COVID-19 and all that it implies
Dear Friends
All of you are obviously very well aware of the restrictions on our national (and international) lives currently in force because of the Coronavirus. I am writing this on Tuesday 24 March; I mention so specific a date because, as we all realise, information and advice and injunctions from our Government are being updated on a daily basis. The Treasurer of the other charitable organisation of which I am a Council member received the following information recently:
“Coronavirus is having a major impact on charity events and the government’s health advice may lead to some charities having no choice but to decide to cancel or postpone their AGMs and other critical meetings. If as trustees, you decide it is necessary to do so, you should record this decision to demonstrate good governance of your charity. This is particularly important if it is not possible to hold your AGM which may make it difficult for you to finalise your annual reports and accounts. Wherever possible, we would ask you to try to get your annual reports to us on time. However, where the situation impacts on the completion of annual returns and accounts, charities with an imminent filing date can call us.”
I relay this information simply because, as you know, we had already postponed our AGM until a future, though necessarily imprecise, date. I confirm here that no NWEMF activities will (be able to) take place before this autumn at the earliest. Further to what I wrote in the February Newsletter when I sought volunteers to fill the posts of Chairman and Secretary, and other Committee positions, I reiterate that encouragement now: please be thinking about this and considering whether you can help us in due course.
Above all, though, all of your friends on the Committee join me in wishing each and every one of you and your families the very best of health and fitness, and patience in surviving the present unprecedented crisis. Find such ways as you can of occupying yourselves as musicians, whether as singers or players or both – for, whenever it may be, our workshops WILL resume and we hope to see you at them!
Roger Wilkes, Acting Chairman (for the Committee)
Published in April 2020 Newsletter
