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<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">
UKTUG Chair’s report: for 2019/2020</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">What shape does
this
report have?</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">It describes where
UKTUG is now, and looks to next year.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">To describe the
present situation, I look at how did we get here, what happened,
and
what didn’t happen. As for 2021, there’s an appendix that
considers how to allocate UKTUG funds on dissolution or before.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">On a personal note,
I’ve had limited resources to devote to UKTUG. I now have two
cancers to manage. This may explain my lapses. Other 2019/2020
committee members have also had health issues. I have wished for a
more active committee, but the committee is contributing what it
can
to UKTUG, not necessarily as much as UKTUG needs to function well.
Last year (2018/19) was similar.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">Although this
report
is for November 2019 to November 2020, at least one event before
the
previous AGM has had a big impact on the work of the committee.
Our
long term treasurer, John Peters, whom I thank, became ill and was
unable to fulfil his duties. He was not able to report at the
2018/2019 AGM. He was not able to return the financial data (bank
statements etc.) to the committee.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">There were concerns
that UKTUG would be operating unconstitutionally without a
treasurer.
There was an AGM motion to address this.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">I’ve done my best
to support the new treasurer, Jonathan Webley. The secretary,
treasurer & chair are now co-signatories to the accounts. I
have
obtained statements for the last 3 years, and the treasurer now
has
them. Covid-19 made it difficult for the treasurer to obtain them
directly from the bank.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">I hope the
abbreviated financial statement is satisfactory.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">At the 2018/19 AGM,
dissolution of UKTUG was considered. Even before the AGM, it was
clear that opinions were divided on whether to dissolve. And
should
there be dissolution, opinions were very diverse on what to do
with
the cash assets. I resolved to find resolutions to these issues.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">Whether to
dissolve?
If UKTUG is to continue, it needs to have purpose(s), and to
achieve
those purposes. The basic purpose is to promote TeX and friends,
in
the UK context. There’s little in TeX that’s UK specific.
Hyphenation and spelling of British English come to mind. The
English
language FAQ is independent of UKTUG. There is no longer a UK CTAN
node. (So funds that had previously been proposed for spending on
that were not used). UKTUG used to successfully run LaTeX training
courses. But not recently.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">With that
background, I sought to gather together those members who wanted
to
keep UKTUG going, get them to formulate an actionable plan with a
view to presenting it to an SGM in spring 2020. The AGM called for
an
SGM to be held within 3 months of the AGM, to ensure UKTUG was
operating constitutionally, and to consider dissolving UKTUG. I
myself intended to prepare a dissolution plan and present that at
the
SGM. It included details of how present UKTUG members could get
the
social benefits of UKTUG and get the TeXLive distribution without
the
organisational overhead of UKTUG. </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">I was only able to
find 3 members willing to work on reviving UKTUG. They did not
form a
team, and did not produce a plan. I believed, given the strength
of
feeling at the AGM, that there were more members willing to revive
UKTUG. I put considerable effort into finding them and allowed the
process too much time. I realised too late, that I had missed the
deadline for calling the SGM. So there was no positive forward
plan,
and no SGM to put it to. I did announce to members how we were
operating constitutionally, so that aspect of the SGM was
fulfilled
positively. </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">The other aspect of
the AGM that I had resolved to address was what to do with UKTUG
assets in fulfilment of its aims. The committee can spend UKTUG
funds
on activities that promote TeX and kindred software and standards.
The spending is not restricted to paying organisations, as is the
case after winding up. As an approximation, payments other than
expenses cannot go to committee members.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">LearnLaTeX: As you
know, following input from members, the committee was pleased to
offer funding for web-site design, a skill UKTUG does not possess,
to
enable a project otherwise donated by UKTUG members to provide
online
training for LaTeX newcomers. The project is LearnLaTeX, and the
website design is funded up to £6000 by UKTUG. LearnLaTeX is is
also
funded by TUG. The Website designer has been commissioned, is
working, and a recent report says that the required funding will
be
less than £6000, perhaps closer £4000. He (or his company) will be
paid against a verified invoice. </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">I have been careful
to describe the circumstances, to ensure you are clear that no
money
was paid to a committee member for this project, nor will it be.
