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FOUNDATION
The Midlands Amenity Societies Association (MASA) was founded in 1987 to represent Midlands amenity societies registered with the Civic Trust. In 2001 it divided into East and West MASA in line with Civic Trust aspirations to create a regional association for each of the nine local government regions of England. In July 2006 East MASA changed its name to the EAST MIDLANDS ASSOCIATION OF CIVIC SOCIETIES. (EMACS)
There are fifty-four Societies in the East Midlands Region, many of which have their own web sites.
Since its inception in March 2001 the Association has continued to issue its magazine, reports, accounts and any additional information to all member societies on a quarterly basis. We particularly encourage the foundation of new societies and improved contact between members, including the establishment of web sites and modern methods of communication.
OFFICERS
Please select the "Contact Us" Section on the left hand menu for a list of officers together with contact details
MEETINGS
EMACS meets four times a year in January, April, July and October, with its AGM in April. These dates are spread so as not to conflict with the quarterly meetings of West MASA, with whom we remain on close and friendly terms.
The Association is so constituted that its meetings are a ‘governing council’, with up to two from each member society attending able to vote. In the interests of regional cover, meetings rotate between the six counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Rutland. We are extremely grateful to member societies who have hosted many of these extremely successful meetings.
THE AWAYDAY
Although our meetings often have a guest speaker and are usually followed by lunch and a guided tour, it was felt that members needed to be offered greater opportunities to socialise and network. As a result of this decision, in June 2003 the Association held its first annual ‘Awayday’ in Boston, Lincolnshire. This was a whole day tour of the historic town hosted by Boston Preservation Trust. This is now followed by ‘Awaydays’ every year. (2004 Leicester, 2005 Newark, 2006 Retford, 2007 Buxton, 2008 Nottingham and 2009 Stamford) Any profit from these events is maintained as a separately identified ‘rolling fund’ to assure future hosts that the costs of organising events can be borne by the Association.
THE LEICESTER AWAYDAY: Members of Boston, Bourne, Burton-on-Trent, Desborough, Leicester, Lincoln and Whaley Bridge Societies at the grave monument to Cardinal Wolsey in Abbey Park on 12th June 2004. This popular tour also included the Castle, Jewry Wall Roman Museum and Medieval Guildhall on foot in the morning, plus Belgrave Hall and Bradgate Park in the afternoon.
HISTORIC TOWNS FORUM
In January 2004 the Association joined the Historic Towns Forum, 85% of members representing small historic towns. We circulate the Forum’s thrice-yearly newsletter to members. We also extend discounts on Forum events and publications to members.
EAST MACS MAGAZINE
In July 2004 the Association published its first journal, the “East MASA Magazine”. This is a quarterly publication. At its heart is a ‘digest’ of information gleaned from the pages of members’ newsletters and journals. The emphasis is on information that may be of practical use to other members, on lessons learned and on examples of perceived best practice. Twenty-two members send us their publications, many on a regular basis. ·
ASHTAV
In 2009 the Association became a member of "the Association of Small Historic Towns & Villages (ASHTAV)"
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