NCA
AGM Report - April 2008
The
2008 Annual General Meeting of the National Council For Aviculture
was held on Saturday, 26th April at The Charnwood Arms Hotel near
Coalville, Leicestershire.
The
retiring Chairman, Sean Fitzpatrick, opened the meeting by welcoming
representatives of affiliated societies and delegates from the four
parent bodies (The British Bird Council, The Budgerigar Society, The
Canary Council and the Foreign Bird Federation).
He
presented a written report of his past year in office, the main achievements
of the NCA in that time and his good wishes to all NCA members for
continued success in the future. The Vice Chairman, Andrew Triolo,
then took over the chair and conducted the remainder of the AGM agenda.
A
written report and financial statement from the Treasurer, George
Booth, showed the Council to be in a sound financial position. The
meeting was, therefore, content to accept the Management Committee's
recommendation to leave subscriptions at their current level (£200
per annum for the four parent organisations and £20 per annum
for affiliated Cage Bird Societies) for a further year. Specialist
clubs affiliated to any of the parent bodies are automatically represented
on the NCA without further subscription.
A
particular financial benefit to member societies this year was the
NCA insurance scheme which provides at a very competitive premium
£2m public liability insurance for each club's annual shows
and meetings, including cover for costs which may be incurred due
to the negligence of officers. Specialist societies belonging to the
four parent bodies can secure the same deal through the relevant parent
body at a cost of £45. Cage Bird Societies wishing to take advantage
of this insurance cover can do so upon payment of £20 annual
subscription and £40 insurance premium to the Secretary, Dave
Whittaker, Davies House, Spring Gardens, Northampton NN1 1DR.
The
Secretary, Dave Whittaker, also presented a comprehensive written
report of the NCA's activities over the past year. These included
the addition of Terms of Reference to the new constitution detailing
the responsibilities of NCA officers; the establishment of a new website
(www.nca.uk.net); publication of a Revised Code of Conduct for Bird
Keepers; the introduction of the Public Liability Insurance Scheme;
contributions of funding, personnel and input to the work of CAWC
and the England Implementation Group forming a Strategy Document for
Bird Keepers following the passing of the Animal Welfare Act; the
appointment of Brian Stockdale MRCVS as Honorary Veterinary and Scientific
Consultant; a package of services to members; representations made
to DEFRA regarding an alternative policy to instant blanket bans at
the outbreak of avian flu' or other similar disease in the UK affecting
avian and human health and welfare.
The
Council was pleased to re-elect as its President Dennis Norton, Canary
Council delegate and well-known Border Canary breeder, exhibitor and
judge. Dennis's wife Bea also attended the AGM as representative of
Leicester S.A.
In
recognition of his steadfast contribution to the work of the Council
over several years of challenge and change retiring Chairman, Sean
Fitzpatrick, former BBC delegate, was appointed Honorary Life Vice
President of the NCA. He is only the fourth person to receive this
honour.
The
Annual General meeting also received the names of the members of the
Management Committee for 2008/9: From the BBC: Roger Caton, Gwyn Jones,
Phil Shaw and Bernard Williams. From the Budgerigar Society: Ghalib
Al-Nasser, George Booth, Roger Carr, and Dave Whittaker. From the
Canary Council: Barry Mills, Dennis Norton, Chris Smith, and Andrew
Triolo. From the Foreign Bird Federation: Bob Clarke, Peter Collins,
Bryan Reed and Dennis Webster.
The
auditor appointed for the year ahead was Grant Findlay, Bank Manager
and Member of the Budgerigar Society.
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Management
Committee Meeting - April 2008
In
the Management Committee meeting which was held on Saturday 26th April,
immediately after the AGM the following officers were elected:
Chairman: Dennis Webster (FBF)
Vice Chairman: Andrew Triolo (CC)
Secretary: Dave Whittaker (BS)
Treasurer: George Booth (BS)
Further
appointments made were:
Awards Panel: Barry Mills (CC), Dave Whittaker (BS), Bernard Williams
(BBC)
Minutes Secretary & Publicity Officer: Barry Mills.
Website Controller: Ghalib Al-Nasser (BS)
Targets
set for the year ahead include a review of marketing and presentation;
improvements in communication with members; expansion of website services;
completion of consultation Strategy Document for Bird Keepers; appointment
of CBS Liaison Officer; development of a Welfare and Conservation
programme.
The
next AGM will be held at 10.30 am on Saturday, 18th April, 2009 at
the Fieldhead Hotel, Markfield.
The
next Management Committee meeting will be held at 10.30 am on Wednesday,
25th June, 2008 at the Fieldhead Hotel, Markfield.
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Management
Committee Meeting - June 2008
At
its Management Committee meeting held on 25th June in Markfield the
NCA reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare of cage & aviary
birds and the promotion of responsible birdkeeping.
Chairman,
Dennis Webster, presented a wide range of illustrated welfare sheets
and booklets relating to all kinds of cage & aviary birds, which
had been drafted some years ago by the officers of SPA. The Management
Committee undertook to review and update these in the near future
for publication on the NCA website and for distribution at its stand
at major events. Hard copy would also be available to affiliated clubs.
