Minutes of the 2021 annual general meeting of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT)
Held at the FCCT Clubhouse, The Penthouse, Maneeya Center
518/5 Ploenchit Road, Patumwan, Bangkok
Friday, 26 March 2021
Executive committee members in attendance:
Gwen Robinson, Dominic Faulder, Jonathan Head, Annelie Langerak, Panu Wongcha-um (by Zoom), Teeranai Charuvastra, Peter Upperton
Commencement. President Gwen Robinson called the meeting to order at 7:40 pm.
Order of business: The meeting was conducted in accordance with the order of business specified in section XV (General Meetings), subsection 1 (Annual General Meeting, paragraph of the FCCT By-Laws), as follows:
I.Confirmation of minute-taker
Richard Holt was confirmed as minute-taker.
II. Appointment of scrutineers
Three scrutineers were appointed.
III. Establishment of quorum
It was confirmed by the FCCT office that more than half the correspondent members in Thailand at the time were present, had voted by ballot or were represented by proxy. The meeting was therefore quorate.
IV. Confirmation of the minutes of the 2020 AGM
The minutes of the previous annual general meeting, held on 26 March 2020, were approved.
V. Treasurer’s report (full text) by outgoing Treasurer Peter Upperton for the year ending 31 December 2020
Despite the Club being a popular venue, with over 600 members and an active and varied supply of programmes, the losses which have occurred over the recent past have continued this year.
The annual operating loss was Bt1,186,696 (2019 – bt1,216,456)
There was a decrease in income from Membership Dues of 6%, and a 15% decrease in revenues from Food and Beverage sales. The overheads increased at 0.3%.
Some of this bad news was the result of the Covid-inspired shutdowns -- the operating losses for the last half were 37% of the total, partly as a result of the generous response to the appeal for donations to help defray overhead costs, which amounted to over Bt500,000. But overall, the policy for turning the club’s results around has been less successful than we would have wished.
The budget for 2021 is to energetically increase Membership, revive an old program for
sponsorships, and increase the F&B profit to 7% (2020 loss 8%), while holding events 4-5 times a week. This budget is fully backed by the Board and Manager, but of course depends on no more lockdowns for its success.
As the 2018 Treasurer noted: “In spite of the losses experienced over the past few years, the club remains financially sound because of the accumulation of surpluses in previous years”, for the time being. Available cash reserves were Bt3,172,714 as at the 31st December 2020.
*- adjusted for prior year items
VI. Adoption of the balance sheet and statement of accounts for the year ending 31 December 2020.
The balance sheet and statement of accounts were approved.
VII. Appointment of auditors for the year 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021.
It was agreed to reappoint Varasilp Songtish & Associates as the Club’s independent auditor.
VIII. President’s report (full text) by outgoing President Gwen Robinson (2019-2020)
Reporters are often advised by editors not to use the clichéd term “perfect storm.” But as the outgoing president after two eventful terms, and in recognition that it’s the most apt description of the past year at the FCCT, I hope I can ask for your tolerance on that front.
The outbreak of the COVID-19 virus in Thailand and the subsequent lockdowns presented the FCCT (not to mention the world) with the gravest challenges since its establishment in 1956. It also converged with the resurgence of political turmoil in this country and a new generation of student-led protestors who showed new spirit and determination to push back against the established system, including with demands to reform the monarchy.
On other fronts, we saw Thailand taking a severe economic hit as the once vibrant tourism economy screeched to a standstill.
As members will be well aware, the club had to halt operations from late March for about two months under the government's emergency measures to stem the spread of coronavirus. As a result, we saw the collapse of revenues, which apart from club memberships rely on events, programmes and food & beverage sales. In response, we launched an unprecedented drive for contributions from members and supporters, which drew a much-appreciated outpouring of support and donations amounting to more than 500,000 baht. This helped us cover our costs for one full month, and also went towards supporting our staff. We cannot thank all who contributed enough, but hope this is an expression of deep gratitude.
After the lockdown lifted and we moved into semi-normal mode, Thailand was hit by a fresh outbreak of Covid-10 -- although this time in Bangkok at least, containment measures focused on strict social distancing requirements and from December, a ban on alcohol sales. Again, the club struggled through December and January.
Although the alcohol ban has been lifted, we were still under strict social distancing requirements by April, which limited our events to little more than 60 to 70 people, with spacing requirements which also severely limited table seating.
This continued to cut into revenues but did not stop the recommencement of programmes.
