From Mr C. L. Flint, MRPharmS, and others
SIR,—The committee of the "struggling" North Hampshire branch is concerned at the protracted delay in publishing the report (minutes) of the branch secretaries' meeting held on October 13 last year. We are particularly interested in the summaries of the two afternoon groups' deliberations on "The role of the Society's branches" and their leaders' summaries of those wide ranging discussions. The minutes were requested for publication to all branches for their further discussion and debate. That request was acceded to by the chairman, Mr Roger Odd.
With a set closing date of February 26 for the submission of branch resolutions, this delay has left little or no time for branch discussions of that material and thereby the formulation of resolutions featuring the pertinent issues raised. Our concern is for the dwindling numbers attending branch meetings and the rectification of this sorry state of affairs. Our submission will follow that theme.
Further concern has been expressed at the intention to submit that report for consideration by the Council. Minutes of any meeting should represent a true record of the events of the day and the verbal comments made and should not be subject to executive amendment. Phraseology and semantics can always be challenged; facts cannot.
We also hold the view that minutes of any meeting should be made available within four weeks so that necessary remedial action can be formulated and promptly acted upon.
Les Flint
Sid Dajani
Chris Hall
North Hampshire Branch, Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
Mr ROGER ODD (head of professional and scientific support, Royal Pharmaceutical Society) replies: The report of the last branch secretaries meeting will be sent out very shortly to all branch secretaries.
A number of proposals were made in the two afternoon group sessions at that meeting, and the Society is looking at ways to try to implement some of those ideas which would give help and support to the branches.
A small focus group of branch secretaries is also to be held in the near future to consider how some of the proposals raised at the branch secretaries meeting can be taken forward.
It was hoped that all of these matters could be brought together at the same time but this has proved difficult.
The report is therefore to be circulated to the branches independently as soon as possible for the information of all branch secretaries.