Resolution Document for The de Vere Society, Charity No. 297855 as reported in the April 2022 DVS Newsletter Vol 29, No. 2, p.6-7. ## **THE DE VERE SOCIETY** ## **REPORTS OF THE 2022 AGM AND SPRING MEETING** **REPORT OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING** **Alexander Waugh** presented this report after a decision had been made for the third year running to conduct an email-based AGM, this having been approved by the Charity Commission, with **Saturday 19 March 2022** as the agreed date for members’ responses to draft minutes, reports, proposals and nominations. Relaxation of restrictions was too late to change that protocol and the Committee voted in favour of a virtual Spring Meeting with the AGM report as the first item on the agenda as **Part A of the Spring Meeting** on **Saturday 2nd April 2022** . The 2022 AGM agenda, draft minutes of the 2021 AGM, reports for 2021–22 by the Chairman, Hon. Secretary and Hon. Treasurer, the 2021 accounts, and nominations and proposals, having already been approved by all seven officers/members of the Committee, were circulated in February 2022 to 276 DVS members by email, and by post to seven who had not supplied email addresses (290 members in total). Responses and comments were returned by 34 members (this number excludes seven Committee members) to the Hon. Secretary by the due date of Saturday 19 March 2022. Members’ votes and comments were circulated by email to the Committee for their consideration. Of all 41 total responses (including the Committee), which is twice the number required in the Constitution for a quorum, 21 were from the USA, Europe or further afield, compared with 52% of DVS members. The 2021 draft minutes were approved without correction: nine members said they were not present at that meeting. The signed minutes of the 2021 AGM, 2021–22 reports of the Chairman, Hon. Secretary and Hon. Treasurer, and 2021 accounts, will be uploaded to the member-only section of the DVS website. The DVS Constitution was amended by agreement at the AGM in 2021 before the Charity Commission advised the Society that two mandatory clauses had been omitted by oversight in the 1997 constitution, which is the one followed by the DVS but, because of this oversight, not held by the Commission. Clause 29 concerns changes to the ‘objects of the Society’ and Clause 30 to dissolution of the Society, which would also be relevant to merging with another society – and also concerns distribution of property and assets. The Commission agreed to waive retrospective changes to the 1997 constitution if the clauses were added to the 2021 Constitution and approved at the AGM. The clauses, accepted by the Committee and Trustees, were approved by 40/41 members; there was one ‘don’t know’. Two members at first questioned the changes, anxious that a merger or dissolution might be envisaged, and were reassured this was certainly not the case and that the new clauses were merely a necessary legal technicality. The Committee regretted (as did those members who made voluntary comments) Kevin Gilvary’s decision to stand down as Hon. President and he was thanked for his major contributions to the Society over many years as Hon. Treasurer, Vice-chairman, Chairman, Newsletter Editor and Hon. President. Charles Beauclerk, the Society’s eminent founder, had kindly accepted the Committee’s nomination to be Honorary President and was approved by 40/41 members, and is now enthusiastically welcomed. Regrettably, he was unable to speak at the Spring Meeting due to illness, but highlights of an interview recorded in 2020 are reported on p.24–25, giving a fascinating insight into Charles’ founding of the Society and the strength of his commitment to Edward de Vere. Further terms of office for Alexander Waugh, Heward Wilkinson, Yvonne Cheal and Rosemary O’Loughlin as Chairman, Vice-chairman and Committee members respectively were approved: unanimously except for a single dissenting vote. Two new Committee members were unanimously approved: Richard Clifford, a ‘brainy and witty’ director and actor, well known to the DVS for his recitals at meetings, and Jan Scheffer, for decades a huge supporter of the DVS, a psychoanalyst and fan of the Rolling Stones. Both were welcomed to the team. DVS Accounts for 2021 Bank A¢¢LN￿ 31.1119 31.12.20 31.1221 aoxe £ C105p £ C405e £ Ba￿lasS community Barclays saving PayPal S & £ Barclays S Con901idated bank balance £9.439 £9.264 £6.118 £2.368 27.189 4.232 88.301 4.216 1,613 535 170,310 12.203 