The Society has been contacted by the National Archives. Both Juliette and Andrea have communicated with their representative who has asked:

1) If any of our members have information about the production of darker powder for non-Caucasian complexions

2) If any members has an example of a 1920s/30s/40s compact engraved with a name that could potentially be that of a woman’s or a man’s – if so she would "love to speak with them"

Saturday 30^th September 2017 at 11.30 a.m.
Oxford Belfry, Milton Common, Nr. Thame, OX9 2JW

Saturday 8^th October 2016 at 11.30 a.m.
Jurys Inn Cheltenham

After a short welcome and introduction to the members Alan Lloyd requested approval of the minutes of the 1^st AGM held on 31^st October 2015 which were circulated to members in Face Facts and also placed on the website. The minutes were approved by the floor. AL/AW/JD Action: 2016 AGM minutes to be circulated before AGM on 30/9/2017

There were no matters arising from the previous minutes.

Chair Report:

Alan Lloyd explained the historic reason for the development of the society through the formation of a constitution and formal committee in 2015. He explained how, during the last twelve months, the committee had worked through a series of electronic meetings to address a variety of issues which included:

Annette Dale, as Treasurer, establishing a transparent financial structure through which the society’s finances can be tracked and monitored. At the AGM in 2015 it was the intention to employ the assistance of an auditor. However, the costs were prohibitive. The auditor who was initially approached was very complimentary about Annette’s documentation. It was therefore decided to follow the practice of other societies, of a similar size, to use the services of an appropriate person associated with the society to review the financial documentation. Alan Lloyd then expressed his gratitude to Tim Wood for scrutinising the accounts

The committee is investigating the possibility of developing a new website. Alan explained that a small sub-committee had been established, chaired by Jenny Duncan, to look at options. This sub-committee had looked at options and put forward a proposal. At the face to face meeting of the committee, on 7^th October 2015, it was decided to circulate a questionnaire to sound out members’ opinions. These have been circulated. The website project would involve costs which raises the issue of how the society may fund this outlay and the committee have been discussing how this can be done

Alan then went on to praise Annette’s policy of developing the use of social media on Facebook and Pinterest which brings in 90% of new members, Face Facts, edited by Jenny Duncan, and the Convention catalogue prepared by Janine Baseley

Alan mentioned the very active local groups of the society including the West Midlands group which was previously organised by the late Mary Baker and has been reactivated by Christina Dent. He also mentioned that he had been in contact with the International Perfume Bottle Association which had merged with Roselyn Gerson’s Compact Collectors Club in the USA. The President of the IPBA is interested in developing a closer relationship and this possibility will be explored at a future date.

Alan then thanked the committee for their efforts throughout the year and at the Convention.

Finally, Alan brought to the attention of the members the fact that two members had resigned from the committee and there had been no new nominees. He pointed out that it was within the power of the committee to co-opt members and asked if there were any interested parties in the room who would be willing to join the committee as well as a willing member to take on the role of membership secretary from Annette. Action: AL to prepare Chair’s Report for Convention 2017 AGM

It was proposed by Juliette Edwards that the Chair’s report should be adopted. This was seconded by Caroline Preston and it was agreed by a majority show of hands that the Chairs Report should be adopted.

The proposal was accepted by the floor and the Chairs report was adopted

Annette informed the Meeting that BCCS funds were in a healthy state. She stated that although there may appear to be a shortfall in the 2015 -2016 accounts this was attributed to the fact that she had changed the manner in which the accounts were organised so that all monies were banked in accordance with the financial year, rather than as they were received, as had been the case in the past. Thus she had held back any membership fees received before April to allocate them to the 2016 accounts. She reiterated that this was merely an adjustment to correctly align the accounts to the appropriate financial year and was no cause for alarm.

Some areas of expenditure had increased, most notably the costs of postage and printing Face Facts. She explained that Face Facts constitutes the major, regular, expenditure during the year and that Margaret Craven had been assigned monies to purchase stamps before the increase in postage charges. This would enable the next two issues of Face Facts to be distributed, depending on numbers, until the beginning of 2017 without incurring further postage costs. As a consequence of this bulk purchase, the only way to determine Face Facts annual expenditure is to add the two years together and divide by two giving a figure of £3,469.74 per annum.

The society’s other major expenditure is the Convention but these costs are covered by the ticket sales. The Convention costs cover printing of calendars, programmes, name badges and ‘goody’ bag contents.

Annette informed the members that the figure of £828.11 on the 2015 -2016 accounts appears to show a large increase over the Convention costs of £331.37 on the previous year. This is due to the costs of coasters and goody bags in the 2014 -2015 accounts being shown separately. For accounting purposes this expenditure has now been included with all the other Convention costs to give a more accurate picture of what the Conventions actually cost the society. There has, therefore, been no increase in Convention costs. In fact the costs have decreased.

