BAFUNCS Annual General Meeting 2026 It is a constitutional requirement that BAFUNCS convene its AGM once a year to consider certain items of business, including: approval of the annual report; approval of the accounts and budget; noting the report of the Benevolent Fund; election of officers to the Executive Committee; and any other business that may be proposed for discussion/decision by the Executive Committee. BAFUNCS will again conduct its AGM virtually in 2026, as it did in the previous six years (2020-2025). The main elements are: Documentation. This is provided in the Association’s Spring 2026 Newsletter 89, and can also be downloaded by CLICKING HERE Online discussion group. There is a discussion group on the website, where members can ask questions and receive responses from members of the Executive Committee (ExCo), CLICK HERE TO ASK A QUESTION. Zoom session, 00 a.m. on Tuesday 5 May 2026. There will be a single session on Zoom, moderated by our President, Sir Mark Lowcock. Members interested in attending this meeting should indicate their interest to agm2026@bafuncs.org and they will be sent the link a few days prior to the meeting. This meeting will consider the reports of the Executive Committee and the Benevolent Fund, and any other business raised by members. Voting. Voting on the items of business will be managed by Jocelyn Mason as our Polling Officer, operating under the aegis of our President.  The voting process is outlined below. All the above details have been posted in the Members’ Area of the BAFUNCS website. They may be accessed by clicking on the following link: BAFUNCS Annual General Meeting 2026  Voting process The voting form lists the items of business to be considered by the AGM. In addition to being distributed with Newsletter No.89, the form can be accessed at the above website link. Members may register their vote on the items of business in one of four ways:  1. Complete the online voting form which can be found on the website and in the Bulletin. The website link is https://bafuncs.org/bafuncs-agm-2026-online-voting-form/. 2. Download the voting form from the BAFUNCS website  fill in the form; save it to your computer, and e-mail it as an attachment to agm2026@bafuncs.org. 3. If voting in favour of all the items of business, send an e-mail to that effect to agm2026@bafuncs.org. 4. Complete the voting form overleaf and mail it to Jocelyn Mason at 76 Eyot House, Sun Passage, Southwark, London SE16 4BP. The deadline for receipt of votes is Sunday 31 May 2026. Once voting is complete, Jocelyn will tally the votes and request the President to endorse the results. Reporting the outcome  The election results will be announced in the website Bulletin; posted on the website; and published in Newsletter No.90, Autumn 2026, which will also include a full report of the entire AGM 2026 process. Ask a Question Cast Your Vote Online

We are pleased to publish our Spring Newsletter, 2026; hard copies for members who still wish to receive them, will be in the mail shortly. BAFUNCS Spring Newsletter 2026 This Spring Newsletter includes several loose flyers, relating to the Association’s 2026 Annual General Meeting and the forthcoming 2026 Annual Reunion in Cardiff, details of which are included in the newsletter itself.  These flyers can be downloaded by clicking the links below: Flyer 1. AGM 2026 Process & Voting Form  Flyer 2. AR 2026 Cardiff Invitation Flyer 3. AR 2026 Cardiff Registration Form Postscript: You should be aware that the name of hotel in Cardiff has been changed from the Radisson Blu to the Majestic.  The ownership of the hotel and conditions of our contract remain the same – it is just the franchise that has changed.  The staff are busy with the transition at the moment and the re-branding, including the initial telephone message you hear, has not yet been completed.  Our contact at the hotel has suggested that reservations should be made by email, rather than by phone, and everything should be sorted by mid-March.  The AR committee is sorry for this disruption which is due to circumstances beyond our control.

Northern Region Annual Gathering This year we are holding our 56th gathering in Durham from 9 to 11 June.  Our two-night stay will be at the Farnley Tower Hotel.  To book a room, please call 0191 3750011, ask for Anna and mention the booking made by Veronica Feirn.  The rooms differ slightly, but we have negotiated uniform rates for bed and breakfast for two nights:  £250 double occupancy, and £220 for single occupancy.      For the first night we will have cocktails in the hotel and dinner in their Indian Restaurant and for the second night we will go to a local Italian restaurant. Durham has many interesting opportunities for sightseeing, including the UNESCO World Heritage site of Durham Castle and Cathedral, the Oriental Museum which is devoted to the art and archaeology of the great cultures of Northern Africa and Asia, and wonderful riverside walks.  Do come and join us! UN Pensions I have good news to report:  UN pensions on the dollar track will rise by 2.7% in April 2026 and those on the sterling track will rise by 3.4%. BAFUNCS Benevolent Fund Just a reminder, especially for our new members, that the Benevolent Fund can provide a variety of financial assistance, such as mobility aids, wet rooms, stair lifts etc.  For more information, apply to the Secretary of the Benevolent Fund:  benevolent.fund@bafuncs.org Best wishes, Nikki (Veronica) Feirn

 Members from other regions are most welcome to join us! The Bell Hotel King Street Thetford. IP24 2AZ Thetford, known as  the birthplace of Thomas Paine, is steeped in history, The reputedly haunted 15th century Bell Inn is the former lodgings of Dad’s Army cast and crew, with more local history to discover.  It makes a great location for a night or two away! See below for directions. Between 11.00 and 11.30   we will meet in the lounge, with the AGM starting at 12.00. Lunch will follow at 13.00 in the restaurant. A buffet will be provided with assorted salads, sandwiches and desserts. The price is £16.95 pp payable on the day to the Bell Hotel.  This will include a tea and coffee station in the lounge. Other drinks can be purchased separately from the bar or ordered on the day. Please confirm your attendance by Wednesday 25th February and inform us of any allergies or dietary requirements by contacting Nicky Rodgers by email @ rodgers.nichola@gmail.com   . Complimentary parking is available at the hotel park for  guests. Do not use the pay meters but on arrival remember to check in at reception with your number plate.  Thetford is situated just off the A11. Thetford station lies just to the north of the town centre and the River Little Ouse, a short walk from the Bell Hotel. Trains run through here on the Breckland Line between Cambridge and Norwich and the long-distance line between Liverpool Lime Street and Norwich. We look forward to seeing you there!  Nicky and Lynette