Minutes of the meeting of the Suffolk Concert Band
held on Thursday
7th September 2006 at 12 Pipers Vale Close, Ipswich
Those present were: Angela Bates, Simon Pulham, Toby Pratt, Mark
Cheadle, Roger Jones, Sarah Scott, Gordon Scopes.
68. Apologies for
absence
These were received from
Trevor Daldry and Ray Wilson.
69. Adoption of
minutes from meeting held on Thursday 6th July 2006
The minutes were adopted.
70. Matters arising
from meeting held on Thursday 6th July 2006
i)
(48ii) Action: Gordon will give Matt Gardiner a membership
form at the next rehearsal.
ii)
(52iii) A flyer about the recording was produced and distributed at
Minden Day.
iii)
(57i) Angela has written to Jill thanking her for her work as the
independent examiner of the accounts.
iv)
(62ii) We need to find out what the jacket requirements of the band
are. Ruth Symington has returned two jackets. Jo King has a jacket.
Action: Toby to speak to
Mandy regarding the current state of the wardrobe.
v)
(66) Morgan’s function room is too small as a venue for the tea on 30th
September.
Action: Toby to
further investigate using the Corn Exchange facilities.
vi)
(67) Members handbook not yet printed.
71. Chairman
i)
Toby will be addressing the members at one of the next rehearsals, to
update them on what we have been doing and our intentions for the future etc.
ii)
Spa concert went very well, despite it being a hot night. A very large
band was present, which showed that John Whelton is still a very important
member of the band.
71.1.
Charity Commission Model Constitution
It was decided to move this
agenda item forward to the next meeting.
72. Musical Director
i)
Roger has purchased a new conductors stand for £94.85.
ii)
To confirm, the rehearsal on 20th September, Roger will be
conducting the Police Band and Gary Glover will be conducting SCB.
iii)
Roger and Sarah have discussed music for the recording in October.
iv)
Angela has received an email from Matt Simons, a trombone player in the
parachute regiment based in Colchester, who would be interested in conducting
the band.
73. Secretary
Correspondance received this
month:
i)
Minutes of IAA music forum meeting.
ii)
Invitation to play in Mayor’s lunchtime concert in 2007.The committee
agreed not to pursue this invitation.
74. Treasurer
(Report submitted by email,
committee’s comment in italics)
i)
Significant items of income and expenditure during July and August
were:
· Subs income +£266
· OCA Reunion +£100
· Barham Hall +£250
· Spa concert +£297.48 (see below)
· MD’s expenses
-£305
· Eastbourne
Coach -£450
· Cash received
from coach fares +£80
ii)
Summary of income and costs for Spa concert
· Sale of tickets £1372
· Spa Charges £1074.52
· Balance to
SCB £297.48
· Band costs £119
· Net income £178.48
iii)
Summary of income and expenditure January-August 2006
· Income £2908
· Expenditure £3442
iv)
Corn Exchange concert
The Corn Exchange have
helpfully agreed to write two cheques after the concert, one for the SCB and
one for the Notts Police Band or the Christopher McDonald Trust, whichever is
appropriate.
v)
It is not possible to incorporate into the CC model constitution an
object (aim) that allows us to give money from Band funds to a charity.
However, I do not believe this to be an insuperable problem. Accordingly, I
recommend that the trustees adopt a policy such that when a charity asks the
Band to put on a concert for the charity’s benefit (whether or not it is
registered as a charity), the organisation concerned is required to sponsor the
event. In effect this means that the organisation sponsoring the event has to
pay the Band the agreed fee for our performance, after which it keeps the
residual monies. The only money to pass through our accounts would be the
agreed fee.
vi)
The trustees were asked to consider the purchase of new uniforms at the
meeting of November 2005 but no further discussion took place. I believe it appropriate
to recommend to the trustees that 4 new uniforms should be ordered from
Alexander James who last supplied the Band in 2005 with 2 jackets at an
all-inclusive cost of £286. The current price list shows all wool jackets @
£125 each; tery/wool jackets @£125 each and polyester jackets @£85 each,
exclusive of VAT and carriage. Incidentally, I asked Ruth about James’s jacket.
I was assured that the jacket had been returned. The committee agreed that
we need to purchase up to four new jackets after we have determined the
requiremenst of the band (see minute 62ii).
vii)
Roger reported that the uniform for a concert is not being adhered to
by members, particularly ladies shirts. Dress code needs to be reiterated to
the band before the next concert.
viii)
The present ownership stamp is rather complicated to use according to
Mandy. Since we now have a considerable backlog of music needing the ownership
mark, I would like to recommend that the committee approve the purchase of a
simple rubber stamp to speed up the process of dealing with the backlog. The
situation is made more necessary because Sarah reports that we are receiving a
stream of requests from other bands to borrow music from us. I would be
reluctant to lend music, which is not marked as belonging to us. The cost of a
new rubber stamp will not exceed £20. The committee agreed to this expense.
