2025 Annual Report

This summary covers Council activity from 1 January through 31 December 2025. Figures represent administrative intake and archive work and should not be interpreted as a measure of underlying regional activity.

Seventy-four reports came in during the year and sixty-one were opened as files. Paid membership finished at 127, up eight. Eight regional units were on the books, though one of those was inactive throughout and a second was provisional from May. Volunteers logged 312 hours, which is the figure we are least confident in, since it depends on people remembering to write their hours down.

Utility-corridor review

The Eastern Pennsylvania and Northwestern New Jersey chapters worked jointly through thirteen reports taken near service roads and stormwater access points. Four turned out to be the same witness sequence entered four times, which is a recurring embarrassment of ours and the reason the intake form now asks whether you have contacted us before. Two were referred for municipal infrastructure review. The exercise also produced a limited data exchange with the RCABF on duplicate handling, conducted on their terms.

Cassette digitisation

Eleven field cassettes recorded between 1992 and 1998 were transferred to preservation-grade files. The tapes remain the archival record; the transfers are copies and are catalogued as copies. EV-0348-A was pulled forward in the queue because its binder was visibly shedding. Custody status is on the evidence page.

Membership and chapters

Delaware Valley moved to provisional field status after a methods review. Central Pennsylvania stayed inactive with its records held nationally. No new charters were issued and none were applied for.

Training

Thirty-one members completed the evidence-handling module and nineteen completed supervised night observation. Two field qualifications lapsed because the holders did not do their annual safety review, and both have since been told, more than once, that this is not a formality.