[The following is posted on
[The following is posted on behalf of the Minute taker]Minutes of 70th meeting of Kent & Sussex Regional Branch Sunday, 10th September, 2017The meeting started at 2:30pm at the Muggleton Inn, High Street, Maidstone, Kent (First floor).Present: Mandy Bruce, Dave Chesham (from Item 5), Rob Cox (Treasurer), Dan Fabian and Neil Kirk.AGENDA – Part One: Business1. Election of Chair -Motion 1 Cox/Bruce "that Fabian be chair" AGREED.2. Apologies for absence Marie Chesham, Hannah Dutton and Niall Murray.3. Confirmation of agenda itemsConfirmed.4. New Member Introduction & QuestionsCde Neil Kirk. Neil Kirk introduced himself as a new member of KSRB and was welcomed by all. A discussion period followed where Neil’s questions about the aims and structure of the party where answered by members present.5. Adoption of minutes of previous meetingMotion 2 Cox/Bruce "that the minutes be adopted" AGREED.6. Matters arising from the minutes of previous meetinga. Branch Email addressCde. Cox expressed some concern about going ahead with the suggestion, but will email Cde. T. Miller again regarding using this address for outgoing email.b. Folkestone Meetings/Socials: Lime Bar Cafe)In the absence of a reply from Cde. Thomas, Cde. Cox proposes to consult all the members in Folkestone area about a meeting. Bruce informs branch of forthcoming music events at Lime Bar cafe. Cde. Cox reports that only 4 copies of the Standard sold at the Lime Bar in August (as they became hidden from view). Socials are planned on either 24.9.17 or 1.10.17; Cde. Cox to find out times and invite members.c. Online Meeting Attendances, Facebook and Jitsi MeetCde. Bruce has nothing further to report regarding facebook meetings. Cde. Kirk suggests using online meetings more, perhaps to deal with business, leaving more time for open discussion at physical branch meetings. Cde. Kirk agrees to find out more about the apps available for this purpose, including Jitsi.d. T-Shirt OrderCurrent Inventory & Further Orders (for Head Office) Cde. Cox reports on remaining stock of t shirts and bags and suggests re-working the proposal to E.C. to order a batch of screen printed t shirts from AMS workwear for sale from Head Office. Agreed – Cdes. Bruce and Cox to liaise on this.e. The next General ElectionCde. Chesham reports that the Election Committee have deferred the branches request to give permission to candidates to stand in forthcoming elections to the A.D.M.f. Report: Kent Miners Festival 2017Cde. Cox reports that Cde. Parkin attended Kent Miners Festival to help set up the stall. Cde. Bruce attended later. Letter received from the organisers thanking SPGB for their support. Cde. Cox reports sales of Socialist Standard x1, Bags x1, Strike Weapon leaflet x6 and Socialism or Your money Back x4, plus a donation of £1. Many leaflets where handed out and discussions had with festival goers.g. 2018 Events(i) London Comic Convention(s) – Suggested SPGB Stall 27-29th July 2018 at Olympia. Cde. Cox suggests proposing a joint venture with West London branch and to contact West London branch in this regard. Cde. Bruce suggests finding to present Socialism in more fun/positive ways.(ii) Gay Pride (Canterbury) Cde. Cox thinks the next Gay Pride Canterbury event will take place on 9th June 2018 and has noted the date in order to find out about booking a stall at the event.h. ADM Discussion Item“Advertising SPGB in areas where we have active members and branches.” Cde. Cox apologised he omitted to submit this item; Suggested instead to draft as motion for EC – to discuss at next Branch meeting.i. Correspondence with Cde. Lewis Hayward-HopkinsCde. Cox has had no response to correspondence with Cde. Lewis. Defrerred.j. Meeting on 8th October (South London Branch)It was reported the ‘Corbyn’ meeting had been postponed but the meeting advertised on 08/10/17 (‘Socialism, what it is and how to get there’) would go ahead. Cde. Cox to email South London branch to enquire whether Cde. Fabian will have his travel expenses reimbursed (if required to attend).k. “End to Rationing” leaflet (suggestion to EC)Cde. Cox has had no reply from EC about printing extra copies.7. EC Correspondencea. Call for NominationsSocialist Standard (Layout) and Internet Committee Cde. Kirk was asked to consider accepting nomination for IC and agreed to consider. Cde. Chesham to put Cde. Kirk in touch with IC for more information. At this point Cde. Kirk apologised and left the meeting due to other commitments.b. Assistant General Secretary“At its August meeting, the Executive Committee resolved to ask Branches for their views on the proposals in Motions 1 and 2 from Conference” (report circulated). KSRB replies: 1. The EC should do what members instruct in Motion 1 i.e. “organise a consultation of the entire membership” on the points 1, 2 and 3 as listed in the motion. 2. The EC should get on with setting up the committee to carry out the terms of reference set out in Motion 2 “to look into the implications of the Party becoming a national organisation, and to report to 2018 conference”. Agreed 4-0-0.8. ADM 2017 Arrangements for Appointment of DelegatesDue to delayed October Branch meeting this matter is now urgent. Chesham and Fabian are confirmed as delegates to ADM. Agreed.9. Street StallsAugust Report & arrangements for September & October Cdes. Cox and Bruce report on a successful and rainy Canterbury stall in august. Cox has posted a report on the forum. Bruce and Cox to attend September and October stalls.10. Brighton GroupCde. Chesham reports that members of KSRB from the Brighton area and London branches will be attending the Labour Party conference and using the branches spare table for a stall near the conference venue. Cde. Chesham reports the sad news that Cde. Pruden’s mother has passed away. Margo Pruden was a former member of SPGB. The branch agrees to send a sympathy card to the Pruden family. Chesham agrees to purchase and send the card. At this point Cde Chesham apologised and left the meeting due to other commitments. Meeting continued on inquorate basis.11. Forms 'A' & 'F' and Branch membership transfersNeil Kirk has been admitted and to KSRB via membership committee. Niall Murray has applied to transfer to KSRB having relocated to Hove from Guildford.12. EC minutes August and SeptemberNoted.13. Future propaganda activitiesNone14. Any other business A ‘draft’ letter from the EC (‘A political call to arms’, September 2017), suggested for circulation to Branch members, received during the meeting, and was read and discussed at length. Response to EC: “It is agreed to defer any circulation, pending clarification of the current vacancy for the post of treasurer. Furthermore, members present question whether the fact of the unfilled vacancies actually means that the Party cannot function? And also found the tone of the letter to be unduly negative, bullying and off putting, especially for new members. Members present also contest the point that there is “no alternative option” and that there may be other options to the letter, i.e. the Party needs to be more creative about addressing the situation.” Agreed 3-0-0.15. CollectionStandards x3 =£4.50 Collection £26.50Adjournment 7.30pm