Excellent support for the Autumn General Meeting

Attendance at the NAFD’s Autumn General Meeting (November 5) demonstrated once again the extent to which the Association enjoys support from its members and the interest so many are taking in its work on behalf of the profession.

Over 100 members travelled from all over the country, including Scotland and Northern Ireland, to Claverdon, near Warwick, to hear the half-year reports of NAFD President Sue Saville and Chief Executive Officer Alan Slater. Members were also updated on the activities of the various boards and committees, including the Board of Examiners, Code of Practice Committee, Membership Committee, Professional Standards Board and Committee for Professional Development.

Pandemic ’Flu was the theme for this year’s presentations, with special guest Dr Brian Parsons giving a most interesting presentation entitled ‘Burying Enza: The Spanish ’Flu 1918-1919 and the Disposal of the Dead in London’. Nigel Lymn Rose, Past President and the NAFD’s representative on legislative matters, then led a useful and very lively open forum discussion on Swine ’Flu and pandemic planning.

Mr Lymn Rose briefed members about the Association’s involvement in the latest round of discussions with the Government on this topic, underlining the fact that the NAFD liaises at the highest levels on behalf of the profession and is at the forefront of the UK’s pandemic planning.

As National Treasurer Alan Slater also reported on the healthy state of the Association’s finances and presented the interim accounts and budget for 2010 – both of which were passed unanimously. Tight financial controls are in place along with a policy aimed at maximising the NAFD’s resources and, as a result, 2010 subscriptions will rise by 1.5% for Category A members, while the branch fee will increase by just £2.00.

NAFD President Sue Saville hosted a dinner on the evening before the Autumn General Meeting, which was attended by 12 Past Presidents of the Association, and was also called upon to present two awards. The Citation plc 2009 Bursary Award went to Wayne Dennis, while Tamara Fulcher and Ron Smith were commended on their successful achievement of full NAFD vocational qualification awards.

“The mood of this year’s Autumn General Meeting was decidedly upbeat and the extent to which the Association is involved in a whole host of issues affecting the funeral profession really resonated with the audience,” says Alan Slater.

“We were delighted by the turn out. It was good to see the meeting so well-supported, especially since members were not called on to vote on resolutions on this occasion, and most encouraging that the attendees were a good mix of full and supplier members of the Association.”