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Minutes of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Barbados Chapter Annual General Meeting 2026

Date: February 6, 2025
Venue: Courtyard by Marriott
Time: 5:30 PM

1. Call to Order

The 2025 Annual General Meeting was called to order at 8:50 PM by the Vice President of Administration, Janelle Riley-Thornhill.

2. Adoption of the Previous Minutes

The minutes of the last AGM, held on January 25, 2024, were circulated to the membership via email. A synopsis of the previous year’s meeting was provided by the VP of Administration, noting:

  • The last AGM was held at the meeting room of the Frank Collymore Hall, Central Bank.
  • The board’s term was changed from one year to two years, meaning the current board demits office in 2026.
  • The meeting included a review of 2023 activities, a financial report, and discussions on professional development, networking, and the need for increased membership.

3. VP Professional Development Report

The VP of Professional Development, Fay Cooke-Nurse, delivered a brief report outlining plans for 2025:

  • Networking Events: A plan to increase networking opportunities to one “lime” at the end of each month.
  • Professional Development: Planning a virtual or face-to-face Gold Quill session with President Dr Pamala Proverbs and an internationally-based IABC colleague. The session is intended to prepare members for the 2026 Gold Quill awards, as the 2025 deadline had already passed.
  • Member Input: Encouraged members to email their communication needs to ensure future professional development events provide relevant support.

4. President’s Report

Dr. Pamala Proverbs addressed the state of IABC Barbados and the international restructuring:

  • IABC International Restructuring: The international body has restructured under the 2025 theme “Stronger Together,” focusing on being digitally transformed, data-driven, and championing the communication profession. 
  • Regional Reorganization: A task force was formed in July 2024 to reorganize Latin America and the Caribbean, which are now being treated as one emerging region. IABC International has presented two options:
    • At-Large Chapter: Requires a minimum of 40 members, a number IABC Barbados has not consistently achieved (peak of 40+).
    • At-Large Community: Requires a minimum of 15 members, which the Barbados chapter currently meets. This option, however, would not grant IABC voting rights.
  • Proposed Collaboration: The board is currently in discussions with Latin America and IABC Caribbean (mainly Jamaica) to form a unified Latin America and Caribbean Chapter. It was noted that Barbados is currently the most active entity in this grouping.
  • Membership Drive: A strong membership drive is crucial to meet the 40-member threshold required to retain IABC Barbados’ full chapter status.
  • Professional Standards: The President stressed the importance of strengthening the professional body to advocate for communication professionals, standardized salaries, and ensuring they are seen as strategic partners in organizations.
  • Key Achievements for 2024:
    • Strong attendance at the 2024 AGM.
    • April Comms Connect networking event.
    • Professional development event with Marley and Noleen.
    • June Comms Connect, partnered with the Barbados Photographic Society and the Argentine Embassy.

5. VP Finance Report

The VP of Finance, Alicia Bascombe, presented the financial report for 2024:

  • Net Profit: The chapter recorded a net profit of $186.40, a positive turnaround from the previous year’s loss, with a closing account balance of $27,402.37.
  • Revenue Sources: The two main sources of revenue were:
    • Quarterly rebates from IABC International, which had been previously delayed.
    • The fully subscribed April professional development event.
  • Expenses: The largest expense was for professional development activities.
  • Future Strategy: The Finance VP suggested raising prices for professional development events to better reflect the value provided and increase revenue. She also noted that a regional conference is being discussed as a key opportunity for professional development, networking, and revenue generation.
  • Chapter Dues: Chapter dues were reduced by IABC International to $10 USD.

6. Elections and Volunteer Opportunities

  • VP of Membership: The position of VP of Membership was declared open. A motion was put forward, and the membership present elected Geralyn Edward as the new VP of Membership.
  • Committees: A call was made to revive and establish two key committees to distribute the workload and increase activity:
    • Marketing Communications Committee
    • Professional Development Committee
  • Variety Club Volunteer: An appeal was made for a member to volunteer communications support to the Variety Club, a children’s charity.

7. Other Business

  • Ethics Month: February was designated Ethics Month, with members encouraged to share and engage with the campaign led by IABC Ethics Chair Andrew Morrison.
  • World Conference: Members were encouraged to attend the 2025 IABC World Conference in Vancouver, June 8-11.

8. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned following a vote of thanks to all attendees for their commitment and support.