It was an encouraging year for the Federation and its affiliated societies. Early on I was a little apprehensive as to how everything would really work. After my first attempt at doing the bookings, I felt that maybe I'd just completed an exercise which looked fine on paper but mightn't work in practice. But I've been delighted with comments about how smoothly film handling went during the year - I hope that this year is as successful. I'd point out, though, that any society which has had problems, or which feels that more efficient arrangements could be made, should let me know.

Last year the Federation for the first time became directly involved with the Wellington Film Festival when I was seconded to the Wellington Film Society to help with the administrative side. The festival was a great success, and the Federation benefitted financially from having its office involved. The new catalogue, which at times I despaired of ever seeing in print, was in fact printed and sent to all societies, and I think gives a fairly complete reference to all films held by the Federation.

During the year there was a lot of interest from towns throughout the country in the possibility of setting up film societies. It's very satisfactory to be able to report that five new societies have become incorporated and affiliated to the Federation during the year - at Hawera, Waitati, Tauranga, Greytown and Kaitaia. The people involved with these societies have shown great enthusiasm, and I feel confident that they'll be successful.

On the other hand, I have to report that four societies have gone into recess during the year, which is disappointing. Perhaps, later on, enthusiasm will be revived in those areas. Though I reported Hawera and Tauranga as new societies, they are in fact areas where there've been film societies in the past and where there's newfound interest. This could well happen with the societies which've gone into recess during 1976. The total number of film societies at present active in New Zealand is 37.

It worries me a little that a number of the smaller societies place too much reliance on one or two committee members. From contact I've had with societies it seems that there are often one or two very enthusiastic people who've been holding a society together for many years. That person leaves the district and the society collapses. It's important for the work done by society committees to be spread over as many members as possible and to have a number of people involved in activities such as programme planning, attendance at conferences, etc. When doing the bookings I've noticed that some societies always take the same type of programme - a predominantly French programme or a large number of films by one director. This may be ideal for the one or two people planning the programme, but it's important to consider your members, who may have wider interests. There does not always seem to be enough communication within society committees. Most of my contact is with secretaries, and I expect them to pass material on to their presidents and committees, I've had complaints from societies that they've not received information which has in fact been sent to secretaries.

Although it's been a satisfactory year as far as film distribution is concerned, it's been a worrying one regarding film damage. There've been too many instances of damage to Federation films, and to films on loan to us. Please ensure that you have a competent projectionist, and a projector that is in good running order. Damage caused to a film by one society may mean that many others miss out on seeing it.

Membership of many societies fell a little during 1976, With other societies there's a disappointingly small membership considering the size of the town in which they're operating. We're delighted to have this year a very fine poster to help with membership drives, and are very grateful to John Brooks for the tremendous amount of time and effort he has put into this. Many societies have placed orders for the poster, and I hope that all societies will take a good number. I'm sure they'll be invaluable in attracting attention to the film society movement and getting new members. Reaction from one society was - no thanks, we don't want any as there's nowhere to put them in our town. I'm not surprised that that society has a very small membership. It's important that societies should be trying all the time to attract new members - don't sit back and think it's very comfortable with our 14 members, we're happy as we are. You enjoy film society films - there are no doubt many more like you.

After what's been a mostly critical report, I'd like to say how delighted and encouraged I was by the response I had from many societies to a letter sent out just before Christmas. Sometimes I feel a bit remote and as though I'm cut off from the people involved with film societies. So it was nice to have such full reportings from many societies on how their year had gone, their comments on the films and their suggestions for improvements. Don't wait for me to write to you - I'm very pleased to hear from you at any time with your comments, favourable or critical.

I worry at times that, now that there's a full time office with a full time staff member, it may be thought that all the Federation work is done by that one person in that one office. That's not so. I'd be lost without people like Lindsay Shelton, who spends an enormous amount of his "spare" time in my office doing Federation work; David Gascoigne, who, apart from the work he does for the Federation all through the year, spent weeks and weeks writing the very fine Federation submission to the Select Committee on censorship. Without Jonathan Dennis the catalogue would probably still be in course of production, and without John Brooks there'd be no publicity poster or new letterhead. Stephen Tustin keeps the Federation from falling into financial chaos; David Lindsay puts a lot of time into the catalogue, censorship reports, etc., as does David Lascelles, and Dale Vanderhoof ensures that we all have enough to eat and drink at conferences. They, and all the members of the Working Committee, are the people who keep the Federation running.

I hope you all enjoy your day here, and that all societies have a good year in 1977.

Rosemary Hope

Secretary

February 1977