work. T ere are 67 courses that we currently accredit on a 5-year rotation. Members do receive a small fee for accrediting courses. She encouraged anyone in training to get involved with the accreditation process. Anni Hilton, chair of the ethics commit ee, explained that the


commit ee no longer deals with complaints against clinicians from the client; these are dealt with by UKCP through the central complaints process. However, the commit ee does deal with dilemmas people face and the work is very interesting. T e commit ee has recently collated a response to the UKCP Ethics Consultation, as UKCP hold the over-arching policy for all member organisations to adhere to. T e commit ee needs more members and anyone interested was asked to make contact with Anni. Ged Smith, chair of AFT publishing, also asked members to help


with Context, which is a publication members like to read, but which needs people to help with proof reading to ensure we maintain the high quality of the publication. He thanked Brian Cade, Context editor and Louise Norris, publications coordinator, for their sterling work. He asked members to give AFT publishing feedback on Context, so they could ensure that they were meeting the requirements of our members. T e reports from the chairs of commit ees, as printed in Context, were approved unanimously


Item 7: To receive and adopt the report on the Journal of Family Therapy (JOFT) Philip Messent, Journal editor, explained that he had offi cially


been the editor of JOFT since January. His aim was to reduce the time from acceptance of an article to publication in the paper version. He was planning a number of special issues. T e fi rst of these would be published early next year, when Nick Pendry will be editing an issue on systemic work in social care; there is also an issue planned on trauma and if anyone would like to submit an article there was still time to do this. Susan Lord will edit this issue. Another issue currently being planned is on working with looked aſt er children and there will be a call for papers soon. Philip is also looking to commission a series of articles on diff erent aspects of our systemic model, our techniques and ideas and how they have changed over the years. He encouraged members to contact him if they are interested in producing an article. T e report was adopted unanimously.


Item 9: To receive nomination forms for the board of directors and trustees AFT has four vacancies on the board for ordinary members and


four valid nomination forms had been received for: Amy Urry Charity Tawodzera Shan Tate Melissa Adams All were approved by those present – no votes against. T e


above members were therefore duly elected to the board for a further three-year term of offi ce.


Item 10: To receive nomination forms for the role of chair of AFT T e company secretary said he had received one valid


nomination form for the role of chair of AFT from Erica Widdowson. Erica is currently vice chair and the board supported


Context 164, August 2019


her nomination. A statement provided by Erica in support of her application was read out to the membership. Approved by those present – no votes against. Erica was congratulated on her appointment for a three-year term of offi ce.


Item 11: To debate resolutions T e board submit ed two resolutions for debate.


1. T e AFT board had received a request that we nominate AFT members for the Honours List, not only to celebrate the work of our pioneers but to promote systemic thinking and practice. Nominations were to be sought from the membership. Would the membership have any thoughts on nominations for the Honours List? Do the membership support the board in looking at how to take this forward? Arlene Vetere spoke in support of this, she felt that this would


honour those who have done so much for the fi eld of family therapy and make family therapy more visible. T ere was some debate over this and whether this was the best way to honour members. T e question of whether it was appropriate for AFT to recognise the word “Empire” in an award was raised. It was proposed that the board give this further consideration and decide if appropriate. T e majority present voted for the proposal that the board take this forward. T ere was one abstention.


2. A request had been received by Gary Robinson from the Derbyshire branch of AFT that AFT support one free AFT conference place annually to all AFT branches as recognition of all the good and voluntary work that the branches do on behalf of AFT and the membership. T e AFT board resolved to look at the possibility and aff ordability of a member from each branch being given a free or reduced price. Do the membership support the board in looking at the feasibility of this? Gary spoke in support of this resolution. He said it was a


request from his branch that the AFT board recognise the work that branches do and in some way support those within branches to at end the conference. Susan Benbow, spoke as treasurer. She said the diffi culty


with this proposal was that there are a large number of people in branches, commit ees and other groups who are doing good work for AFT, and all deserve a free or reduced place at conference. T e dilemma was that if we do this, then the conference may make a considerable loss for AFT or the cost will need to be passed on to delegates. AFT already subsidise conference. Susan questioned what was equitable and fair. It was proposed that the board look into the feasibility of this. T e majority voted in favour of this proposal.


Item 12: Any other business T ere had been no formal items received. Erica said she would like to thank members for the confi dence they


had placed in her. She had excellent role models in Sue Jones and Shan Tate and appreciated the enormous amount of activity they had undertaken. She thanked everyone for the work they do for AFT and looked forward to taking AFT on to the next stage of its journey.


Item 13: Date of 2019 conference T e next AFT conference will take place in Newcastle on the


19th and 20th September and the AGM will be held on T ursday 19th – time to be confi rmed. T e meeting was closed at 7.15pm.


57


Minutes of the 43rd AGM of The Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice held on 13th September 2018 at The Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel, M1 4PH


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