Applications for BCSS Conservation Grants and Research Grants / Gift Aid / Bequests to the Society / Members of the F&GP Committee / Information for Branch Officials
Applications are invited for grants for conservation projects. Applicants should post an outline of their proposed project, with details about the costs, to Dr W. F. Maddams, 26, Glenfield Rd, Banstead, Surrey, SM7 2 DG or submit the information electronically to alan.hill3@sky.net. Alternatively an approach can be made to any member of the Conservation Sub-Committee.
The BCSS Research Sub-Committee invites applications for grants for research projects that will provide new information on the biology, propagation or cultivation of succulent plants. Research proposals with immediate and direct application to the interests of the BCSS membership are a priority. A grant will be normally upto £1,000.
Applications should be submitted electronically, in rich text if possible please, to the Sub-Committee's Secretary at alanhill3@sky.com Otherwise please post five hard copies to 8, Vicarage Rd, Grenoside, Sheffield. S35 8RG.
Proposals should indicate the proposer's experience and publications, a referee, the current state of knowledge on the topic, the proposal and methods (maximum two sides A4), time scale, the amount requested and the use of the requested money.
Applicants will be informed as soon as possible of the Sub-Committee's decision. Successful applicants will be required, at the end of the research, to provide a short confidential report to the Sub-Committee. Also an article will be required which will be published in the BCSS Journal or Bradleya.
Should further information about an application be required please contact the Secretary
As a result of a changed decision by the Inland Revenue we are now able to include all subscriptions as well as donations in the Gift Aid scheme. Gift Aid is a scheme operated by the Inland Revenue whereby a registered charity can reclaim 28p for every pound paid by a donor or subscriber (£4.20 on a £15 membership). In June 2006 a Gift Aid declaration form and a reply paid envelope were sent out to all UK members with their Journal. In addition since July 2006 a form and envelope have been sent to all new members.
If you have received a form and not yet returned it we would ask you to please do so as soon as possible. If you have not received a form and wish to have any payments you make classed as Gift Aid please contact the Treasurer. (Contact details inside front cover.) Once you have completed a form you will not need to do anything unless you cease to be a taxpayer at which time you should notify the Treasurer. None of your tax details will be available to the Society and you will not be contacted by the Inland Revenue. Please help us to get back as much money as possible from the Inland Revenue and sign up for Gift Aid.
As a result of requests for information on this matter, we are including details here for the reference of members.
Many societies and organizations rely on a substantial proportion of their income arriving in the form of bequests; in fact some receive up to 20 per cent of their annual income from this source. If in the past you have gained enjoyment from membership of the Society, it may be that you would like to consider making some provision for it in your will. Any bequest to a registered charity is paid before the calculation of inheritance tax (death duty) so that a bequest to the Society would actually reduce the amount of tax paid on an estate. You should quote the Society's charity registration number, 290786, in the bequest.
Please also make sure that your wishes regarding the care and disposal of your plant collection are well known to your executors, as the plants can easily deteriorate before anything is done about re-housing them.
Several members have asked for a list of the members of the F&GP Committee. The details for the coming year are as follows:
BCSS Chairman - John Arnold. BCSS Vice-Chairman - Alasdair Glen. BCSS Treasurer - David Kirkbright. BCSS Secretary - Eddy Harris. Membership Secretary - Tony Morris. Journal Editor - Roy Mottram. Bradleya Editor - Colin Walker. Advertising Manager - David Quail. Representative of the Shows Committee - Barry Tibbetts. Publications Officer - Tony Mace. General members of the committee (elected annually): Suzanne Mace, Tony Morris, Alice Vanden Bon, Roland Tebbenham.
Elections to the F&GP are held annually at the October Executive Committee meeting of the BCSS.
List of officials
The 2008/2009 list of officials was published with the June 2009 issue of the Journal. Any changes of Branch officials should be notified in the first instance to Eddy Harris,
BCSS Secretary. The compilation of the published list is undertaken each year by Alice Vanden Bon and a form for completion is sent to each Branch in March/April each year.
The Executive Committee
The Society is managed by the Executive Committee, which is intended to be representative of the whole Society. It comprises Life Members, Fellows, Officials (i.e. Chairman,
Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary and Editors), Ancillary Officers, members of permanent Committees, Zonal Representatives and Branch delegates.
The Zonal Representatives represent all the Branches within their Zone, but in addition each Branch may be represented by its own delegate. This person is usually an official of
the Branch but need not be. The Branch may delegate another member, or even a member of another Branch, to represent its members. An individual may "wear several hats".
For example, a Zonal Representative is often a Branch Secretary, and may also serve as a member of a permanent Committee. In such cases, the individual has only one vote in the
Executive Committee.
The Treasurer is empowered to reimburse second class travelling expenses or fuel costs to Officials, Ancillary Officers, members of permanent Committees and Zonal Representatives,
but not Branch delegates. As travel costs rise inexorably it is hoped that Branches will consider subsidizing them for their delegate. Obviously, where it is possible for several
attendees to share a car, this helps to keep costs down.
In recent years there has been a significant reduction in the number of people attending Executive Committee meetings. It is hoped that this is a reflection of the rising costs
rather than apathy. Although it is frequently necessary for the Finance and General Purposes Committee to take action where a significant delay would otherwise result, the
Executive Committee is the main decision-making body. The Executive Committee meeting provides a forum where matters of concern may be aired and the views of a representative
cross-section of the membership obtained.
New Branch Secretaries
Branch secretaries are reminded that in an effort to ensure that branches can be kept up to date with important news and developments, the Society maintains an email mailing list
called bcss-announce which is used to send information through to officials, for dissemination at local branch meetings. The preferred contact person in each branch is the
Secretary, but if the Secretary does not have access to email facilities, another contact person can be appointed by the branch. If you are a Branch Secretary and you would like to
be added to this email mailing list please contact Tony Mace: bcss@cactus-mall.com
Changes to latest Judges List and Speakers List
All additions and amendments to these lists are published in the Newsletter pages of the BCSS Journal. Branch Secretaries are advised to refer to these changes and to add them
to their copy of the lists. If you are a Branch Secretary and you require a copy of either list please send an email to Eddy Harris, BCSS Secretary at secretary@bcss.org.uk and he will arrange for your copy to be supplied.
