Citi-UK Club
Minutes of inaugural meeting dated 16th October 2003
Held at The Litten Tree, Old Street, London EC1

At 11.35pm John Fisher rose and introduced Dave Parker to the 28 members attending. (Further members arrived during the meeting)
1.Open meeting and welcome attendees.
Dave Parker rose, thanking John for his introduction and also for the attendance of more members than anticipated.
2.Apologies (* see below)
Apologies were received from 57 members, most of whom would have liked to attend but were unable to do so.
3. Summary of present position..
Dave Parker described the events leading up to this meeting, starting with Citigroup's letter dated 1st April 2003 advising pensioners of the change in pension administration details. Whilst this was not, in itself, a problem, the suspension of the annual pensioner's Seminar was a blow to those who could not meet one another annually for a social meeting and discuss matters of joint interest. Citigroup are continuing the Quarter Century Club (QCC) meetings during which the Chief Country Officer will mention pension matters … but this is of little help to those who are not QCC members, (especially spouses of deceased Citibankers).
An annual newsletter was promised each Summer, but copies have not yet been distributed.
Dave Parker, feeling that something should take the place of the seminar, contacted the Citigroup. It was eventually agreed that Citigroup would send out a letter to all pensioners using an agreed text written by Dave Parker. (Citigroup, for Data Protection Act reasons are unable to provide names and addresses for us to mail directly).
To make the letter acceptable to Citigroup, they preferred that mention of using CitiGroup premises for the meeting, attendance of trustees, and the formation of a club be removed.
The letter eventually agreed upon, stated that it was to be a 'get-together' and a 'cup of tea'.
Citigroup stated that they were unable to give any other/further assistance.
Citigroup sent the letter out to the 630 'Final Salary' Pensioners only. For some reason, no defined contribution pensioners were included in the mail-shot. We will ask Citigroup about this.
The letter asked for responses to go to Dave Parker, of which 200 have been received. There are still 430 who have not answered, perhaps for reasons of distance, illness, already a QCC member (no other meeting needed), or because there are those who have no interest in just a 'cup of tea'. More worryingly, there are spouses of deceased Citibankers out there who might need the support that a club could give, but have no reason to come for that 'cup of tea'. It was felt that had we been able to mention the formation of a Club, then the response level would most likely have been very much higher.
A questionnaire was sent out to all respondents, of which just half (100) have been returned, making it look as though a club may not be of great interest. However the strength of feeling evident in the returned forms led to the continuation of the notion of forming a club. Most were concerned about not knowing about the state of the Pension Fund. The loss of a venue to meet annually. Lack of information on benefits situation. Lack of information generally. Many did not know whether there was anything to worry about …. but virtually everybody remarked on the lack of communication, which was considered worrying in itself.
So that is where we are today … but just a few statements from Citigroup to close this item:-
The bank are unable to authorise to use the words 'Citibank' or 'Citigroup' in the club title.
They will not mention the existence of the club in the annual pensioner's newsletter.
They will not advise new pensioners that the club exists.
They will not advise of pensioner's deaths.
Whilst none of us are particularly happy about these statements, it is understood that the paternal attitude we became to expect from Citibank is no longer acceptable to modern business…. not just Citigroup, but to the vast majority of other organisations. Market pressures!
4. Election of Chairperson.
Geoffrey Liley, having been nominated, was proposed by Dave Parker , seconded by John Fisher, and passed on a suitable show of hands. Geoff thanked the meeting for the confidence shown in him, but stated that he wished to perform the function for one year only. As Geoff had not been directly involved with matters to date, he kindly agreed that Dave Parker should continue to run the meeting. Dave Parker thanked him for his support.
5. Adoption of Bye-laws.
Dave Parker thanked John Fisher for his invaluable help in forming the laws, and particularly Jane Westbrook for her mammoth effort in making sense of the scribbling, pointing out inconsistencies, and making them readable.
After a short discussion it was agreed to change Article 5 (i) (a). ('Citigroup' should be removed and 'Citigroup(UK)' replace it).
Questions were asked about the low level of subscriptions (£5 for the first year), however, it was agreed that the amount should stand for this year and next year's be reviewed by the Committee for ratification at the AGM.
The option of the Committee (Article 3 (v)), to be able to include non-pensioners in the club was queried, but after discussion, it was agreed to keep the rule as it stands.
Adoption of the Bye-Laws was proposed by Geoff Liley , seconded by Dick Portnoy, and approved by a show of hands.
6. Election of other Club Officers.
The Chairman having already been elected…..
Secretary: Jan Abel having been nominated as Secretary was proposed by Dave Parker, seconded by Jane Westbrook, and was duly elected by a suitable show of hands.
Treasurer: John Fisher, having been nominated was proposed by Dave Parker, seconded by Geoff Liley, and passed by a suitable show of hands.
Requests for Auditors were made: Eric Dorrington and Norman Spence having offered their services were put to the vote which was approved by a suitable show of hands.
