IMCoS Annual Chairman’s Report for 2024

Please note that the report is entirely about 2024, although in my summary at the end of this meeting I will refer to 2025’s ‘trajectory’, and am happy to respond to questions about both 2024 and 2025 during AOB at the end.

Financially, following several years that resulted in a modest surplus, in 2024 the Society made a net loss of £3,165. Our Treasurer, Cinzia Viviani, gave sterling service in warning us early of this trend. You will hear a more detailed report from Cinzia in a few moments. The Society does not seek to be a profit-making business style organisation, but it does not like making a loss in a year either! Core costs are now outstripping revenue as we shall see.

Last year, I pointed out that our membership was very slowly declining – by 7 persons in 2022, by a further 7 in 2023. In 2024, it was by 9. However, I can report that member engagement was even better than last year!  It is an unusual pattern. New members get involved far more rapidly than in the past, and total attendances at all events was again the highest for a good number of years, certainly beating the prior 5 years. Quite obviously the growth of online activities has something to do with this, but is again not the entire story.

Show & Tell – February

Total numbers registered is never enough to determine the worth of an event in the mapping world. Did the majority of those registering actually tune in? What was the take up on any recordings? Did we gain new presenters? All are useful measures of our events. Feb 2024’s Show & Tell had the highest level of registrations so far and the highest proportion of actual attendees at any IMCoS virtual offering so far – nearly 80% of those who registered. On the other hand, it was the most difficult so far for finding willing presenters

Malcolm Young Lecture – April

2024’s Lecture was delivered by Susan M Schulten on the cartographic output of Richard Eves Harrison.

Fairs etc – June and early September

I was again able to briefly share about the benefits of the Society at two of the London Map Fair. We had our usual presence on the Society stand for the whole event, also facilitated by the fair organisers, who we are very grateful to for that, for loan of this room for our AGM, AND for a post fair donation. In 2024, we also received an invitation to run a free stand at the new Amsterdam Map Fair. This equally kind offer was taken up by a small team of UK stalwarts.  Amsterdam was a handy ‘extra’, since 2024 was a silent period for UK member activities. We lacked a National Representative following Valerie Newby’s well-deserved retirement until Mark Clark took up this role.

International Symposium, Malta, September

Major thanks are due to newer EXCOM members who really stepped things up in 2024. Wes Brown worked with our dear friend in Malta, Joseph Schiro and his team to deliver a particularly outstanding Symposium, with 77 delegates in attendance, plus others. Maybe it was the fantastic food, fantastic sunshine and fantastic good-fellowship that made the Symposium, but I would like to think that a fantastic programme and fantastic organisation helped too!

The Helen Young Award was presented at the Symposium – and was for the first time done by live video link to the USA.

Conclusion

LOOKING BACKWARDS – on a slightly negative note

My 2023 appeal in both the AGM and a subsequent 2024 Chairman’s Letter for members to invite new members seems to have fallen on deaf ears – as has my appeal for members to renew more promptly! Renewals are noticeably slower, reminders more likely to be ignored. We do not mind people ending their membership, but the, entirely avoidable, admin cost of chasing lapsed members up has increased.

LOOKING FORWARD – on a more positive note

We have already had an equally successful 2025 Show & Tell, particularly marked by 6 brand new presenters out of the 8 involved. The UK trip took place this April, under the helpful auspices of Mark Clark.

The Malcolm Young lecture last month had the highest member registration since it went online 5 years ago. Rodney Kite-Powell did an excellent job, which was greatly appreciated. Actual attendance, however, was only on a par with previous years.

Details of the September 2025 Portland Symposium were released for registration by the University of South Maine in mid-May. Bookings are already coming in and it looks like the post-Symposium trip to Northern Maine is already full!

Dr Mike Sweeting

June 2025