Professional Documents
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Present:
National Chair: Paul Gawen
Regional Chairs/Representatives: Samuel Lesley (South East); Elisabeth Bedingfield
(East Anglia); Ian Sternfeldt (London); Sonia Ray (Scotland & North East); Robert Coker
(South West); Leonard Hurd (representative for Thames Valley)
National Executive/Officers: Pollard Blakeley (National Treasurer); Alexandra Martin
(National Secretary); Raymond Prescott (Company Secretary); Harman Scott (Property
Consultant)
Kejiwaan Councillors: Howard Ray & Delia Whitbread
National Helpers: Mariam Williams & Luqman Williams (London); Sjarifah Roberts & Daniel
Smith (Scotland/NE); Melinda Heathcote & Esaias Hobbs (South East); Richard Gawen and
Ruth Gawen (South West); Hannah Hurd & Sebastian Paemen (Thames Valley); Fardijah
Freedman & Rachman Hopwood (East Anglia); Ismutijah Davis (North)
Wings: Mairi Store (SICA); Muchtar Nankivell (SES candidate)
Others: Reynold Hutchinson (observer)
Apologies: Polly Skerratt (SDB), Daliani Dixon & Antony Tibbs (SYA), Mufidah Kassalias
(Journal Editor), Rose Anderson Bate (Families)
1.0 Apologies
As above.
2.0 New Appointees
2.1 A welcome was given to the new team of national helpers, to Harman Scott (National
Property Consultant) and Muchtar Nankivell (SES Rep candidate).
2.2 SES Rep – Everyone was happy for Muchtar to take on this role, but it was agreed to
test it later in the day (this proved positive).
2.3 Committee Councillor – this had been narrowed down to a shortlist of two, Sonia Ray
and Maxwell Jackson. Maxwell was not yet sure if he would be available because of a
work opportunity, but the decision would be made very shortly.
3.0 Retirement from Office
Paul announced that Raymond Prescott had decided to stand down from his current post to
pursue other interests; he wished to retire no later than congress. Paul thanked Raymond
personally for the tremendous support given to him as National Chair; he also felt a debt of
gratitude was owed by National Council and Subud Britain as a whole for the work Raymond
had carried out on their behalf. Paul said it might be that Subud Britain will keep some of
Raymond's services on a retainer basis.
4.0 Approval of previous NC synopsis
The synopsis of the full Council sessions at the previous NC in Glansevin, Nov 09, were
approved and signed. Paul expressed the wish that such notes be termed minutes, as they
are integral to the work of the Council. Alexandra pointed out that formerly all NC sessions
had been recorded in one set of minutes, with a distinction made within them as to which
groups were present. However, it was recognised that as a Company and Charity we do
need to have distinct minutes of the meetings of the Directors/Trustees.
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5.0 Report back on World Congress
A number of people gave their impressions and experiences from World Congress. Briefly:
Muchtar Nankivell had been involved in the working party on projects, talents and
wings. This had recommended the undertaking of ‘Endeavours’ – projects that involve
all the wings together, allow for crossfertilisation of ideas and action. He noted that
many people wanted to find their role and direction. This is an extension and expression
of one’s latihan, and so can change as we develop rather than be a single role/direction.
Subud needs to support that process, which is particularly, though not exclusively,
important for young people. There will be many young people at SB’s congress and we
need to meet that need there.
Sjarifah Roberts had attended the YES Quest presentation of projects planned by the
participants (including several young people from Subud Britain). She had been
impressed by their energy and commitment.
Ismutijah Davies had attended the workshops on peace organised by Alexandra Asseily;
she felt that our spiritual life was bigger in every way than the fighting in the world.
Paul Gawen in his role as delegate, had found it too organised and businessoriented,
and had felt hemmed in by the structure. There was not enough time for sharing and
simply being together, for integrating more with the Wings and members from other
countries. He would be looking to build those improvements into Subud Britain’s
congress.
Robert Coker reported that our Kejiwaan Councillors had felt that their role at congress
was illdefined; this needs to be addressed by WSA or the Zone before the next World
Congress.
Harman Scott had not attended World Congress but had had a strong feeling of an
important change happening. Congress TV had really helped.
Samuel Lesley felt that Ibu Rahayu had made a deep impression on the young people,
and strongly recommended that everyone should read Ibu’s congress talks.
6.0 MSF National Liaison Reps
Raymond reported that there had recently been a feeling of separation of MSF from the
Subud organisation nationally and internationally. National committees were being asked to
submit names to find three candidates for the role of Liaison Rep, but the choice would be
solely with MSF.
On the other hand, World Congress had approved a recommendation that Committee
Councillors should act as the MSF Representative or alternatively delegate and oversee the
role. This would preclude the choice of Rep. being made by MSF.
Raymond will write to Rayner Sutherland (MSF Chair) for clarification. Action: Raymond
7.0 Structure and Practices Working Party
Samuel Lesley, Chair of the working party, reported that they had held two meetings to
date. The first had explored the options for change, and subsequently looked at the work
done under the earlier ‘Change’ initiative. This had included a questionnaire that had met
with a negligible response from members.
