Governing Council Minutes

Wednesday 20th December 2002

MINUTES OF GOVERNING COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday 20th December 2002
Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1

In Attendance
Stuart Withers (SW)
Keith Walker (KW)
Ian Withers (IW)
John Edwards (JE)

Minutes of Meeting of 11th September 2002
Matters arising were that JE and IW are to attend Germany and present Honorary Membership certificate to Miriam Ettisch-Enchelmaier.

It was agreed that more effort was required to take advantage of WAPI news with reference to articles and that SW was to write an article for the PI Magazine.

Other content of minutes was proposed by JE and seconded by SW.

Resignation of General Secretary
David Waight, our General Secretary resigned as he wished to retire and make possible his move to Portugal where he wished to spend out his days. We thank David for his input and efforts whilst being General Secretary and wish him well with his move.

Applications for post of General/CompanySecretary
WAPI had placed a notice on the egroup for interested parties to put forward applications for this post and two members indicated that they would like to volunteer their services. The applications were from the following: Jim Tozer and Andrew Cole. Both applications were considered at length and the GC decided that Jim Tozer would be better suited for this position and to that end JE proposed that Jim Tozer would be appointed which was seconded by SW.

Invitation to Join British Agents
KW brought to the attention of the GC that WAPI had received an invitation to join the British Agents Forum. The GC unanimously declined the offer and would let the Forum know of its decision.

Way Forward Group update
IW and JE presented to the GC an update following a recent meeting of the Way Forward Group. Detail of the Way Forward Group meeting can be found on the Investigators' Sector website.

At the WFG meeting it was requested that WAPI donate £200 as part of the original pledge in support of the Investigators Sector Group website. KW would ensure that this would be forwarded as the GC consider this type of support beneficial for all concerned.

IW explained that the Investigators' Sector was changing its role and policy. The GC gave a positive response and agreed that the changes would make the ISG better.

New membership applications
There were 7 new membership applications all of which were accepted by the GC.

Criminal Records Bureau
The GC discussed the possibility of WAPI offering access to Criminal Record checks to its members. It was decided not to register at the time being as this service was in its infancy, and the GC would keep a watching brief on other providers.

ITC and Nat West Bank Issue
WAPI on behalf of its membership is striving to overturn the decisions of the ITC and Nat West Bank not to offer certain services to Private Investigators as they class them "as being in an unacceptable profession". IW tabled replies received to date from both the ITC and NWB who state that they will reconsider the stance they are taking and consider the implications.

WAPI Web Pages for Members
Each WAPI member whose level of membership is above "Student or Associate" is to be offered a free web page within the WAPI website. This will direct clients to the "Members" pages and then on to members in the area where the enquiry is to be carried out. There will be links to members own web sites subject to such sites being of a professional nature. The webmaster will be consulted to take this forward and will be approaching members for the input they would like to be considered for their web page. This is another service and benefit that WAPI members will enjoy.

Any Other Business
New member applications
The GC discussed the applications of new members and it was decided that new membership details would be posted on the WAPI site in order that any member who had cause to comment on anyone's application could do so.

Newly approved members
It was also agreed that "Newly Approved Members" would also be posted on the site so that members could offer a welcome if they so wished and gives a constant update as to the membership.

WAPI banking facility
It was decided that WAPI move its banking facilities from NWB to Barclays because of the present stance of NWB regarding Private Investigators.

Redesign of Application Form
The Membership Application Form is to be redesigned to make it more user friendly and to reflect the new payment methods that are to be introduced which will make application available on-line. SW is to provide a template of the proposed design for discussion at the next meeting of the GC.

Certificate of Membership
The GC discussed a redesign of the WAPI "Certificate of Membership". KW proposed that the certificate should no longer show a photograph of the member but should show an expiry date, which would mean that each member would receive a new certificate at each renewal of membership. This proposal was seconded by JE and accepted by the GC. SW is to provide designs for discussion at the next meeting of the GC.

Levels of Membership
The GC decided that the levels of membership should be expanded to include both "Honorary" and "Life" members. The website will be updated to include these additional levels of membership.

2003 Honorary membership
The GC is considering who could be invited to be a recipient of a Honorary Membership in 2003. IW has proposed Jimmie Mesis who is the owner of the PI Magazine and a practising PI in the USA. It was decided that the membership would be offered the opportunity of proposing any person for consideration.

NCISS
WAPI is to apply to NCISS (National Council of Investigation and Security Services) which is USA based so that WAPI support can be given to members in the USA in the same way that WAPY supports the Investigators' Sector here in the UK. IW is to submit the application.

Next meeting
Friday 7th February 2003 at 11am at 86 Southwark Bridge Road, London.

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