british compact collectors society

COVID-19 UPDATE - APRIL 2021

The COVID-19 crisis is continuing to affect us all, and the coming months are still filled with uncertainty, in the UK and around the world. Lockdown may be starting to ease again across the country, however social distancing will continue for the foreseeable future.

The BCCS Committee took the difficult decision last year to cancel the annual Convention, which was scheduled for 10th October at the Hilton Doubletree Reading. This was rescheduled, and we are still hoping that this year's event will be able to take place in the same location, on Saturday 9th October 2021.

The BCCS Committee implemented a package of exceptional measures in the 2020/21 membership year as a gesture to compensate for the cancellation of the Convention and exhibition, and many of these are continuing:

NEW MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

Members who had renewed / joined were contacted by email to ask whether they would like to be included in a 2020 BCCS Membership Directory. This was produced as a booklet in electronic format, with maps. It was emailed only to those 60 members who opted in. Its aim was to facilitate networking and help members to reach out to others with similar collecting interests.

It's hoped that more BCCS members will sign up to be included in the Membership Directory in 2021.

EXHIBITION CATALOGUE

Even though the Convention and exhibition did not physically take place in 2020, in honour of the BCCS's 25th anniversary, there was still a full-colour catalogue, and its theme was 'Celebrations'. It was produced as a presentation in electronic format and emailed to members (for those not on email, a hard copy was posted). Extra hard copies were also made available for purchase.

It has been decided that in future, the annual exhibition will be documented in an extended photo gallery in the 'Convention Special' issue of the Face Facts newsletter (in lieu of an exhibition catalogue).
The theme for the 2021 Exhibition will be 'Hooray for Holidays!'

FACE FACTS NEWSLETTER

There was a special 25th Anniversary issue of the Face Facts newsletter produced, in place of the 'Convention Special', and separate to the Winter issue.

NEW FACEBOOK GROUP

A new private Facebook Group was launched early this year in order to provide information and encourage discussion about compacts among members, especially those who are geographically distant. It has proved successful, and so far has 72 members. Monthly topics are being set for members to showcase their compacts, and many are posting about their latest purchases.

It's hoped that more BCCS members will join the Group in 2021, even if they're not currently Facebook users (it is free, and there is no obligation to participate in anything other than the BCCS Group).

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

A decision was made to move 2020's AGM meeting to March 2021, and it was held using Zoom. Members were notified in advance in case they wished to join.

At the meeting, it was agreed that in future, the AGM will be held separately from the Convention.

ANNUAL CONVENTION 2021

The Hilton Doubletree Reading agreed to postpone the event booking for the 2020 Convention to Saturday 9th October 2021 (Save The Date!), and the planned Guest Speaker Katherine Higgins also agreed to reschedule. Further details / booking information will be provided closer to the time.

We hope that you, your family and friends stay safe and well, and that the current restrictions continue to allow you some extra time with your compact collections!