However, consultation with members was part of the brief from Congress, so the second
meeting had discussed and devised a short questionnaire to be distributed, collected and
returned by group chairs. Samuel read out the questions, which focused on a combination
of organisational and helper issues.
Concerns were expressed that there was not a sufficiently clear purpose behind the
questionnaire and that it would therefore not succeed.
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Raymond and Alexandra each gave some background on how the proposals for a structural
review had arisen, ie. in response to falling active membership, a decreasing take up of
committee posts and a large national organisation.
There was some discussion of the relative roles of regional chair and trustee and the
possibility of separating them. Action: NC
8.0 Treasurer’s Report
8.1 Draft Management Accounts
Pollard Blakeley, National Treasurer, presented the 2009 management accounts
prepared by Elwyn Waugh (Accountant), and gave brief explanations on some points:
The surplus was lower than anticipated; behind this were two significant factors. On
the plus side, there had been an unexpected legacy to Subud Britain, but the
income from ACL was substantially lower than predicted;
Expenditure – the cost of the very successful helper weekends and also National
Council meetings had proved higher than planned for;
Capital fund – ACL has spent only £20k so far of the £40k allocated for renovations.
Overall, 2010 so far was satisfactory financially, but there has been a significant falloff
in the capital fund, and there may be a case for topping it up from last year’s surplus.
Pollard then took questions from the Council:
Muchtar Nankivell asked for a breakdown of ACL’s trading income, as a national
enterprise. Pollard confirmed that he intends in due course to do such a breakdown of
property income and expenditure for all properties. Action: Pollard
Robert Coker expressed concern that without the legacy received in 2009 there would
have been a deficit of £19k, and that a further £24k of the legacy had been spent on
property repairs and maintenance that local groups had been unable to fund. Pollard
acknowledged that the tightening of health & safety legislation does require higher
expenditure than previously on our properties. He and Harman Scott (Property
Consultant) are aiming to calculate a 3 – 5 year property budget that will allow for
better forward planning on expenditure.
Action: Pollard, Harman
8.2 YES Quest Appeal
This appeal in the Journal had met with no responses.
8.3 Legacies
8.3.1 Will Pack – there has been a Will Pack available for many years, which is in need of
reviewing and updating, particularly as Elwyn Waugh believes that it has never been
checked by a legal expert. The pack needs to be simpler and clearer, and in particular to
distinguish between the giving of legacies to Subud Britain, Susila Dharma (Britain),
Susila Dharma International, MSF etc.. The pack refers to the ways in which legacies
may be used by Subud Britain, but this also needs to be reviewed and agreed by
Council. Raymond Prescott volunteered to revise the Will Pack, in consultation with a
qualified professional acquaintance, and submit it to the next National Council for
approval. Alexandra offered to update the design and layout of the pack in line with
other National Office publications. Action: Raymond
8.3.2 Policy on Use of Legacies – The current policy is that legacies go to the capital fund,
but this has been questioned and agreement was needed on whether to reinforce this or
to relax the policy for a more open and flexible one. It was recommended by Council
that the use of legacies for capital/property funds should be conveyed to potential
donors as a preference, but that their use should not be tied in this way. Council asked
the Trustees to approve this policy in their meeting the following day.
8.4 Appeals Paul asked whether an appeal for funds was needed. Pollard said he felt the
key was to make the space for people to give and that there was no specific need for an
appeal at present.
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9.0 Website Update
9.1 Subud Britain website Raymond Prescott explained that the website situation is very
unsatisfactory, because the existing website developed an unfixable technical fault; a
new website had been commissioned but one key element of the proposals approved by
National Council in July 09 to take the work forward had not been realised for a variety
of reasons.
Esaias Hobbs, General Manager of iSOS (the web company contracted to provide the
new website) gave an update on progress. The priorities were to use material from the
existing site in order to avoid further delay (to be reviewed at a later date, rather than
rewritten now), and to split the public and membership areas of the site. The public
site was nearing completion, and a link would be provided for viewing it in the next
week or so. The private members’ area is being developed to allow for future potential
uses beyond those already existing on the current site. A content management system
is being used such that editing and maintenance can be done by designated lay people,
to be agreed with Subud Britain. Future areas and functions can be allowed for but
added and funded only if and when needed. The site should be ready for beta testing at
the end of April. Muchtar Nankivell volunteered to take part in the testing. Alexandra
Martin stressed the need to get a range of users involved in this – web
experienced/nonexperienced, members/nonmembers etc. Action: Esaias, Raymond
Alexandra explained that the current website has been tidied up and basic information
(contacts, congress) put up in place of the malfunctioning sections. She would liaise
with Christopher Williams regarding any further interim changes. Action: Alexandra
9.2 SICA Website Esaias confirmed that iSOS will provide SICA with its own public and
private page(s) within the new SB site, but that they considered the sophisticated public
site proposed by Mairi Store not to be sufficiently technically or legally viable and
therefore they were not willing to take it on. Mairi said that she still wants to provide a
separate public site that will attract individual Subud initiatives (eg: Art Auction) to
collaborate, market and sell under a common SICA banner, but she needs help with it.