Over the past few months, we’ve had some outstanding events including a recent night dedicated to Myanmar’s media, our regular Piano Lounge nights, launched and organized by our valued board member Steve Galster, and some very successful art exhibitions including those by renowned designer Bill Bensley and in 2020 by Thai protest artists Headache Stencil and Alex Face.
Most importantly, amid increasing political pressures on the protest movement and efforts to silence dissent, we have not only preserved but managed to advance the club’s role as a vital forum for free expression in Thailand. This is reflected in programmes that have shone a spotlight on diverse voices, ranging from Thailand’s Deep South to political activists, human rights campaigners and also Thai law enforcement and government officials.
Lest anyone suggest we favour the opposition, we have continued to pursue our standing invitation to Thailand’s prime minister to revive the annual tradition of a PM’s dinner, and regularly invite ministers and government officials to join our panel discussions.
I’m also pleased to say we have strengthened our relationship with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, particularly the Director General of Information, Khun Tanee Sangrat and his predecessor, Khun Cherdkiat, and look forward to more cooperation in the coming year.
In my new role, I hope to focus more on the club’s programmes with efforts to provide lively and relevant discussions and events. To that end, I would encourage members to get involved either with suggestions for programmes or club improvements or even to join a committee.
Concerning our finances over this last very difficult year, I would like to thank Peter Upperton, our treasurer, for steering the club through 2020 and helping to set our spending priorities going forward.
As Peter well knows, the club continued to lose money in 2020, but after a run of successful programs and cost-tightening measures, I am confident it is beginning to turn the tide, with increases in revenue across events and F&B income.
Turning to the club’s management, gratitude to our popular general manager Richard Holt, who has led our loyal staff through an extremely difficult period.
The clubhouse itself continues to benefit from ongoing improvement efforts, within our very limited budget, particularly with the updating of our audio-visual system, which has become a key selling point for rental for private events. We are particularly grateful to Julian Hadden for his outstanding technical support and goodwill, and to Dave Foster and his partner Khun Tik of Jaiyen Media for unending patience and technical advice, as well as to Pan Siripark and Annie Robertson, who have taken on the demanding tasks of producing our weekly Bulletin and handling our social media presence.
Huge thanks go to the FCCT’s wonderful staff, both back and front office and our food & beverage team. And my deepest gratitude also to our outstanding boards of 2019 and 2020, and the incoming board of 2021, and all other members who serve voluntarily on our sub-committees, from Programmes to Technical.
The fact that FCCT has weathered the biggest challenges in its 60-year-plus history tells me that we can be confident the club will recover and go from strength to strength with the support of its loyal membership and many friends in Thailand and abroad.
Most of all I’d like to thank the board – including vice presidents Jonathan Head and Annelie Langerak, and Past President Dominic Faulder as well as incoming president Panu Wongcha-um, board members Steve Galster, Frank Fu, Paul Risley and others for their dedication to the club – we are all volunteers and sometimes this is challenging, to say the least. With his ability to multi-task, his journalistic integrity and natural rapport with just about everyone he meets, Panu will be an outstanding president.
On behalf of the FCCT executive committee and staff, I wish all our members safety and good health, and urge you to keep supporting your club.
IX. Conduct of general business, including questions from members
Orderly questions and discussion focused on ways to improve club revenue. The club continues to have no outside sources of funding. Several members suggested that it more actively seek corporate support through sponsorship and other means. This was a useful source of funds in the past, but has become much harder to attract in recent years. It was agreed that the club should engage the corporate sector more actively, while remaining aware of the importance of being, and being seen to be, independent.
XII. Election of new executive committee officers.
Nominees for all posts were uncontested and elected without objection:
2021 FCCT Executive Committee
President Panu Wongcha-um
1st Vice President Dominic Faulder
2nd Vice President Elizabeth Adriana (Annelie) Langerak
Past Presiden (assumed automatically) Gwen Robinson
Corresponding Secretary Elaine Kurtenbach
Correspondent/Journalist Director/Programmes Jonathan Head
Correspondent/Journalist Director/Membership Kittiphum Sringammuang
Correspondent/Journalist Director/Publicity Teeranai Charuvastra
Treasurer Alan Lonie
Recording Secretary Tan Hui Yee
Member Director/Programmes Phil Robertson
Member Director/Membership Peter Upperton
Member Director/Publicity Steve Galster
XIII. Introduction of the new executive committee
Gwen Robinson expressed thanks to outgoing board members and introduced the new ones.
XIV. Establishment of standing committees and any other business
The standing committees already established would carry on as usual.
XV. Adjournment of meeting
There was no other business. Gwen Robinson closed the meeting at 8:45 pm.
Minutes taken and prepared by Richard Holt
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