Membership Secretary. Dave Parker, having been nominated, was proposed by John Fisher , seconded by Geoffrey Liley, which when put to the vote was suitably approved by a show of hands.
Vice Chairperson: There being no nomination for this position, and no-one from the floor being willing to undertake the position, it was agreed that the position remain vacant for this one year.
Almoner: It was mentioned from the floor that there is an urgent need for this function, especially considering the illnesses that we already know of, and the potential situation of spouses of deceased Citibankers. There are not currently the funds available for such a function to operate satisfactorily. Suggestions were made to ask for donations to an Almoner's fund. Others suggested increasing the subscriptions to cover expected costs. It was suggested that the function would be better managed by a Special Interest Group with members taking responsibility for certain geographical areas (close to themselves), and reporting back to the Committee.
No decisions were made. The newly formed Club Committee will investigate the suggestions and respond accordingly.
John Fisher asked if there were any other members who would like to sit on the committee, without any official job other than to support the committee. No offers were forthcoming.
Dave Parker advised the meeting that the continuance of the club will depend upon there being new people prepared to run it in the future, and hoped that by the AGM in Oct 2004, more officers would be elected.
7. Statement of Club Situation. (Where are we now)
- We have contact with 200 out of 630 Final Salary pensioners.
- We have a committee capable of carrying us through to next year.
- We have approved Bye-laws
- We have a web-site on www.citi-uk-pensioners.co.uk
- We have a Pensioner Fund Special Interest Group consisting of:
David Kitterringham (SIG leader): Geoffrey Liley: Paul Close: John Fisher: Jeremy Bard: Dave Parker.
Having had one meeting several days earlier to organise the collection of information and the setting of ground rules etc., the committee will meet and report as the situation dictates and information becomes available. A particular aim of the SIG will be to receive from members general questions and worries, to combine them into a single query to Citigroup and to publish the responses to all members. (Specific queries which members have which relate to their own private affairs should still go direct to Citigroup)
- We have a Yahoo e-mail discussion group, being run by John Fisher. Members can find full details in the web-site and are urged to use this method of communicating ideas, worries and information. The messages will be moderated by John and fed back to the committee as food for thought and possible action by the committee, thus helping to provide future direction for the club.
- We now have a database of member details external to Citigroup.
8. Statement of Finances
Dave Parker reported that we are solvent. Having received over £410 in 'setting-up' donations, (including some excessively generous ones); with expenses so far of £141, there is £275 left to run the club before we start to collect subscriptions. The outstanding success of the Litten Tree meeting means that we also have a healthy profit from this venture, (as yet uncalculated).
9. Special Interest Groups
Dave Parker asked the meeting whether there should be other SIGs formed. It was felt that we should walk before we try to run. The suggestion that the Almoner's function be run on an SIG basis will be considered.
10. Consider Future of the Club.
- We need to get 300 members by next year, at least. If any person knows addresses or telephone numbers of anyone not on the 200 list, (copy enclosed) please contact them, give them news of the club, ask them to contact Dave Parker, and/or check the web-site on www.citi-uk-pensioners.co.uk .
- We need to find a way of contacting the Defined Contribution pensioners.
- We need a way of getting new pensioners from both plans aware of our existence.
- We will investigate the best way of managing the Almoner's function. (There was a great depth of feeling about the importance of this function).
- We will attempt to communicate regularly with members, by both e-mail and post. However, we need the information and content to communicate. The committee will be working on this…… but are there any members who can help?
- The web-site has been well-received so far, but needs tuning and content changes, which will be undertaken. Why not add it to your 'favourites'
- Importantly, exchanges of views are needed, most easily via John Fisher's Yahoo e-mail group. If you have a PC, then get on to the web-site and find out what's involved. (It will be a way of getting other member's e-mail addresses).
11. Any other business.
A discussion commenced regarding the Pension Fund and related issues, but it was agreed to close the inaugural meeting and re-commence these discussions outside the meeting. Click here for details of the discussion
12. Close the meeting
The meeting closed at 12:35pm with Dave Parker thanking the new committee for their assistance, to Freddie Dawe for controlling the lapel badge handout, and the presence of so many at the meeting.

Signed ..............................Chairman

* Apologies were received from:-
'Satch' Armstrong
John Atkin
Phil Baker
Michael Barnet
Alan Blake
Roy Bonney
Colin Brown
john Bryant
Bob Burgess-Smith
Rod Coaten
John Cooke
Peter Cooper-Davis
Alice Cussans
Ron de Gottal Roger Delaney
Margaret Derham
Howard Felton
Michael Fensom
Lindsey Field
Jo Gage
Janet Gardiner
Brian Gibson
Arlett Giffin
Brenda Goodhind
Linda Hubbard
Clive Jones
Sylvia Kelly
Sikander Khan
Dave King
Arthur Law
James McCree
Mike McGillicuddy
Shelia Melnyk
Judy Moody
Vernon Morley
Stan Neale
Edwin Pomeroy
David Randall
Colin Russell
Scott Saunders
Margaret Saville
Nick Shaw
Maureen Shipman
Frank Smith
Derrick Stubbs
John Symonds
Ronwen Symonds
Mike Truan
Raymond Turley
Bob Vitler
Lisa Volk
Bryan West
Rosslynn Wight
Norman Wilding

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