Muchtar agreed to discuss it with her. Action: Mairi, Muchtar
10.0 Status of Regions
There were still no regional chairs for Thames Valley and North regions, but there were
potential candidates for both.
11.0 Groups
11.1 Sheffield – Alexandra reported on behalf of the Sheffield group that the difficult
tenants had been given the required three months’ notice to quit on March 7. The
group members then planned to give the hall a thorough cleaning, take on no new
tenants and generally take stock. Harman Scott was due to visit the next day to
discuss options concerning the physical fabric of the property.
11.2 Committees – Raymond Prescott raised the issue of the growing lack of full group
committees, which are required by the SB constitution, and there followed some
discussion on this issue. One view expressed was that, whilst it may be technically
wrong for there to be no committee, from a practical point of view it is not necessarily
a problem, as long as latihan space is provided and the group maintained. However,
Raymond (supported by others) pointed out that there could well be hidden
consequences for SB if some groups act outside of our constitution. He said he couldn't
go into specifics at the meeting but in the light of another recent situation it is clear
that SB must face up to the realities of the legislative world we live in, and ensure we
are compliant at all times. It may be that we will have to simplify our group
regulations for internal purposes but the trustees cannot be put into a situation
whereby they are vulnerable because certain groups don't want to conform. Raymond
asked regional chairs to find out the position in their respective regions.
Action: Regional Chairs
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11.3 Lewes – Samuel Lesley reported that the Lewes group had got three quotes for
renovations, ranging from £73k to £83k, but dependent on findings. Council advised
that Samuel and the group need to talk the idea through with Harman Scott.
Action: Samuel
12.0 Zone 3 Meeting
Paul confirmed that he has agreed with the Zone 3 Rep that the Zone may hold its meeting
from Friday 30 July to Sunday/Monday 1/2 August at Great Malvern. This has the side
benefit of allowing the SB congress team to arrive early to prepare for the start of Congress
on Sunday 1 August.
13.0 Twinning with Nigeria
An agreement that Subud Britain should twin with Subud Nigeria was made by National
Council in October 2008 and Nigeria want to pursue this. However in practice it is a
complicated and potentially expensive project that was not budgeted for. Daliani Dixon has
proposed that a youth representative should be funded to come to Congress – this needs to
be followed up and the implications fully considered.
Concerns were expressed, firstly about SB favouring, or being seen to favour, one country
above another, and also about the political issues that might arise. It was agreed that the
record of the Lewes meeting should be checked to see exactly what had been agreed there.
Action: Paul, Alexandra
14.0 Heath End Trust
There was a general discussion on this in response to a recent letter from Suzanna Zys. It
was agreed to carry the matter forward to the Trustees’ meeting. Action: Trustees
15.0 Subud Britain Holiday & Congress
Paul reported that Rhyana Blakeley has offered to act as Congress Organiser, with ongoing
support and supervision from him. It was agreed to take up her offer and to remunerate her
within the budget provided. Action: Paul
16.0 Wings
16.1 SES – has had no representative for a while, but Muchtar Nankivell was present for
testing for the role.
16.2 SICA – Mairi had not prepared a formal report because of her absence in New Zealand;
it will instead appear in the next edition of Open Views. Action: Mairi
16.3 SD(B) and SYA were not represented at the meeting and had not provided reports.
16.4 Role of wings there was some discussion on the role of the Wings on the National
Council. Although the perception, reinforced by previous testing, was that the Wings
should be at the centre of Council, in practice they tend to be marginalised; they do
not have a clear role or place on Council and as a result feel uninvolved. It was agreed
that further testing should take place when all the wing reps are present; Paul will
make a special request to them to attend the next National Council meeting.
Action: Paul, NC
17.0 AOB
17.1 Wings/Kejiwaan – Melinda Heathcote suggested that the Wings should be more
involved in the helper/kejiwaan areas. This was felt to be something to look at for
congress. Action: KCs, National Helpers
17.2 SPAG (Subud Properties Action Group) – Paul said that he felt SPAG was doing good
work and should be supported and thanked Harry Norman for this initiative. Harman
Scott expressed his concern that this be a two way relationship; Muchtar Nankivell
assured Council that in his role as the link person between SPAG and NC, he would
endeavour to ensure that this became a reality. Action: Muchtar
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17.3 VAT on fuel bills – Harman reminded Council that charities are entitled to a
concessionary rate of 5% VAT on fuel bills. Loudwater had recently got a rebate of £8k
for overpayment of VAT on their fuel bills as a result. He had sent an email note on this
to all property groups, but Paul asked regional chairs to check that their groups are
aware of this. Action: Regional Chairs
17.4 Helper weekends – Howard Ray said that the budget for the all helper weekends for
2010 was not enough to cover one, let alone two as planned for. It was agreed to carry
this forward to the Trustees’ meeting.
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