The IBMT’s 2023 Annual General Meeting will take place on Saturday 7 October, as part of a weekend of commemorative, educational and social activities in Stockton-on-Tees.

Friday 6 October
6:30pm: Drinks reception at Middlesbrough Town Hall, Albert Road, Middlesbrough TS1 2QJ to view International Brigade memorial. Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald to speak. With a flamenco ensemble or Spanish guitarist.
7:30pm: Social at Unite, Fry Street, Middlesbrough TS1 1HA with buffet and drinks. Welcome from Chris Cooke, Middlesbrough Mayor. Poetry from Tabitha McGowan and music from Ella-Joy Hunton. Event expected to finish at 9:30pm.

Saturday 7 October
Transport from Middlesbrough (outside Unite office) can be provided if required.
11am: Pete Widlinski and Sheila Gray in the Georgian Theatre, Green Dragon Yard, Stockton-on-Tees TS18 1AT on Stockton’s volunteers, with Q&A.
12 noon: Commemoration and wreath-laying at the International Brigade memorial, Wasp Nest Yard, Stockton TS18 1TB. Family members and IBMT Chair Jim Jump to speak. 
12:30pm: Time to explore Stockton, including the nearby The Golden Smog (1 Hambletonian Yard, Stockton TS18 1DS), pub with an International Brigade flag mural.
2:30pm: AGM (see agenda below) in the Georgian Theatre (see above). Tea or coffee on arrival. Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees Jim Beall to open. 
4:30pm: Steel Sisters to perform. 
5pm: Chris McDonald (Stockton North Labour prospective parliamentary candidate) to speak.
5:20pm: Juan Díaz family member to speak.
6pm: Joe Solo in the main hall.
7pm: Social in the bar until late, with Dan Donnelly of The Levellers.

Sunday 8 September
10:30am: Anti-fascist walk in Stockton with Teesside’s own Time Traveller, Martin Peagham. Meeting place TBC.

Attendees are asked to confirm by 25 September whether they will be attending the Middlesbrough Town Hall and Unite reception on Friday evening by writing to IBMT Secretary Megan Dobney at secretary@international-brigades.org.uk.

Memorial in Wasp's Nest Yard.

AGM agenda

1. Chair’s opening remarks
2. Marlene Sidaway on Teesside and Spain 
3. Approval of minutes of the 2022 AGM
4. Matters arising not otherwise on the agenda
5. IBMT Constitution – proposed amendments (see below)
6. Executive Committee annual report
7. Finance report, including 2022-2023 accounts
8. Election of two scrutineers
9. Election of five Executive Committee members (see below) – four for three years, one for one year [the submission of ballot papers to be preceded by a one minute contribution from those candidates who wish to make one]*
10. Date and place of 2024 AGM
11. Any Other Business (previously notified)**
    1. National Memorial Arboretum
    2. Motion: AGM venue
12. Scrutineers’ report of election results
13. Chair’s closing remarks

* Nominations have been received and accepted by John Haywood/David Chanter (jobshare), Paul Coles, Alex Gordon and Jonathan Havard.
** Proposals for agenda item ‘Any Other Business’ must be received in writing by the Secretary (see below) by 8am on 30 September.

Agenda item 9: Notice of nominations

Nominations are invited for candidates to fill five vacancies on the Executive Committee (EC). If necessary, a ballot will be held among members attending the AGM. Four vacancies arise because John Haywood / David Chanter (jobshare), Paul Coles, Alex Gordon and Jonathan Havard will have completed their terms of office by the AGM and they will therefore step down and an election, in which they are permitted to stand, along with other IBMT members, will take place. In addition, James Bentley has resigned from the EC.

All IBMT members may nominate fellow members to serve on the EC. Nominations must be made in writing and received by the Secretary by 8am on 23 September. The names of the candidates will be published on the IBMT website in advance of the AGM. 

Send nominations and proposed agenda items by email (these will be acknowledged) to: secretary@international-brigades.org.uk or by post to: IBMT Secretary, 37a Clerkenwell Green, London EC1R 0DU.

Agenda item 5: Executive Committee’s proposed amendments to the IBMT Constitution

Delete all items highlighted in italics:

G: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 

(3) Members of the Executive Committee, excepting the President, shall be elected to serve a three-year term of office (excepting those covered by the provisions of sub paragraph G(4)) and shall retire at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting at the end of their three-year term of office but will be entitled to stand for reelection.  

(4) At the 2019 Annual General Meeting the Chair, Secretary and Treasurer plus two members of the Executive Committee shall retire and there will be an election for four Executive Committee members. At the Annual General Meeting in 2020, four additional members of the Executive Committee (excluding those elected in 2019) shall retire and there will be an election for four Executive Committee members. Executive Committee members other than the Chair, Secretary and Treasurer shall retire in 2019 and 2020 in order of the number of votes received in the election at the 2018 Annual General Meeting, with those with the fewest votes retiring first; where two or more Executive Committee members received the same number of votes, their order of retiring shall be determined by lot. 

[Renumber subsequent sub-clauses G(5), G(6), G(7) and G(8) accordingly.]

H: DETERMINATION OF MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

(iii) is absent without the permission of the Executive Committee from all their meetings held within a period of six [replace by ‘eight’] months and the Executive Committee resolve that his or her office be vacated; or

Hotels

Stockton: Hampton by Hilton is a five-minute walk away from the Georgian Theatre, where we will be meeting on Saturday. The Parkwood Hotel is a five-minute drive away from Stockton town centre. Middlesbrough: The Leonardo Hotel and Premier Inn Town Centre are less than a two-minute to the Unite office, where we will be a reception on Friday evening.

Originally posted on 29 August 2023; updated on 7, 27 and 28 September 2023 and 3 October 2023.