- a word from our new Treasurer
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Compared to the much publicised squabbles over the past year, between our Prime Minister and the holder of the national purse strings next door, the BGS’s purse passed from one Treasurer to another with great 
decorum. One is tempted too, to draw comparisons between the woes of the national purse (particularly those affecting our great employer - the NHS) and the unprecedented prosperity of the BGS. It is for this reason, that I am writing to assure members that their membership subscriptions and conference registration fees continue to be applied in their best interests and that we, the BGS Finance Committee, are always ready to consider suggestions from members and BGS branches.
On a more serious note, though, I am both delighted and honoured to take over the reins as Treasurer from Margot. Without absolutely no reference to her chronological age applied in this simile, she is truly one of the old war-horses of the Society, having inherited from Ian Sturgess, a more a stressful and active role for the Honorary Treasurer, in securing, improving and maintaining the Society’s financial security - a role which she assumed with gusto and a suitable touch of the dictator about her!
| Box 1: Dhole Fellowship Originally, £10,000 awarded every second year, this fellowship is now awarded every third year and can be for up to £250,000. It was last awarded, by special dispensation, for 2 years and the next award will be made during 2007. |
As a result of sound investment (primarily through the purchase of Marjory Warren House) and prudent, nay, very prudent financial investment over the past ten years or so, the financial heads at the Society are of the view that we need to loosen the purse strings a little in the broadening of the Society’s charitable goals. We have surveyed the regions on their opinion for areas of potential investment and I would thank those who responded, for their helpful suggestions. It became clear, during our canvassing that some members are unaware of how their subscriptions are spent. To this end, I would like to remind readers of the various programmes currently being administered by the BGS, both old and new.
Educational Grants and Fellowships
The survey generated many requests for funding of academic fellowships. The Society’s Dhole Fellowship
| Box 2: Marjory Warren Clinical Fellowship This is a new fellowship, also co-funded by RIA. With the first award having been given in 2006. Its terms are similar to the Dhole award |
(Box 1) is a long standing programme, although recently it has increased in scope following the co-funding arrangement entered into with Research into Ageing. More recently, we have introduced the Marjory Warren Clinical Research Fellowship, the first of which was awarded during 2006 (Box 2).
Also available, is the Specialist Registrar Start Up and Travel Grant and the Young Doctors’ Education Grants (Boxes 3 and 4).
| Box 3: Specialist Registrar Start Up Grant Four grants a year, of up to £10,000, will be awarded to provide immediate financial assistance to support research projects not yet sufficiently developed to warrant support from research councils. |
| Box 4: Young Doctor’s Education Grant Up to £450 is awarded to support attendance of meetings in Geriatric Medicine or related subjects, if the applicant’s study leave allowance is unavailable or insufficient to meet expenses to attend such meetings |
A helping hand at conferences
Brand new, in our box of largesse, is a reduction in the conference registration rates, for trainees. We are aware of the increasing difficulty in obtaining study leave and hope that these measures will go some way to helping our trainees to continue to present at and benefit from our scientific conferences. I would strongly urge all regions to ensure that their trainees attend at least one of the conferences.
Spring Meeting Registration fees slashed Trainees will pay £145 for the full meeting (as opposed to £220 last Autumn). For those unable to attend the full meeting, the trainees’ day rate is £72.50 (as opposed to £130 in the past.) The fees for other delegates have been frozen at Autumn rates. |
Suggestions please
There were some requests for support for educational programmes and training for care home staff. We currently encourage nurses and therapists to attend seminars and courses relating to improving older people’s care and this may indirectly help professionals of these disciplines who are currently engaged in the care home sector, but we agree that this is an important and neglected area. Obviously if the BGS is going to address the problem, we need to do it in a targeted manner. We would encourage interested members to submit proposals to the Academic & Research Committee, via the Secretariat, whereupon targeted funding may be made available. Marie Barnes, a nurse consultant at St Helens and Knowsley Trust has developed training programmes which may be useful.
The Finance Committee continues to work to ensure that the Society remains financially viable and able to pursue its charitable aims. The strength of the Society remains its membership and we look forward to readers’ continuing support and advice.
Tom Smith
Treasurer