The Convention costs of £4,872.30 for 2015 -2016 appear to be higher than that of the previous year. This is because the event was attended by more people and therefore the catering costs were higher. This expenditure was off-set by the ticket sales.

Annette explained that the society’s total expenditure in 2014 -2015 was £12,458.12 which was inflated by the purchase of the stamps for Face Facts postage. Our total expenditure for 2015 – 2016 was £10,914.83; this was less than it would have been had the stamps not been purchased in the previous financial year. Taking this into account the overall expenditure had remained consistent. With an average expenditure of £3,466.74 per annum. Face Facts is the society’s largest expense.

It was proposed by Juliette Edwards that the Financial Report should be adopted. This was seconded by Lisa Larsson and it was agreed by a majority show of hands that the Chair’s Report should be adopted.

The proposal was accepted by the floor and the financial report was adopted.

Action: AD to prepare Financial statement & documents for adoption by members at the 2017 AGM

The Election of the Committee:

The Officers of the Committee were elected in 2015 to serve a two year term. There have been no resignations from the Officers posts.

The Constitution provides for no more than eight other members of the committee to be elected for a one year term from the Annual General Meeting at which they are elected.

The following members have been proposed and seconded. Their biographical summaries had been distributed to members prior to the AGM.

The proposals were accepted by the floor and following a majority show of hands it was agreed that these members should be elected to the committee:

Jenny Duncan (568)

Proposer: Juliette Edwards Seconder: Jan Hynes

Lisa Larsson (492)

Proposer: Juliette Edwards Seconder: Jenny Duncan

Juliette Edwards is Founder Member and Life Member of the Committee.

These members agreed to become committee members.

Two members of the committee have resigned and are not seeking re-election. There are therefore two posts vacant.

Alan Lloyd had explained to the members, in the Chair’s Report, that it was within the power of the committee to co-opt members. Two members had expressed interest but were too late for nomination. They could be co-opted to join the committee and the committee were minded to consider them. However, this was a committee matter and would be discussed by the members of the committee in the near future. Action: Biographies to be sought and distributed for the Committee to consider

It was proposed by Alan Lloyd and agreed by the floor that an auditor be appointed to scrutinise the finances of the BCCS for the year 2015 - 2016. The audit was to take the form used during the previous year. This was to have an appropriate person associated with the society to review the financial documentation. Alan asked Tim Wood if he would again to scrutinise the accounts

The proposal was accepted by the floor.

Due to the expense incurred with the printing and distribution of Face Facts the members were informed that to cut costs there would be three issues of Face Facts during the coming year rather than the four to date. The timings of these would be November, March and July. No objections were made and the changes were agreed.

The arrangements for the next AGM will take place at the next Convention at The Belfry Hotel Oxford on 30^th September. The theme, organisation and arrangements to be confirmed by the Convention Committee.

Saturday 30^th September at the 2017 Convention at The Oxford Belfry Hotel, Oxford

If museums are not for you, apart from the shopping, there are parks, gardens and rivers including the small botanic garden in Rose Lane just off the High Street. It is Britain’s oldest garden where the emphasis is on traditional herbal medicines and their use in modern medicine (£5 standard admission which also gives entry to Harcourt Arboretum, 6 miles south of Oxford, on the same day).

If you like walking then the best way to see Oxford is to join one of the many walking tours with a guide who will take you around the quiet back streets. There are several organisations who offer this service. Oxford Official Guided Tours (experienceoxfordshire.org). Tours include the Inspector Morse, Lewis and Endeavour experience. These begin from outside the Visitor Centre and start from £16. Oxford Tours, is a social enterprise using Undergraduate and Post-graduate students as guides and for £9.98 begin at Balliol College, Broad Street. There are other enterprising individuals who provide a free walking tour for a tip at the end. How much you pay depends on how much you like the tour!

Other highlights include Modern Art Oxford, 30 Pembroke Street, Holywell Music Room, Hollywell Street and the Castle Museum, 44 -46 Castle Street. Feel like a spot of nostalgia? Friday 29^th at the New Theatre has an ‘Elvis’ evening followed by one dedicated to ‘Queen’ on the 30^th.

Morning session - short talk on LSM compacts by Lisa Larsson

There will be a selection of compacts, carryalls, vanities, containers,
novelties and whimsies on display. The Convention catalogue will be available to purchase at the door.

Alison is planning to host a group meeting for members in the South West Region in early or middle of May. She would like to hear from those of you living in or near Devon who are interested in getting together as soon as possible so that arrangements can be made.

Alison’s contact details can be found in the March issue of face Facts or in your Membership Directory

Andrea will be curating our convention display for 2017 on this fascinating theme and is looking for: