Minutes of NWEMF Annual General Meeting, 9th March 2019
Present: Mark Bertinat (Chair), Janet Evans, Janet Hilton, John Huthnance, Dave Love, Bob Foster, Cath Glazzard, Tim Gannicliffe, Peter Syrus, Sue Mottram, Glad Capewell, Elizabeth Silman, Val Wilkes, Roger Wilkes, Frank Gibson, Ruth Stock.
Apologies: Clive Walkley, David Allen, Martin Steward.
Minutes of Previous AGM accepted.
Matters arising none.
Chair’s Report – A brief resume of the Committee’s actions over last 12 months.
Three Committee Meetings
14th June 2018
1. Discussed first attempt to bring in name badges for workshop participants – not very successful – sticky labels don’t stick to clothing. Agreed to try again.
2. 2 Committee resignations, Clive Walkley and Elizabeth Dodd, both after many years of service.
3. 2 new committee members, Jenny Walsh and Tim Gannicliffe.
4. Suggestion that w/s participants should print their own copies of the music was rejected.
5. Moved to expecting members to download the Newsletter from the website rather than having it posted to them. Still about ten being posted owing to lack of email addresses.
6. Decided that members should be asked to bring their own mugs to workshops to avoid use of single-use disposable cups.
7. Wrestled with problems of new data protection laws.
8. Rejected suggestion (from BEMF) that we should compile a list of volunteers prepared to host w/s participants coming long distances. Better to deal with cases if and when they occur.
22nd October 2018
1. Still having problems with sticky name badges for workshop participants – agreed to give up the idea.
2. Discussed need for some new workshop venues, especially towards the North of our area such as Preston and Wigan.
3. At Jenny’s suggestion, agreed that June 2019 workshop should be a joint event with the Cumbria Festival Chorus as part of the Cumbria Festival. The theme will be “The Gabrielis in Venice” tutored by Gawain Glenton.
4. Non-committee-members to be encouraged to suggest tutors and/or venues for workshops, and even to organise them.
5. A member questioned why the Newsletter was on the “Members Only” area of the website. It was agreed that since access to the Newsletter was one of the major benefits of being a member, that is where it should be.
6. The long search for a suitable home for the Society’s set of virginals ended when sold on ebay for £250.
28th January 2019
1. Agreed that the £250 from sale of the virginals should go to the Keldwyth Award Society, a charity giving annual awards to young musicians and grants to young people in Cumbria who show enthusiasm for a musical endeavour and can demonstrate financial need.
2. Two new workshop venues are being trialled, namely Mold Chapel Schoolroom and St John the Baptist Church Earlstown.
3. Our 1st ever “women singers only” workshop is planned for May 2019, jointly tutored by Deborah Roberts and Laurie Stas. Male instrumentalists and audience will be welcome to attend.
4. The set of Hansen recorders, bequeathed to the Society by Joan Wess, one of the founders of NWEMF, and at present on loan to one of our Presidents, David Allen, need servicing. Agreed that NWEMF should pay for this.
Chairman’s Resignation
I have decided to stand down from being Chairman of NWEMF at today’s AGM after 3 years in the job. As is often the case, I only took on the role because no-one else was prepared to do it and I have to say I haven’t really enjoyed it. Not because it is a particularly onerous job (it isn’t) but more because it is one more stress in my life that I could do without at the moment. I of course intend to remain an active participant at NWEMF workshops, as long as my narrowing vocal range (currently about an octave!) allows. I would like to thank the other Members of the Committee for all the work they have put in on your behalf during the year. I can quite honestly say that every one of them has put in a lot more than I have, but I warned you when I took on the job that this would be the case. NWEMF is very lucky to have such an excellent team driving it. Thank you all
Mark Bertinat
New NWEMF Chairman
I would just like to introduce myself as your new Chair. It came as a surprise at the last AGM when I was accepted as your new Chair as I have only served on the committee for 12 months. For those of you who do not know me I am the tall, balding bearded recorder player. My association with the forum has shown that the committee is hard working, and you and I should be very grateful for their hard work in formulating and delivering a series of excellent workshops each year. We are always on the lookout for ideas for workshops and welcome any thoughts from members. Please see me or any member of the committee. I look forward to another year of excellent music making in convivial company.
Tim Gannicliffe
9 March 2019
First published in the April 2019 Newsletter and again in November 2020 Newsletter
The following additional information was published in November 2020 Newsletter (as part of the submissions for the delayed 2020 AGM which took place on 28 November 2020)
Treasurer’s Report: In the Treasurer’s absence Bob reported on Martin’s Report & Accounts: we are making a small profit, funds have built up to over £13 thousand so we can afford more expensive tutors (e.g. Palestrina in May). Joan Wess Fund has £2 thousand and gives small bursaries to enable participation in EM events. We get few requests.
Any questions to Bob who will pass on to Martin, we need to have an Extraordinary meeting, at a future date to enable him to respond, to accept the accounts.
As we do not wish to keep high levels of reserves the Committee will take forward the possibility of more expensive tutors etc. (there are two tutors for the Palestrina in May). Ideas for making donations will be explored but we are limited for the purposes that we can give. Links with school & university music depts could be developed, also links with early music Summer schools e.g. Norvis. Any ideas for future plans to the Chair.
Membership report: Currently 142 members, will drop probably after next Newsletter. Most people pay subs promptly, about 10% don’t despite reminders so next Newsletter will list them as resigned and remove them from the membership list.
Election of Committee members currently:
• President: Roger Wilkes
• President: David Allen (& Inter-fora representative)
• Vice-President: Andrew Mayes
• Chairman Mark Bertinat (standing down)
• Secretary Ruth Stock
• Treasurer Martin Steward
• Newsletter Editor John Huthnance
• Membership Secretary Bob Foster
• Committee Members: Peter Syrus, Jenny Walsh, Tim Gannicliffe
Presidents & Vice President are honorary positions, don’t need election, rest of committee agree to stand gain except: Mark standing down as Chair but willing to remain a Committee member.
Bob: there will come a time when because of falling membership and lack of committee members NWEMF has to wind down.
Roger: are then any gaps in repertoire that a potential committee member could speak for and therefore fill the gap?
Tim Gannicliffe agreed to be Chair, agreed unanimously
Elizabeth Silman agreed to be a Committee member without portfolio, mainly working by email.
Roger thanked Mark for his contribution as Chair and closed the meeting
Minutes of Extraordinary General Meeting, 6th April 2019
Present: Tim Gannicliffe (Chair), Bob Foster, Frank Gibson, Jill Mitchell, Jackie Gresham, Diana McLean, Anne Clements, David Parry, Morris Davies, Jenny Howard, Cath Glazzard, Anne Shepherd, Janet Hilton, John Williams, John Davies, Ruth Stock
The 2018 Report & Accounts for NWEMF and the Joan Wess Fund held over from the March AGM had been prepared by Martin and no further points were raise, they were accepted by the meeting.
