In this notice:
All members in good standing are welcome to attend and have their say. If you have not renewed your membership, please do so ahead of the event to be eligible to participate.
Nomination forms are available from the FCCT office. In the coming weeks, the agenda, minutes of the 2023 AGM and other related documents will be circulated. These will include absentee ballot forms for correspondent and journalist members unable to attend in person.
It is essential that as many correspondents as possible respond so that a quorum can be established of those in the clubhouse and those unable to attend in person.
If they wish, correspondents and journalists may sign a proxy form that they can return to the office instead of an absentee ballot. Instructions, including limitations, appear on the form.
Under Article 9 of the FCCT’s constitution, an extraordinary general meeting can always be called should eight or more correspondent members in good standing request one.
Executive Committee
29 February 2023
Annual general meeting agenda
Friday, 29 March 2023, 7pm
I. Confirmation of minute taker.
II. Appointment of three (3) scrutineers.
III. Establishment of quorum.
IV. Confirmation of minutes from the annual general meeting held on Friday, 25 March 2022.
V. Treasurer’s report.
VI. Adoption of balance sheet and statement of accounts for the year ending 31 December 2022.
VII. Appointment of auditors for the year 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023.
VIII. President’s report.
IX. Conduct of general business including questions from members.
X. Election of new executive committee members in three categories:
i. Those only correspondents may nominate and vote for.
ii. Those only correspondents/ journalists may nominate and vote for.
iii. Those all members in good standing may nominate and vote for.
XI. Introduction of new executive committee.
XII. Establishment of standing committees and any other business.
XIII. Adjournment of meeting.
Minutes
FCCT Annual General Meeting, Maneeya Center, 31 March 2023
Appointment of scrutineers: David Foster, Marwaan Macan-Makar, Marc Laban
Quorum: of 54 Correspondent Members 29 are recorded as being present in Bangkok. Of those 15 were present at the AGM, 15 sent in proxies or absentee ballots, giving a total of 30, or more than half the Correspondent Members in Bangkok. The AGM was therefore quorate.
Minutes of the 2022 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 2022, the comparison with previous years, the current trends and the targets for 2023. He pointed out that COVID-19 had severely impacted the club, but that revenues had been declining for eight years, with the club making losses in all of those years. For 2022 we aimed to break even in our overall finances, focussing on improving F&B margins, continuing our membership drive, and seeking sponsorships of 1.3 million baht.
In 2022 the club did make a profit of 356,000 baht, our first profit in more than 8 years.
F&B in 2022 did just break even, and margins on F&B sales improved to 59 percent. F&B revenue doubled over 2021 to 2.8 million baht, but still not back to pre-pandemic levels. Admin costs were reduced for a third year running, down by 329,000 baht.
Revenue from functions was greatly improved at 1.4 million baht – our best year yet. Revenue from donations and sponsorships was also much higher at 1.1 million baht.
Membership was disappointing, below 2021 and 500,000 below our target of 2.9 million baht for 2022.
For 2023 targets are F&B revenues of 2.7 million baht excluding functions, F&B gross margin of 55%, membership revenue of 2.5 million baht, function revenues of at least 1 million baht, and at least 1.5 million baht in other revenues. Overall profit of 500,000 baht.
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 his second year heading the club. 2022 has been a year of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. All the staff and board have worked hard to achieve this. The FCCT has also been fortunate to receive a new sponsorship from Bitkup and generous donations from some embassies. The FCCT’s relationship with the Thai government has continued to improve. Panu welcomed our new manager Anyavee ‘Mi’ Sirisakvorakul and assistant manager Pawada Ton-nam’ Jantaros. The president also thanked outgoing manager Chanchaya Hadden for her hard work in very difficult circumstances. In recognition of this the FCCT board awarded her a life membership of the club.
New Executive Board
Introductory speeches from FCCT presidential candidate Lisa Martin and treasurer candidate Nick Bernhardt, and from new manager Khun Mi and assistant manager Ton-nam.
FCCT official slate presented, no opposition and no nominations from the floor, so the slate is unopposed.
Nominations for the elected posts on the 2022 Executive Board were read out. They are:
1. President Lisa Martin
2. 1st Vice President Elaine Kurtenbach
3. 2nd Vice President Gwen Robinson
4. Corresponding Secretary Jonathan Head
5. Correspondent Director/Publicity E.A. Annelie Langerak
6. Correspondent Director/Membership Dominic Faulder
7. Correspondent Director/Programmes Tan Hui Yee
8. Recording Secretary Anthony Cheng
9. Treasurer Nick Bernhardt
10. Associate Director/Programmes Lu Hsinhui
11. Associate Director/Membership Alan Lonie
12. Associate Director/Publicity Phil Robertson
All were approved unanimously.
