Minutes from the Annual General Meeting (2022)

FCCT Annual General Meeting, Maneeya Center, 25 March 2022

Appointment of scrutineers: Geoff Gold, David Foster, Marwaan Macan-Makar

Quorum: of 64 Correspondent Members 31 are recorded as being present in Bangkok. Of those 9 were present at the AGM, 4 sent in proxies, 7 sent absentee ballots, giving a total of 17, or more than half the Correspondent Members in Bangkok. The AGM was therefore quorate.

Minutes of the 2021 AGM were sent out a week before this meeting. The minutes were duly confirmed.

Treasurer’s Report

Treasurer Alan Lonie outlined the club’s performance in 2021, the comparison with previous years, the current trends and the targets for 2022.

Revenue in 2021 was around 2.6 million baht. This reflected much lower numbers of events, due to COVID, very few club rentals and much lower non-member entrance revenue. However, membership revenue by the end of the year was slightly up on 2020. But the club ended 2021 with an overall loss of 1.7 million baht.

Initiatives in 2021 included staff reductions, which helped bring down our administration costs by around one million baht a year. We also saved 256,000 baht in rent reductions from the Maneeya management, which we will try to extend as far as possible. The focus on lapsed members made 2021 one of our best years yet for membership revenue. F&B margins were significantly improved, but turnover was much lower. Around 400,000 baht of donations were received in 2021, about the same as in 2020. The FCCT Myanmar Assistance project raised 721,000 baht for Burmese journalists.

At the end of 2021, the FCCT had around 11 million baht in its accounts, of which 7.7 million are in protected funds. The club therefore has 3.3 million baht in available funds, of which we must assume 500,000 baht are liabilities in the event of the club closing down. Over the past 8 years, the club has made a total of 8 million baht in losses, with F&B revenue falling continuously from around 4 million baht a year to around 1.5 million. COVID also reduced revenue from renting the club for functions from around 1 million baht a year to nearly zero.

For 2022 the executive board will try to ensure we break even on F&B, and to maintain the focus on membership renewals. The board will also seek sponsorship of at least 1.3 million baht; a couple of options are being explored.

Formal adoption of the balance sheet, the audited accounts and the approval of our existing auditors.

President’s Report

FCCT President Panu Wongcha-um described exceptionally challenging conditions for the club during the COVID-19 crisis, but also long-term financial challenges which still need to be addressed.

Membership is an area we could and should expand to increase club revenue. Events are the lifeblood of the club, and we want to encourage all members to suggest ideas for these and for improvements to the club.

Constitutional Amendments

To encourage younger Thai journalists to use the club a new membership category of Local Journalist was approved.

Floating memberships for embassies and other organisations with constantly changing staff were agreed.

The requirement to have membership application forms endorsed by Correspondent Members was dropped.

New Executive Board

Nominations for the elected posts on the 2022 Executive Board were read out. They are:

1.     President                           Panu Wongcha-um
2.    1st Vice President              Dominic Faulder
3.    2nd Vice President             Elaine Kurtenbach

4.    Corresponding Secretary     Elizabeth Adriana (Annelie) Langerak

5.    Correspondent Director/Publicity        Teeranai Charuvastra
6.    Correspondent Director/Membership    Kittiphum Sringammuang
7.    Correspondent Director/Programmes    Jonathan Head
8.  Recording Secretary                      Tan Hui Yee
9.  Treasurer                                        Alan Lonie
10. Associate Director/Programmes           Phil Robertson
11. Associate Director/Membership        Nick Bernhardt
12. Associate Director/Publicity              Steve Galster

All were approved unanimously.

13. Immediate Past President (unelected position) Gwen Robinson

In response to questions from the floor, the president explained that the option to move into a new arts centre on Rajdamri road had been seriously considered by the executive board, but rejected because we do not believe the club is in a position to take advantage of the opportunity, and because of uncertainties over how well the move would go for us.

In response to another question, the president explained that with the funds we have available now, the club can only continue to function for another year, unless losses can be stemmed.

In response to a question about possible sponsorship and resuming the tradition of an annual Prime Minister’s Dinner, the president explained that the climate for sponsorship was difficult, but that we are exploring a few options and welcome suggestions from members. The board has tried to get PM Prayuth to attend a PM’s dinner since he took the job 8 years ago, but he has so far always declined the offer.

It was suggested from the floor that Thailand’s hosting of the APEC summit this year may give the club opportunities to host special events for it.

Suggestions from the floor that streaming events have raised the club’s profile, though may cost us entrance fees, that our publicity still needs to improve, and that we should explore the possibility of grants from sympathetic organisations.

Reminder that the club has sub-committees for many of its functions and encourages more involvement by members.