A booklet entitled "Welcome to Bird Keeping" was most relevant
to members of the public considering aviculture as a hobby and would
be given priority for publication.
Andrew
Triolo, Vice Chairman, and Barry Mills, Publicity Officer, reported
on the positive progress being made by the committee producing a "Health
and Welfare Strategy for Birds" which will be submitted eventually
to the English Implementation Group as part of the secondary legislation
to the Animal Welfare Act. Both NCA officers will be attending the
last of a series of meetings in Coventry on 2nd July at which a draft
consultation document will be completed and published in the next
month or so by the Bird Strategy Committee to which the NCA as a whole
would be asked to respond. Other organisations working alongside the
NCA and the Parrot Society on the Bird Strategy Committee are the
British Waterfowl Association, The Hawk Board, The National Pigeon
Association, The Poultry Club of Great Britain and The Pheasant Association.
"Communication
with existing and potential bird keepers is the key to the future
health of aviculture and the well-being of our birds," Dennis
Webster explained. "This means contributing to policies affecting
aviculture at national level, providing quality information to our
members and responding to the needs of the hobby through our affiliated
clubs and parent bodies."
In
response to a request from Grantham CBS raised by Steve Nesbitt at
the NCA's recent AGM it was agreed to improve communications with
affiliated cage bird societies by ensuring that within two weeks of
all Management Committee meetings and general meetings, reports would
be sent to Cage & Aviary Birds magazine for publication, and placed
on the NCA website and hard copy sent to the secretaries of all affiliated
clubs and the four parent bodies.
Secretary,
Dave Whitaker, confirmed that schedules of the NCA's new £2m
public liability insurance scheme available for affiliated CBSs and
specialist clubs affiliated to any of the parent bodies had been sent
out to all clubs who had signed up for the scheme. Other applications
would be welcome from would-be NCA affiliates upon receipt of the
annual subscription (£20) and insurance premium (£40).
The insurance covers each club's shows and meetings and protection
against liabilities caused through the negligence of officers. Specialist
clubs should continue to apply through their parent body i.e. The
Canary Council, The British Bird Council, The Foreign Bird Federation
and the Budgerigar Society. Membership of any of these conveys automatic
representation on the NCA without further subscriptions. The insurance
premium for such clubs is £45.
All
affiliated clubs are also to be offered the facility to have their
own websites linked to the NCA website or to have significant dates
and events for their club advertised on the NCA website. A CBS Liaison
link is to be set up at the NCA office with its own email address:
(currently dlw76@supanet.com). All affiliated CBSs are eligible for
NCA rosettes and all NCA competitions and awards, details of which
are on the NCA website (www.nca.uk.net). Further enquiries regarding
any aspect of NCA membership can be made to the Secretary at this
email address or by writing to him at the NCA office, Davies House,
Spring Gardens, Northampton NN1 1DR.
Treasurer,
George Booth, reported on a healthy financial situation and informed
the Management Committee of the maturity in the near future of one
of its investment accounts. He is seeking advice on the safest method
of re-investing the matured sum and will report back to the next meeting.
After a presentation from Andrew Triolo on the need to commence a
proper marketing strategy to project the NCA to a wider potential
bird keeping population, it was agreed to set up an initial budget
of £2500 and to delegate the Secretary and Vice Chairman to
seek new marketing resources for use at major events.
After
several months of research and legal advice regarding the best status
for the NCA, it was agreed that the best option was that of an "Unincorporated
Association". Our current insurance scheme provides liability
cover for the officers of the organisation and our constitution is
commensurate with that required for this status.
Having
supplied every member present with reams of printed material for review
and revision by the date of the next meeting, the Chairman thanked
everyone for their contributions, set the date of the next management
meeting for 13th August at Markfield and closed proceedings at 4pm.
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Management
Committee Meeting - August 2008
The
NCA Management Committee held its third meeting of 2008 at Markfield,
Leicestershire on 13th August which was attended by representatives
of the British Bird Council, the Budgerigar Society, the Canary Council
and the Foreign Bird Federation.
The
Management Committee opened up the debate on the future of our hobby,
particularly the exhibition side, and how it must adapt if it is to
develop and flourish at a time of increasing pressures. Chairman,
Dennis Webster, summed up the reality of the situation thus: "We
are on the edge at present and we can all see what the future will
be if we do not change. We have to talk together and work together."
He was referring to the quiet disappearance of specialist and mixed
bird clubs and their annual shows, many with long and distinguished
histories, as their older members pass away and the number of willing
workers decreases.
This
process is likely to accelerate as show halls, travel and accommodation
costs rise alarmingly and numbers of exhibitors and entries decline.
One way to avoid this is through co-operation between clubs on a local,
regional or even national level as illustrated by the All Variety
Canary Show at Peterborough and the Bird Show of the Year at Stafford.
Pride in the independence and tradition of individual clubs may have
to give way to co-operation and collaboration with fellow fanciers
across club boundaries in order to remain viable. Similarly, specialist
clubs may find it useful to combine efforts with colleagues of other
varieties and return to mixed shows to increase interest and income.