13. Immediate Past President (unelected position) Panu Wongcha-um
In response to a question from the floor on offering online streaming of our events, the president explained that the FCCT is considering how to make overseas membership more rewarding but the FCCT has been reducing live-streaming to get people back into the club. Also a suggestion that life members with time on their hands should be encouraged to contribute more. FCCT is considering reducing student rates, and incoming president Lisa aims to bring more young people into the club. On sponsorships the FCCT has worked out conditions for this and is in discussion with some businesses.
AGM closed
Jonathan Head
Recording secretary
31 March 2023
President’s report 2023 AGM
Thank you everyone for coming today.
It has been my honor and privilege to be the president of this fine press club over the past two years.
During the first year of my presidency, we were basically trying to adapt to the changing circumstances brought upon us by the COVID-19 pandemic. This past year, it has been more about getting back to business and pushing the club forward with more activities and restoring life to our community and beyond.
I am happy to report that we are doing much better now thanks to the unstinting efforts of the outgoing board, the club staff and with the helping hands and contributions of our members and friends.
It has truly been a team effort.
Our treasurer's report clearly shows that we have seen a significant improvement to our financial health, and there is no reason why this should not continue.
This has partly been achieved by reducing overheads. We have reduced staff, and everyone involved has also worked harder.
We gained a corporate sponsorship for the first time in years, thanks to Bitkub.
We have also received generous support from foreign embassies, including Luxembourg and the Netherlands. For this, we need to give credit to the diplomatic outreach done by our board members, Gwen Robinson and Phil Robertson.
With the hard work of our outgoing manager, Chanchaya Hadden, or Mix, we have won more clients hosting events at our venue. The performance of our F&B operation has improved greatly.
Our finance committee has also been very effective. Our treasurer Alan Lonie and long-term board member Dominic Faulder deserve particular mention on this score.
Regarding the club’s role as a bastion of press freedom, I think our professional committee has continued to be exemplary in maintaining journalistic standards in this part of the world, speaking up when there are infringements on journalists’ wellbeing, upholding journalistic ethics when necessary and advocating freedom of speech.
Despite the absence some of the club’s traditional official engagements, including the prime minister’s dinner, our relationship with the Thai officialdom has improved this year. There have been more contacts and activities with the foreign ministry as well as the prime minister’s office.
I think a big stride has been made in our programs overall, striking an improved balance between serious and lighter events. Special thanks for this should go to our consolidated progamme committee that includes Gwen Robinson, Phil Robertson, Tan Hui Yee, Jonathan Head, Steve Galster, Annelie Langerak, Teeranai Charuvastra, Lisa Martin, Nick Bernhardt, Imtiaz Muqbil, Vincent Vichit-Vadakarn, Namwarn Nanchanok Wongsamuth, Julian Hadden, David Foster, Jeanne Hallacy and Francesca Regalado -- among others.
The club has been more creative, hosting events featuring newsmakers and foreign dignitaries such as Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, the then Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who is today prime minister.
The club had a particularly fun evening with Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt and a unique night with Khun Mai Srikitiya Jensen -- a rare cameo appearance by a member of the royal family. There were other memorable appearances made by ministers, former prime ministers and so on, which have enlivened our evenings.
New activities include social chess nights on Tuesdays, music evenings and our ever popular quiz night on the last Friday of every month. We have seen an increase in our younger membership because of our more diverse programming.
As for myself, it is in events and corporate sponsorship outreach that I hope I can continue to contribute to the club going forward.
Overall, I think that we have made many improvements in the past two years that create a strong foundation for future growth in all areas.
Finally, I would like to welcome Anyavee Sirisakvorakul, or Mi, as our new manager and Pawada Jantaros as our new assistant manager. I hope that with them we will go from strength to strength improving the inner-workings of our beloved club.
Finally, in recognition of her devoted service through a difficult period, the outgoing board has agreed to reward our outgoing manager, Chanchaya, Hadden, or Mix, with a Life membership in light of her great support.
May I please ask the FCCT’s collective membership gathered here tonight to endorse this award with a round of applause.
Thank you.
Panu Wongcha-um
FCCT president, 2021-2
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