Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Suffolk Concert Band held on
Wednesday 16th February at 7.45pm, at Holy Trinity Church Hall, Ipswich
Chair: Mr Gordon Scopes (VP)
Members Present: 27
Others: Mr Roger Jones (MD), Mr Brian Annis (VP)
1. Apologies for absence
These were received from: Paul Blofield, Alison Keep, Lisa Cheadle, Barry Salmon, Pearl Gibson, Kath Sutton, Simon Cutts, Ruth Symington, Suzanne Dexter-Mills, and Trevor Brown.
2. Adoption of minutes of meeting held on Wednesday 24th February 2011
The minutes were adopted by the meeting.
Proposed – Mandy Chinery
Seconded – Clem Cocker
The vote was unanimously in favour of the proposal.
3. Matters arising from meeting held on Wednesday 24th February 2011
There were no matters arising.
4. Proposals for Vice-Presidents
There were no proposals for Vice Presidents.
5. Proposals for Honorary Members
There were no proposals for Honorary Members.
6. Officer reports
6.1. Chairman – Trevor Daldry
“This is now my second year as chairman, and I hope I have fulfilled my duties. What have the band achieved over the last 12 months, and what do we hope to achieve over the next 12 months?
We started in March with the first of three concerts in the Spa at Felixstowe. The idea of three a year at the same venue was the idea of the committee to try and establish a base for our main concerts which a lot of the local bands already have. These have been very successful and with each event our audience has grown. The second of the two concerts saw Bernard as our director of music while Roger was away working with his school band in America (if you can call it work). This coincided well with the fact 40 years ago that Bernard took control of the band for the first time. This year, we have been fortunate enough to secure our president Martin Bell to compare one of these events. Let’s hope these concerts grow in audience each time we play there.
Uniforms - we are all kitted out with shirt bowtie and jacket. Big thanks have to go to Angela who took the task on from beginning to end starting with sourcing everything, collecting everyone’s sizes and issuing it all out. It has certainly improved the overall look of the band.
New rehearsal venue this is something the committee is still working on very hard. There are pros and cons with finding a new rehearsal venue which could be debated all night. We tried the unit at Alston’s which unfortunately was too small and a little bit too expensive. Gordon has been pursuing the chance of rehearing at the new SuffolkOne building, but with the cost of £30 an hour and no storage it ended up dead in the water. Simon has been in contact with the church at Castle Hill where we performed last year along with the organist. This has great potential and we are hoping to have a rehearsal in the church in the near future to see if it could fit our requirements. If any member has any other ideas for rehearsing venues please let the committee know so we can pursue it.
We are very lucky in this band to have a wealth of members who are not just competent musicians but are quite adept to writing or arranging music. We have asked them if they would like to commission a piece for the band and in May we will be having an evening where some of these will be aired.
The social event we held last year was a great success and as you can see from the bands’ diary will be holding another one again this year.
I would personally like to thank every member of the band for their support over the last 12 months and for the amount of free time you all give to the band.
Special thanks must go the members of the band who work tirelessly behind the scenes. The members of the committee and our director of Music are always in the background trying to improve the band in some way or another and it is due to their efforts that the band has achieved so much.
I would very much like to stand as chairman for another year if elected, but this will be my last year and will stand down at the next AGM. Thank you.”
6.2. Secretary – Angela Hope
Nothing to report.
6.3. Treasurer – Mark Cheadle
i) The accounts were circulated and showed that we spent more money than we have received last year. This has been because we have spent money, mainly on new percussion equipment.
Russell Banyard asked what was meant by website income? Angela Hope explained that she was approached by an online ticket company to advertise via our website. This involved adding three links and a page to our website, at a cost of £170 for the year.
Andrew Farthing asked why the account did not show postage expenses? Mark Cheadle explained that this had been included under the heading “Sundry Income”.
Adrian Budgen asked why the cost of hiring the Spa Pavilion was not shown on the accounts? Mark Cheadle explained that the Spa Pavilion invoice the band with a net income, which has been included under the heading “Concert Income”.
Adrian Budgen asked how the budget for new music is set? Gordon Scopes explained that it is a flexible figure that is discussed at a committee meeting with direction from both the Musical Director and Librarian. If further funds are required throughout the year this is decided by the committee accordingly.