Progress
reports were heard on the NCA's current initiatives. Firstly, the
contribution of the NCA to the work of the English Implementation
Group which is preparing a strategy document for the future welfare
of British bird keeping. The document should be ready for consultation
by the end of the year and the various bird-keeping organisations
involved are busy preparing welfare guidance sheets for all bird species
kept in a managed environment.
The
NCA has set up a sub-committee to review and update its large stock
of information pamphlets on all aspects of bird keeping relevant to
its membership. These will be made available on the NCA website later
this year and will also be distributed in hard copy from the NCA stand
at major shows. Many of these information sheets will supplement the
welfare strategy document being compiled by the EIG.
The
NCA insurance scheme for affiliated clubs, which has proved very popular
since its introduction in January, has now been extended to allow
first time applicants to the scheme to take up part-year insurance
cover for half the normal premium once their current insurance policy
runs out. The NCA scheme runs from January to December each year,
offers two million pounds of public liability cover for all a club's
meetings and shows and cover also for liabilities incurred through
the negligence of its officers. Further details from NCA Secretary,
Davies House, Spring Gardens, Northampton NN1 1DR.
A
new awards scheme for NCA-affiliated CBS's was confirmed which would
provide four rosettes per club for Best Exhibitor in each section
of their annual show i.e. Best British, Best Budgerigar, Best Canary,
and Best Foreign bird (NB: Foreign includes Zebras and Bengalese).
Results to be sent to the NCA office and the overall winner of the
most rosettes in each section over the show season to be invited to
the NCA AGM to be presented with an engraved tankard as Best Exhibitor
of the Year. It is hoped this will encourage exhibitors to support
as many NCA-affiliated CBS shows as possible in their area.
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Management
Committee Meeting - November 2008
The
Management Committee of the National Association for Aviculture succeeded
in holding its latest meeting on 12th November at Fieldhead Hotel,
Markfield, in spite of severe hold-ups on the M1 due to multiple accidents
on the northbound lane between junctions 20 and 21. Several members,
including Chairman Dennis Webster, were delayed by the motorway chaos
but in their absence, Andrew Triolo, vice chairman, got the meeting
underway.
Ghalib
Al-Nasser of the Budgerigar Society and Dennis Webster of the Foreign
Bird Federation were able to inform the meeting that the staff of
Cage & Aviary Birds had searched their archives and found the
original reports of the foundation of the National Council for Aviculture.
The
inaugural meeting of the NCA was held in the Waldorf Hotel, London,
on the 8th March, 1945 just before the end of the Second World War.
One of the main motivations of the council's founder members was to
make formal representation to the government of the day on the re-establishment
of bird seed imports which had been suspended during the hostilities.
They succeeded in securing royal patronage and began the long and
influential history of the NCA in the world of UK bird keeping.
The
Treasurer, George Booth, presented a written statement of the Council's
current finances and progress made on the adoption of new signatories
to the various accounts held. The agreed signatories are the Chairman,
the Treasurer and the Secretary. Thanks were due to Charles Woolley
of the Canary Council who, as a former signatory, had proved invaluable
in completing arrangements with the banks involved.
The
Secretary, Dave Whittaker was pleased to report that the insurance
policy available to all affiliated clubs will remain at the same cost
as last year. Clubs affiliated to the parent bodies (British Bird
Council, Budgerigar Society, Canary Council and Foreign Bird Federation)
receive free NCA membership and can secure insurance cover through
their parent body at an annual cost of only £45. This covers
all their club's meetings and shows and liability caused by the negligence
of their officers. CBSs affiliated to the NCA through an annual subscription
of £20 can secure the same insurance cover for £40. For
the average club this can represent a saving of up to two hundred
pounds.
The
Secretary alerted the committee to the plight of one or two affiliated
CBSs who found themselves no longer viable and sought advice on how
to distribute unspent club funds when the club was officially defunct.
This situation depends entirely on the club's own rules. Should there
be no provision made in the rules then all paid-up members should
be called to a meeting to discuss the issue and its solution. The
NCA has been the beneficiary of such situations in the past.
Andrew
Triolo and Barry Mills reported that the first stage of the work of
the Bird Welfare Strategy Committee was complete and the document
it had prepared had been sent to the England Implementation Group
for approval before distribution to all relevant bodies, including
the NCA, for consideration and comment. One of the consequences of
any agreed Strategy for Bird Welfare will be a revision of the NCA's
various Bird Keeping pamphlets and welfare sheets will begin in the
New Year.
The
NCA was represented at the successful Stafford Show in October with
a stand staffed by Canary Council members Charles Woolley, Andrew
Triolo and Barry Mills. A newly designed display for the NCA will
be purchased for Stafford Spring Show and other similar events.
The Secretary was delighted to report that the "Exhibitor of
the Year" competition has been well received by affiliated clubs
and a steady flow of nominations are coming into the office. Results
will be known at the end of the show season and presentations made
to the eventual winners in each of the British bird, budgerigar, canary
and foreign bird sections.
