Chairman’s Report for the period since 9 March 2019
Membership of the NWEMF Committee (including Presidents and Officers) has been: David Allen (President), Bob Foster (Membership Secretary), Tim Gannicliffe (including as Chairman until 22 October 2019), John Huthnance (Newsletter Editor), Elizabeth Silman, Martin Steward (Treasurer), Ruth Stock (Secretary), Peter Syrus, Jenny Walsh, and Roger Wilkes (President; Acting Secretary since 22 October 2019). Rob Kerr (webmaster) was co-opted to the Committee on 16 September.
The Committee has met five times since the 2019 AGM on 9 March, the last two meetings being ‘virtual’ because of the Pandemic. The main items of business are summarised here:
25 June 2019. Reports were received, and comments made, on workshops held since the previous Committee meeting: i.e., those in February 2019 (tutored by Rory Johnston), March 2019 (AGM Workshop; Roger Wilkes), 8 April 2019 (Peter Syrus), and June 2019 (Gawain Glenton). The Palestrina workshop for upper voices and instruments, which should have taken place in May, had to be postponed; a subsequent rescheduling has been delayed because of the pandemic. As is customary, arrangements for workshops shortly to take place (14 September, John Bryan; 12 October, Lizzie Gutteridge; 16 November, Sally Dunkley) were discussed and confirmed; members similarly looked ahead to workshops planned for the first half of 2020: 15 February (Graham O’Reilly), 21 March (Marion Scott), 18 April (Roger Wilkes), 9 May (Stephanie Muncey-Dyer), and June 2020 (Peter Syrus). A possible Purcell workshop with John Hancorn was considered for autumn 2020. [*Marion Scott has agreed to run the Recorder workshop in Cilcain when Covid conditions permit.]
The Treasurer presented his regular financial report, which showed a healthy position. The Membership Secretary presented his Report which, at the time of the meeting, showed there to be 137 members. Miscellaneous matters were discussed under AOB, including possible additional or alternative venues for workshops (Chorley Village Hall; Knutsford; Cilcain).
22 October 2019. Tim Gannicliffe announced at the outset that, for personal reasons, he needed to stand down as Chairman, with effect from the end of the meeting. As in June, members reflected on workshops which had taken place since 25 June. John Bryan’s workshop (September) had had an excellent outcome; regrettably, though, Lizzie Gutteridge’s workshop had to be cancelled, mainly because of the total absence of bass registrants. The November workshop with Sally Dunkley had already attracted at least 34 bookings, while arrangements for the workshops in the first half of 2020 were all proceeding satisfactorily. Consideration was also given to possible tutors and topics from September onwards – including Philip Thorby, Patrick Craig and Andrew Griffiths; also Deborah Roberts and Laurie Straus (spring 2021).
Members noted a decline in attendance at workshops, so discussed whether to reduce the number from eight per annum (the norm at that time) to just seven, possibly (after February-June 2020) with four between February and June, and three between September and November. The Committee duly agreed to reduce to seven workshops per annum. Members, also bemused by the fact that several people booking for workshops did so either immediately before the advertised deadline or later still, considered how to combat the tendency, noting that cancellation of events is bad for NWEMF’s reputation. The Newsletter editor placed an appropriate article in the next available Newsletter.
The Treasurer, presenting his Report, noted NWEMF’s good financial position, so suggested that ‘popular’ tutors can be afforded in order to boost numbers of participants at workshops. The Membership Secretary, presenting his Report, noted that there were no membership changes since the last Newsletter. 16 January 2020. This meeting was significantly frustrated as, because of rail travel disruption, only four members managed to arrive at the meeting, three of those being 45 minutes late (a constitutionally-quorate number nonetheless) . Arrangements for the AGM on 18 April were confirmed, including the Agenda (which noted vacancies for Chairman, Secretary, and a member of Committee). It was agreed not to change the membership subscription or workshop fees.
Sally Dunkley’s workshop in Hoole in November had been excellent in all respects, and had attracted a large number of participants (48). Some bookings had already been received for workshops in February (10) and April (2), while the March recorder workshop in Cilcain is being widely advertised. For the May workshop the Friends’ Meeting House, Lancaster, had been booked. A workshop with Andrew Griffiths on 6 February 2021 had been agreed.
The next Newsletter, planned to appear very early in February, would include formal notice of the AGM, and the Agenda, together with articles from the Acting Chairman concerning attendance at workshops, and an encouraging note to members to volunteer for the Chairman’s and Secretary’s positions.
Finally, the ‘existential’ future of NWEMF was considered, in the context of a good financial position, and a satisfactory overall workshop attendance. More workshop organisers are needed; the same officers and committee members tend to be responsible all of the time (a reasonable expectation is that a non-Committee member might organise, or help to organise, one each year). The Membership Secretary would update current guidance for a workshop organiser. Lastly, in the event that NWEMF needs to be wound down, its funds and assets should be shared between the three adjacent EMFs (BMEMF, MEMF, NEEMF).