It was proposed that the statement of the accounts be adopted by the meeting.
ii) Mark proposed a vote of thanks to Ian Bickers for acting as Independent Examiner.
iii) As determined by the 2010 AGM the meeting was reminded that subscriptions will increase over the next two years as follows:
from 1st Jan 2011
Band Subs for full members increasing by £6pa to £54pa
- reduced rates increasing by £2.50pa to £22.50pa
from 1st Jan 2012
Band Subs for full members increasing by further £6pa to £60pa
- reduced rates increasing by further £2.50pa to £25pa
6.4. Membership Secretary – Gordon Scopes
Gordon Scopes welcomed all new members to the band. He also made a plea to the band to give him notice for non-attendance at rehearsals and concerts. He reported that Denis Kensett (Tenor Saxophone) is leaving the band after 16 years, due to other commitments.
Simon Pulham asked how many members are presently on the books? Gordon Scopes said that there were approximately 58 members at present.
Adrian Budgen asked if the committee are actively promoting the band to encourage younger players. Gordon answered that we are always looking for potential new members but could possibly do more. This will be an agenda item for the new committee. Andrew Farthing pointed out that if we have any under 18 members we will need to be aware of our CRB responsibilities.
Zoe Edmunds asked where the vacancies are in the band for younger players? Gordon Scopes explained that the committee had considered starting a junior section once again. Andrew Farthing pointed out that “junior” members might be good enough to join the main band and should be placed according to ability not by age.
Rob Beale asked should we not have established a regular rehearsal venue before we consider starting a junior band? Gordon Scopes explained that Holy Trinity is our regular rehearsal venue and it would be possible to extend our rehearsal time on a Wednesday evening.
6.5. Librarian – Tom Rumbold
“For those who don’t know, tonight marks the end of my second year on the committee, but only my first as Librarian. As I didn’t get the chance to do one of these reports last year, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the other committee members, all of whom are long-serving compared to myself, for making me feel welcome and ‘showing me the ropes’ over the last two years.
I have enjoyed my first year as librarian, and I hope members have found their pads to be kept in order, overall. My thanks go to everyone here for (mainly) handing their pads in when I’ve asked for this to be done.
I’d also like to thank Roger. He is extremely easy to work with in terms of co-ordinating pieces of music and always gives me plenty of notice as to what he will need in the medium-term. It is gratifying that, should I put a few pieces in to the pads from my own initiative, he is always polite enough to try them out, and will very often include them in future concert/concerts.
If I am fortunate enough to be elected as Librarian for another year I’m very much looking forward to continuing to work on tidying up those areas of the Library, such as replacing worn-out archive boxes, as necessary, and also continuing to look after the sheet music needs of Roger and all of us. Thanks again!”
Heulwen Livesey asked if some of the older music could be tidied up? Tom Rumbold said that if people could be responsible for their own copies of music this would be very helpful. He has received many duplicates through donations and makes every effort to ensure that the library set is in good condition.
Chris Robinson asked if the music is catalogued on the website? Tom Rumbold explained that the whole library is on the website and is searchable, under the link “Music Library”. Chris also reported that he is working on some study scores for some of the older music if the band is interested.
Ian Blofield asked where the library actually is at the moment? Tom Rumbold reported that it is currently still at Alstons but a move back to FADOS house is imminent. The committee will be carrying out some repairs to the garage as part of the agreement to move back.
6.6. Concert Manager – Russell Banyard
Russell Banyard thanked those that have helped to set up and clear away after concerts. He particularly thanked Trevor for towing the trailer. Russell asked if anyone with a big car and a tow bar could volunteer to tow the trailer. He also made a plea to members to make sure that engagement notices are up to date.
7. Musical Director’s Report – Roger Jones
“Mr Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen. I shall endeavour to keep this as brief as possible. This has once again been a busy year for the band and I am grateful for all the hard work you have put into rehearsals and concerts. I appreciate that the music at rehearsals is not always to everyones taste, its difficult to please everyone, but I do think in advance of forthcoming concerts, which is the bigger picture, and therefore method in the ‘madness’!
