Shareholders Endorse Morning Star's AGM

Morning Star readers and supporters from across the North of England met in Leeds yesterday to attend the annual general meeting of the People Printing Press Society, the body which owns the world's only English language, socialist newspaper.

Shareholders heard reports from Management Committee member Bob Oram, who chaired the meeting, Secretary Tony Briscoe and newly appointed editor Richard Bagley on how the paper had performed over the year. This centered around two themes; the continuation of the 82 year struggle to keep the paper afloat highlighted by the emergency call for donations in November to bridge the gap left by shortfalls in the Fighting Fund; and by the new, and exciting developments around distribution which were reported on by circulation manager Bernie Keaveney.

Attendees were told how new printing facilities in Oldham (assisting distribution in the North of England and Scotland) and the proactive attempts by staff to engage with the labour movement at regional level was offering much hope for the future.

If you would like to assist the Star with a regular donation, no matter how small, you can fill in this direct debit form, and send back to William Rust house. If you would like to become a *Shareholder in the paper, please contact Ivan Beavis here.

* Shareholders, in theory, are entitled to receive dividends from the profits of the paper, however, as its never operated with a surplus in the 82 years of its existence, the likelihood of receiving any is remote. All money that the Star receives goes into reinvesting in improving the pay for staff, on facilities and on making the paper bigger and better so by buying shares, you are helping to build the paper. You are also then entitled to vote at future AGMs.