21 May 2020 (held by Zoom). Members, updating plans for future workshops, were informed that Laurie Strauss – as a projected tutor in spring 2021 with Deborah Roberts – is currently very unwell. Lorna Cox (EEMF) had reported that she had enjoyed Patrick Craig’s workshop in the past.
Members also considered NWEMF’s Cancellation Policy, should workshops be unable to go ahead (a circumstance further complicated by the current pandemic and lockdown). After discussion of various options it was agreed, wherever possible, to postpone rather than cancel. A member of the Committee would draft a policy, and circulate to Committee colleagues.
The Treasurer had produced Accounts for 2019 and 2020 (to date); he was thanked for this. It was noted that the current available balance is quite 10 substantial; various ways of offering ‘free’ workshops were discussed. It was agreed that this matter would be considered further once COVID19 is no longer a deciding factor.
Under Newsletter (rather than Workshops), the possibility of holding online workshops was discussed.
The 2020 AGM had had to be postponed because of the pandemic, and lockdown; it was impossible to set a new date at present. Until an AGM can be held, all officers have agreed to continue in their current roles. It was noted that the positions of Chair and Secretary both need to be filled at the next AGM.
It was planned, provisionally, to hold the 2021 AGM on 17 April, with either Peter Syrus or Roger Wilkes as tutor of an AGM workshop involving both singers and instrumentalists. It was also agreed that a venue such as Didsbury Baptist Church would possibly attract more members than Morley Green Club has managed to do.
One workshop had been held since 16 January 2020: in February Graham O’Reilly had tutored a successful day of music by Zielenski, attendance at which – possibly due to bad weather – had been disappointing.
All workshops originally scheduled to take place between March and June had been postponed indefinitely because of the pandemic. It was noted that the workshop scheduled for February 2021, with Andrew Griffiths as tutor, may also need to be postponed, for the same reason.
Members recognised the need to consider venues very carefully once clear scientific and medical advice has been received in the light of coronavirus. Buildings with high ceilings and good ventilation were obviously preferable; for the February 2021 workshop either All Saints, Hoole, Chester or the Friends Meeting House, Lancaster, might prove suitable.
16 September 2020 (held by Zoom). It was agreed to co-opt Rob Kerr, NWEMF’s webmaster, onto the Committee; Rob was duly welcomed.
Matters relating to projected Workshops were considered. Laurie Straus was reported still to be very unwell, while replies from Philip Thorby and Andrew Griffiths are currently awaited.
A revised Contract for Tutors had been prepared and circulated among members; this was discussed and it was adopted, allowing for the possible need to revise this in the future when workshops are again able to be held. The Contract Terms would be placed within the Members’ Section of the NWEMF website.
The Treasurer reported on a very slightly increased financial situation, with a current balance in excess of £15,000. He raised the question of whether 11 some of this should be spent on events, even though, given the ongoing pandemic, face-to-face events are unlikely to be possible. While no firm decisions were reached, several ideas were contributed, notably the possible holding of some online events – as had been done by some other fora.
The Membership Secretary reported that NWEMF currently had 130 paid-up members.
It was agreed to hold the postponed 2020 AGM by Zoom, provisionally on Saturday 28 November. The holding of a linked online event was proposed, as an incentive to members to take part in both the workshop and the AGM. David Allinson was to be approached as possible workshop leader; if he is both willing and available on 28 November, that date would be confirmed. An AGM Agenda would be produced, as would Minutes of the 2019 AGM, Chairman’s and Treasurer’s Reports, and Nomination Forms for the posts of Chairman and Secretary and Committee member. Job descriptions for each of the latter were to be produced.
It was agreed that the next Newsletter would be sent to members as soon as reasonably possible, to include formal notice of the AGM, also information about compensation to members who have paid for workshops which, because of the pandemic, have had to be postponed or cancelled.
If not available in time for inclusion in the Newsletter, the AGM Agenda, the Minutes of the 2019 AGM, Chairman’s and Treasurer’s Reports, and Nomination Forms for the posts of Chairman, Secretary and a Committee member, together with associated job descriptions, would be emailed to members. A Zoom invitation to the meeting and workshop would be included in the email. Provision would be made for any member who is not online to respond by post.
Treasurer’s report
Below you will find a summary of NWEMF’s accounts for the 2019 calendar year, which is traditionally our financial year for accounting purposes.
The year started with a healthy balance of £13,453 in the general account, and £2,053 in the Joan Wess Educational Fund, which is used to provide bursaries and grants to help younger members and full-time students attend workshops, courses and summer schools.
Income from membership subscriptions, currently £10 per person per annum, was in line with previous years.
Income from the five workshops that were held successfully (two had to be cancelled due to lack of support) was inevitably lower than in the previous two years in both of which nine workshops had been held. As usual, the fees received almost exactly matched the cost of running them.
Other expenditure included our subscription to Making Music and the insurance that they provide, printing costs for members who receive the Newsletter by post, committee travel expenses and website costs.
Overall, income exceeded expenditure by £1,472 and the closing balance in the general account was £14,925. No applications were received for awards from the Joan Wess fund in 2019.
Martin Steward, Treasurer
Published in the November 2020 Newsletter
