Wirral Enquiry). And there are ways of ensuring you don't have to pay it all at once - just under half of all CILIP members are on one of a range of discount bands and DON'T qualify to pay the full flat-rate fee. Just under 40% of members currently pay by direct debit (monthly or annually), so moving to monthly direct debit is probably an attractive option for some folk that may not have considered it before. You can claim back the tax on your CILIP sub, first time you claim if memory serves you can claim back a good few year's worth. For the last couple of years folk have been saying that the threshold above which people pay flat-rate is too low. Last year the Treasurer promised to look at that again for this year, he did. Which is why the recommendations he's made move the threshold up this year, only by £500, but also various folk may be eligible for lower rates than they were last year (e.g. if you're working fewer hours so earning less or are currently out of employment). So I support the Treasurer and will vote for the motion, but that's me and my opinion on it, perfectly aware there's a discussion going on it that covers many issues, everyone who is a member has a vote, so download your proxy vote and use it as you think fit (and no the rules that govern the AGM weren't written last year so they don't allow for virtual participation and voting during the meeting which is why the proxys currently have to be in advance, there is no time to change that this year. I'll live blog it all and hopefully at least that way everyone will know exactly what happened who can't make it). And I'm with Bruce, I don't think if we ask folk to look at both sides and provide links to both sides that's insulting, I think we're just saving folk time. And also, yep, I'm one of the CILIP Trustees so I'll hold my hand up to that in case any of you think that makes a difference to what you think re what I'm saying. It'd be lovely to keep the subs the same, or even to go down, but we're not in an ideal world at the moment and we're trying to finance CILIP commitments plus new developments intended to benefit members. Isabel -- Isabel Hood for Semple Fraser LLP 123 St Vincent Street Glasgow G2 5EA Main: 0141 221 3771 Fax: 0141 221 3776 ---Original Message--- From: "A general Library and Information Science list for news and discussion." Sent: 01/10/2009 9:16:43 To: LIS-LINK CC: Subject: Re: How to vote by proxy if you don't know anyone at the CILIP AGM AGM meetings are always a problem for large organisations - those which have thousands of members can not hope to gather them altogether on a single day for such an event. Take Building Societies and other corporate bodies, both encourage members to discuss both sides of any argument and each is allowed their own view point. The importance here is that CILIP is a professional body and as such exists as a membership organisation - that organisation has to represent its members thoughts and feelings. While having a view to sustaining its own existence and promoting the ideals and aims of the profession as a whole. If we are to be advocates for libraries existence and the skill of its workers then various costs have to be paid. While I don't like paying increases in my subscription any more than anyone else I can see the rational behind them and which is why I spend t ---------- <message truncated> ---------- -- This email is intended only for the addressee named above and may contain confidential or privileged information. If you are not the named addressee or the person responsible for delivering the message to the named addressee, please be kind enough to telephone us immediately. The contents should not be disclosed to anyone nor copies taken. 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