The Co-op are saying they can't open the bank account until we're approved as an official chapter of WMF. I tried to convince them that we're an independent organisation and that if the worst came to the worst and we weren't approved we'd still continue on with out charitable work, but they didn't seem persuadable. I also told them that our confirmation as an official chapter was now just a formality, but it's clearly the formality they are interested in. (TBH if I were in their place I probably would have made the same decision, since realistically if negotiations with WMF did break down irredeemably we would end up between somewhere between permanently tiny and dead.) The good news on the other hand is that they said everything else in the application was fine, and that as soon they get our official confirmation they'll be able to open the account. So I'm sorry about any part in this delay caused by my personal ineptitude. Perhaps had I phrased things slightly differently on the application form/business plan they would not have realised the importance of these negotiations for us, but I hope you agree this is far from the end of the world. We'll get the official confirmation from WMF in early January, which puts the AGM in March at the latest, which is still within our self-imposed 6 month timeframe. Your continued patience is much appreciated. Tom (Treasurer)