Action: Ray to purchase a
new rubber stamp.
ix)
Action: Toby to investigate the cost of magnets and sheets of
non-scratch plastic for music stands for when the band is performing outdoors.
75. Membership
Secretary
i)
Gordon was concerned that there were only 13 members present at Minden
Day, which suggests that the link with the Suffolk Regiment is dying out. It
was suggested that we should try and do the lunchtime concert once again to
encourage members and make the day more worthwhile.
ii)
The committee discussed the possibility of restarting a training band
in the future. Ideas were as follows:
·
Perhaps this should be focused towards an adult beginners band as the
County Music Service already provides this facility for youngsters.
·
Perhaps this could be a different type of band to SCB such as a jazz or
brass band.
·
Rather than pursuing a full-time band, we could provide a course over a
week or weekend, perhaps in school holidays, and invite a professional
conductor or have sectional classes etc.
·
Perhaps a band that only rehearses once a month.
·
If we ever go ahead with this, this needs to lead by someone who is
suitable and qualified to teach music.
iii)
Angela has received enquiries from Denise Cotterell (flute) and Claire
Abbot (clarinet) about joining the band and has invited them along to a
rehearsal.
iv)
Action: Toby to talk to Tom Rumbold and Zoe Edmunds intentions with the
band.
v) It is thought that Rebecca Darlow would like to rejoin the band.
vi) Trevor expressed via email about the awkward situation that arose from Geoff Web turning up at Eastbourne to play Tuba. Geoff was very understanding but the committee feel that the guest policy would need to reiterated to members.
76. Librarian
Add library move to agenda
for next meeting.
77. Concert Manager
(Report submitted by email,
committee’s comment in italics)
Thank you for every one who helped set up and take down the kit at Eastbourne. There are a few things I noticed that I think should be addressed.
i)
I am quite happy with the help of a couple of band members to set up
before a concert, but each member before he or she enters the stage to take
their seat to start the concert should know where they are sitting. It would
make sure that every member who is on the concert has a seat and a stand, and
it looks so unprofessional to see members of the band wandering around ten
minutes before the concert trying to find their seat.
ii)
No one should take their seat on the stage until the DM has given
instruction to do so, and the band should enter as a band. On Sunday when the
band went on at 14:50 there was people already sitting on the stage some had no
jacket on, one was finishing off something they had been eating drinking.
iii)
When the concert has finished each member of the band should drop their
own stand take the banner off and place on their seat. If they are not taking
their music pads home they should place them in the music box. Which at the end
of each concert I will always make sure is brought on to the stage straight
away.
The committee agreed that these issues need to be addressed at the next concert, especially as there are two bands to organise. Should this be the responsibility of the Concert Manager?
78. Publicity
i)
Simon circulated a breakdown of the publicity for the Spa concert,
copies of the newspaper articles and the press release sent out.
ii)
For the Corn Exchange concert, the following publicity has been
pursued:
·
Either an ad in the Evening Star (£138) or the Advertiser.
·
Posters have been distributed around Ipswich and Trevor’s Mum has done
Woodbridge.
·
Roger has sent press release to the Evening Star.
·
Angela has sent a poster to the Wolsey Theatre in return for displaying
their posters.
·
Members have been given posters.
79. Recording
The programme for the
recording has been decided but details can be discussed at next meeting.
80. Forthcoming
Events
· Saturday 30th
September 2006 – Corn Exchange
Angela has
invited guests of honour, responses as follows:
-
Martin Bell – yes
-
The Mayor – no
-
The Chief Constable of Suffolk – no
-
The Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire – no reply
-
Chris Mole MP – no reply
-
Neil Watts – no reply
-
Vice Presidents – yes from Barry Salmon and Bernard Reader, no from
Brian Annis
Action:
Angela to write to Martin Bell re arrangements for the concert
Action: Angela to send tickets to guests of honour
· Saturday 21st
October 2007 – Shotley Church
This has now been CANCELLED.
· Saturday 5th
May 2007??? – St. Lawrence Church, Bradfield
This can now be confirmed.
80.1.
Other Events
i)
Minden Day – the date for this next year is 29th July and we
have been invited once again.
ii)
We were invited to play at Snape Maltings on 29th September
in aid of the diabetic centre but the committee agreed not to do this
engagement, as it was the night before the Corn Exchange concert.
iii)
We were invited to play at Castle Park, Colchester on 27th
August but this clashed with Eastbourne.
80.2.
Trip 2008
Nothing to report.
81. Any Other
Business
i)
2007 should be added to the agenda for the next meeting.
ii)
Angela sends her apologies for the next meeting.
Date of
Next Meeting
Thursday 5th
October 2006
Venue –
Acton Lodge, Needham Market