Concerts this year have once again, I hope you will agree, have been well received by audiences, and your performances, with a varied repertoire, continue to enhance the bands already high reputation in the area. I know many of you enjoyed Bernard coming to conduct and I appreciate him giving up his time to take over the baton whilst I was ‘swanning’ it on the west of coast of the USA. I know all his concerts were well received and supported by you. Since September we completed the third of the Spa concerts and undertaken the usual Christmas gigs. The Spa concerts are beginning to take off but we must continue to promote them positively to ensure we get better audiences. The Viennese concert in Holbrook was also very well received. This type of music is not to everybody’s taste but audiences like and appreciate the music despite what what we may think about the technical or musical content. I have often had to play music which is not to my taste but do so in support of the ensemble I may have been playing with at the time.
Finding a new place to rehearse and store our equipment on a long term basis continues to be a problem. Gordon has done a fantastic job working on your behalf to find somewhere suitable but it is not proving easy. Notwithstanding our forthcoming rehearsal at Castle Hill.
Much has been made of goals for the future. I would hope we continue to have musical challenges, either with new music home-grown or whatever is available from the band/orchestral catalogue. Ensuring our presentation and stand discipline whatever the stage is at its best and maybe once the financial world has settled down think about going on tour. Other bands do, so why shouldn’t we.
My thanks once again to the Chairman and the committee for all the hard work they do on your behalf, which is very much appreciated by me and you too I hope. I must make particular mention of Angela for her commitment as secretary. She works tirelessly on your behalf with band administration and opening, setting out and closing the hall on a Wednesday. We are going to miss her when she is absent on maternal leave. To Tom for his excellent work as band librarian. Not only ensuring you have the correct parts, but also for sliding into the pads, arrangements I had not perhaps thought of! And also a big thank you to Lisa for producing the Newsletter every month with little humour, sorry fuss!!
Finally and I know I am repeating myself here but thank you all for your support and friendship. I do value this. I always promote the band positively, which is what I hope you do too, and using any contacts I have to further our repertoire and concert potential. I have never and will never abuse the privilege of being your musical director, its a privilege and great pleasure.”
8. Election of Committee
8.1. Election of Officers
8.1.1. Chairman – Trevor Daldry
Proposed: Angela Hope
Seconded: Colin Pettingale
The vote was unanimously in favour of the proposal.
8.1.2. Secretary – Angela Hope
Proposed: Trevor Daldry
Seconded: Lucy Lennard
The vote was unanimously in favour of the proposal.
8.1.3. Treasurer – Mark Cheadle
Proposed: Simon Pulham
Seconded: Don Young
The vote was unanimously in favour of the proposal.
8.1.4. Membership Secretary – Gordon Scopes
Proposed: Mark Cheadle
Seconded: Chris Robinson
The vote was unanimously in favour of the proposal.
8.1.5. Librarian – Tom Rumbold
Proposed: Angela Hope
Seconded: Mandy Chinery
The vote was unanimously in favour of the proposal.
8.1.6. Concert Manager – Russell Banyard
Proposed: Mark Cheadle
Seconded: Vince Steensma
The vote was unanimously in favour of the proposal.
8.2. Election of other Committee Members
Committee Member - Simon Pulham
Proposed: Mark Cheadle
Seconded: Heather Ferguson
The vote was unanimously in favour of the proposal.
Committee Member – Heulwen Livesey
Proposed: Gordon Scopes
Seconded: Colin Pettingale
The vote was unanimously in favour of the proposal.
9. Approval of Independent Examiner for Suffolk Concert Band Accounts
Ian Bickers has agreed to be the independent examiner for the accounts.
Proposed: Mark Cheadle
Seconded: Angela Hope
The vote was unanimously in favour of the proposal.
10. Any Other Business
i) Mandy Chinery asked if we would consider doing a Christmas concert at Holy Trinity this year? Simon Pulham explained that due to other commitments at Christmas we have offered to do a New Year’s concert at Holy Trinity in 2012 in addition to the concert on 18th June this year.
ii) Chris Robinson proposed a vote of thanks to Roger Jones for his hard work and commitment to the band.
Chris reported that he felt that the Viennese Concert was excellent and one of the best concerts he had ever played in. Adrian Budgen reported that he “hated” the concert and it was one of the worst concerts he had ever played in, “Waltzes and Polkas should only be played in orchestras”! Brian Annis reported that as an audience member at that particular concert that he had thoroughly enjoyed the evening.
Meeting closed at 8.27pm