Joseph Wright proposed the project, and despite not benefiting
from
the project, withdrew from discussion of it in committee. I
personally feel that UKTUG should have had the benefit of his
advice,
but his behaviour was quite proper in the sense that there was no
time at which a potential conflict of interest between his role as
project instigator and UKTUG secretary could have had any
influence
on the funding decision. I’m sorry it has been necessary to spell
this out in detail, but a member has expressed a concern.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">There should be
about £9000 of UKTUG funds after UKTUG has settled its debts.
Looking forward those funds should be found a good use. (Appendix
1)</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">“Looking forward”
takes us ahead of the timeline. To return, At the beginning of the
LearnLaTeX project, I was still minded to wind up UKTUG in 2020.
So
negotiations started, chiefly with DANTE, to see if a Local User
Group (LUG) would accept UKTUG funds with which pay the Website
Designer when the bills were submitted. That would have permitted
UKTUG to dissolve as soon as it was ready. The negotiations were
not
successful. Despite our best efforts, UKTUG will have to continue
at
least until the website designer has been paid. Thanks to the
committee for their efforts.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">More recently, I
have spent a lot of time with the constitution, to see how the
necessary AGM could be held under the current pandemic
restrictions. There has to be a physical AGM. The quorum has to be
met. The minimum
is 10 members. Except, if the initial attempt at an AGM does not
have
a quorum, allowance is made to reschedule an AGM and accept the
member(s) that attend then as the quorum.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">This does not
address issues of good governance. How are members to have their
say? I was debating whether to hold an SGM before the AGM or after
it.
SGMs can be held online, but must last for at least 7 days because
they were thought of as email exchanges. As you can see, the
resolution is for there to be informal debate before the AGM, and
an
SGM after.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">There is some
fluidity in the situation. I do not know the outcome of the AGM
yet.
Whatever it is, a following SGM will have the power to reverse
decisions made by the AGM (not retroactively though), and make
decisions the AGM might have made but did not.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">I hope that the AGM
will put together a committee for 2020/21. If it does that, then
an
SGM can be called by the committee. The SGM can then do all the
other AGM business. There are alternative ways to call an SGM if
necessary. If the AGM also takes decisions that a following SGM is
content with, I see no problem with that. The informal discussion
here is to steer the AGM in that direction.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">We are now up to
date</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">I trust the
secretary's report will mention the few notable committee motions
we
passed.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">The minutes of the
previous AGM have the AGM motions.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">I intend that UKTUG
will wind up in 2021. The incoming committee is not yet nominated.
If it is substantially as last year (there will be some changes),
that is the best I can practically hope for. In that state, it
will
still not have the energy to sustain UKTUG. </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">Jay Hammond,
26/11/2020</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">Appendix 1</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">On winding up,
UKTUG
can only transfer funds to organisations, and preferably those
with
similar aims to UKTUG. Before winding up, UKTUG can be more
flexible
about achieving its aims. If this scheme allocates funds before
winding up, read “project” for “organisation” For example, I
understand LaTeX3 (which UKTUG has supported in various ways in
the
past) is a project but not an organisation.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">Because members do
not agree which single organisation should get UKTUG funds,
several
organisations will be the recipients. So UKTUG needs to determine
which organisations come into question, and how much they should
get. This is not a job for the committee. I think members should
suggest organisations such as LUGs and others that they would like
to
see UKTUG funds go to. The committee can then compile the list,
and
send out a questionnaire. The questionnaire will ask each member
to
allocate 10 points amongst none or more of the organisations
listed. The total number of points allocated by members represents
the
available funds for distribution, and the points allocated to an
organisation represents the proportion of the funds the
organisation
will get. To keep administration simple, and so as not to waste
funds
on bank charges, currency fees etc., there will have to be a
minimum
allocation. I suggest £50. Organisations that do not meet the
threshold will be removed from the list. The total points
allocated
will be recalculated, and the distribution can go ahead.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">Jay Hammond,
26/11/2020</p>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Email use <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:jay@jjnr.uk">jay@jjnr.uk</a></pre>
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