FIFE FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY
FIFE FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY A.G.M.
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
Fife Family History Society -Chairman's Annual
Report -AGM 11 June 2002
The Year 2001-2002 has been a very succesful year for the FFHS.
We have had five lectures this year, all very good and very well
attended. We also visited the Kirkcaldy Library to look at their
resources, which was also well attended. The workshop evenings at the
Methil Library have been not so successful, the small hard core have
enjoyed it, but in view of the costs to the Society and the
relatively poor attendance, we may have to re-consider this next
year.
These events have been ably organised by the Secretary, Betty
pryde, and she is presently working on the programme for next year.
In addition, your Society was represented at the two meetings of
the Scottish Association of Family History Societies by Andrew
Campbell. The Society had a stand at the Fife Family History Fair at
Kirkcaldy last September, where many of our members visited. Don and
Sharon attended the SAFHS Conference and Fair at Glasgow this year.
Betty pryde attended Liason meetings with Methil Library staff,
to ensure all is well with our Family History Room.
Three Journals and three Publications have been issued, and we
are indebted, as usual, to the hard work of Andrew Campbell, our
Journal Editor, assisted by Emma Reid with her work as Members'
Interests Compiler. Emma is presently working on a new issue of the
Members' Interests Register. I would like to thank all those who
regularly help to stuff envelopes and help with sticking on stamps to
ensure that 700 members receive their Journal and Publications three
times a year. A special thanks to our overseas Co-ordinators who help
out with distribution.
Your Committee has held eleven meetings during the year.
Due to resignation of the Treasurer at the last AGM, Sarah Martin
was co-opted to fill this post and you will be hearing from her on
the excellent state of the Society's finances.
It was also considered that the work involved in the
Transcription service had risen to the point where a seperate office
had to be created, Heather Findlay was co-opted to the Committeee to
act as Transcription Co-Ordinator and has performed this task very
well.
Fay Will recently resigned from the Committee after many years
service, for family reasons, and her position as Minutes Secretary
has been taken over by Ena Caldwell.
Sharon Thomson, who has held the position of Membership Secretery
, had already intimated that she would be resigning at the AGM, again
for family reasons. Gordon Thomson is also leaving the Committee.
Membership of the Society is slightly down on last year.
Don Manson has continued his great work with the Society website,
which is packed with information. This is much appreciated by the
overseas members. Don also presently takes care of the selling and
postage of various books and publications, and we would really like
to create a new Committee position to take this over from him.
However, all this means that we are presently short of a
Membership Secretary and at least two further Committee member. I
must stress that a Society with 700 members and such a range of
services can only carry on if members in the area are willing to give
some time and work to the organisation and are willing to participate
in the affairs of their Society.
I would like to thank all the Committee Members, past and
present, for the work and time which they give voluntarily to ensure
the running of this Society .
On a positive note, due to the very healthy state of the
finances, we have purchased a range of books, CD-Roms and other items
for the Family History Room at Methil Library. We are always looking
for suggestions from Members for additions to these assets, although
I must warn that we are approaching the time when the space available
to us in the Library is rapidly running out.
I will close by thanking all members who have contributed in some
way to the interests of the Society, by renewing your subscription,
by contributing articles for the Journal or by assisting in any other
way. We are not a professional organisation and we depend on the help
and goodwill of every member.
In view of the number of Committee Members who have served for
three years and, in view of the number of co-options, all Committee
members will be standing down at the AGM in June 2003. Members will
be advised in good time of the names of those willing to stand for
re-election.
Thank you.
A.Lumsden