183,046 Bank Mo￿￿￿nt 1857 71.173 84.6Bfj Accounts 12m to t*¢ 2019 12th to CÈC 2tr10 12m to det 2021 Y y ¢hafftyÈ Re¥enues PayPal Subs (net of fees) Barclays £ 5ub5 Ba￿layS S subs Over paymertlrebate Unpaid subs due Gift aid accrued Total 3.151 2.143 1.537 -30 4.263 6.818 2,014 1.144 43 59.93% -7.54% 1.155 -225 -0.97% 150 3CN) 7,101 329 7.705 350 10.518 36.51% Shop Ipaypall 8(w)k sales Iportsea pre5s1 Interest income Total R•¥•N 809 174 37 16 7.721 11.510 49m% Op•rating Ew•n88s Zoom & IT subs -2,251 -4.515 -5,172 -2.467 -3,324 -3.122 -3.949 Paid Admin Conmiiieè expenses Confererbce and teleconference Inetl Thgital marketing Shop Bank charges Audit -1.659 -771 -2.324 -1.537 -374 -524 -280 .Iixi 26 173 36 -4246 Totol eynses -18,102 0￿ratirW4 426 4.692 Investment eyn -15.160 Research De51gn, social media and SEO Website Fixture5 and hardware .575 -6,900 -7.758 -L288 Data priv3ty Total I￿￿81r￿•￿t -2.160 44220 75 p*t donatlons 80.967 115,360 1.6S7 69.996 Heconciliation adjustmènt Accrued Intome -3(M) 618 -171 Port5ea Stock 501d Accrued expense Cash movement Dati 180 1.159 71.173 109 84,666 1AS7 8ck v bank stat&mnt ## **Independent Examiners Report to the trustees of the De Vere Society** I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the society for the year ended 31st December 2021, which are set out on page 2 and 3. ## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner** As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: - examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act - to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act - to state whether particular matters have come to my attention ## **Basis of independent examiners report** My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out below. ## **Independent examiner’s statement** In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: 1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements - to keep accounting records in accordance with section 30 of the 2011 Act; and - to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or 2. to which in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. > Margaret Fowler AAT Licensed Accountant 55 Gilmore Crescent Margaret Fowler Digitally signed by Margaret Fowler Date: 2022.02.04 11:46:36 Z Ashford Middlesex TW15 2DD 4[th] February 2022 **----- Start of picture text -----**
Bank Accounts 31.12.19 31.12.20 31.12.21
Close £ Close £ Close £
Barclays community £9,438.70 4,232 535
Barclays saving £9,263.28 88,301 170,310
PayPal $ & £ £6,118.19 4,216 12,203
Barclays $ £2,368.49 1,613 0
Consolidated bank 27,189 98,362 183,048
balance
Bank Movement 1357 71,173 84,686.04
Accounts 12m to Dec 12m to Dec 12m to dec Y on y
2019 2020 2021 change
Revenues
PayPal subs (net of 3,151 4,263 6,818 59.93%
fees)
Barclays £ subs 2,143 2,178 2,014 -7.54%
Barclays $ subs 1,537 1,155 1,144 -0.97%
Over payment/rebate -30 -225 43
Unpaid subs due 5 150
Gift aid accrued 300 329 350
Total subs 7,101 7,705 10,518 36.51%
Shop (paypal) 0 0 809
Book sales (portsea 268 0 174
press)
Interest income 37 16 9
Total Revenues 7,406 7,721 11,510 49.07%
Operating Expenses
Zoom & IT Subs 0 0 -2,251
Printing -3,122 -3,949 -4,515 14.32%
Paid Admin 0 0 -5,172
Committee expenses -1,659 -2,324 -2,467 6.14%
Conference and -771 -1,537 -3,324 116.27%
teleconference (net)
Digital marketing -524 -374 0
Shop 0 0 -280
Bank charges -44 -7 0
Audit -80 -90 -100
Translation 26 36 7
Total expenses -6,173 -8,246 -18,102 119.53%
Operating surplus 1,233 -525 -6,592
Investment expense
Preprint & publishing 0 0 -15,160
Research -575.32 0 0
Design, social media 0 -2,000 -6,900
and SEO
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Website 0 -7,758 0
Fixtures and hardware 0 -1,288 0
Data privacy 0 0 -2,160
Total investment -575 -11,046 -24,220
Net donations 1,000 80,967 115,380
Surplus after 1,657 69,396 84,568
investment and
donations
Reconciliation
adjustments:
Accrued income See -300 618 -171
below
Portsea Stock sold Dating 0 0 180
Accrued expense See 0 1,158.63 109
below
Cash movement 1,357 71,173 84,686
Check v bank 0.419793482 -
statement 0.01850186
Accruals Analysis FY19 FY 20 FY 21
Unpaid subs due 0.00 0.00 -150
Unpaid subs unwind 0.00 0.00 0
Gift aid accrued -300.00 -329.00 -350
Gift aid unwind 0.00 947.00 329
Cash flow impact -300.00 618.00 -171
Accrued expense
Uniqueway Conf 0.00 -1,026.00 -1168
Robin Philips Refund Subs 0.00 -42.63 0
Audit Audit 0.00 -90.00 -100.00
Unwind 0.00 0.00 1,158.63
0.00 -1,158.63 -109.37
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