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Minutes of the SLC Committee Meeting on 27th October 2008
Those present:
Olive Rispin Mary Sabine Wendy Merritt Ann-Marie Chessman
Sandy Steadman Tracey de Vere White Tanya Spencer-Ashby
Apologies:
Vikki Morrison Rosemary Totman
Minutes
The Minutes of the last meeting were read and agreed.
Matters Arising
Uniform – All arrangements for red & black uniforms for Christmas in place. Thanks to Sandy for producing the guidelines. Red ‘T’ shirt tops for this agreed by the committee. Seven pink blouses have been returned by ex-ladies with two more expected. The silk waistcoats previously worn by the ladies have mostly been handed in – Angela Dormer to be asked to sort into style and size and give Wendy a list before advertising them for sale on our website as well as with Making Music and the like. Ladies to be reminded about this – Action: WM
Website Update – Website address: www.stevenageladieschoir.co.uk – all up to date.
Concerts/Events - 2008
11th October – Joint concert with Luton MVC at Our Lady Help of Christians RC Church in Luton. Feedback: this was thought to be an excellent concert with a fine performance given by both choirs, although it was commented upon by several ladies that the chatting and inappropriate behaviour shown whilst the men were singing was thought to be unwarranted. Will ladies please note for future concerts.
18th October – Joint concert with Vauxhall MVC at St Margarets Methodist Church in Luton.
Feedback: Again, this was thought to be an excellent concert with fine performances given by both choirs. In the future, all information concerning concerts should be channelled through Tracey who will pass it to Ann-Marie. mail@slc.co.uk is the main email contact address.
We are trying to pull together a front-of-house team such as the Luton & Vauxhall MVC’s have, in order to spread the load and make concerts run smoothly – a letter of interest, with a tear-off slip at the bottom, to be prepared and given out at choir – Action: MS
2nd November – Half-marathon in Stevenage – all arrangements in hand. Volunteers have given names to Jan and supplies have been purchased for this and the concert on 6th December.
6th December - Christmas concert – Walsworth Road Baptist Church in Hitchin has been booked.
Letters have been sent out for the 6th and the 13th December by Olive, but to date no-one is available to sing with us at the Hitchin concert. Posters, programmes and tickets are being produced, programmes & tickets to be sold separately. Helpers are needed for the raffle and selling tickets at the door. Gordon Sankey + One A.N.other to be asked.
The two charities to be supported from this concert will be Breakthrough Breast Cancer and the Building Blocks appeal for the Lister Hospital’s Bluebell Ward for Children.
VIP attendance will be the Mayor Designate and Consort Designate, Councillor Mrs Sue Myson and Mr Dave Myson as well as Senior Councillor Bernard Lovewell and his wife.
13th December – Christmas concert at St Hugh & St John’s Church, Stevenage. Camps Hill Community School choir are singing with us and the two charities to be supported from this concert will be Osteoporosis Society and the St Hugh & St John’s Church Building Fund. Posters, programmes and tickets are being produced, programmes & tickets to be sold separately. Helpers are needed for the raffles and selling tickets at the door. Gordon Sankey + One A.N.other from Olive’s team to be asked with everything else on track.
VIP attendance will be the Mayor and Mayoress, Councillor Michael Patston and Mrs Deborah Patston and Barbara Follett M.P.
2009
28th February – Joint concert with Basingstoke Ladies, New Harmony Singers from Bristol and possibly the Treble Clef Ladies from Weybridge, in Basingstoke - all tbc. A coach has been booked and an approximate cost of £8 per traveller (singers and guests alike) will be charged.
7th March – NAC AGM – venue to be confirmed, with the AGM, a workshop and a concert in the evening in the planning stages – Action: AMC/NAC Committee.
1st to 4th May – Tour to Wales with a 3 night stopover – arrangements are in hand but more singers would be advantageous . Hopefully some of the new ladies will sign up in the new year. With a 49 seat luxury coach booked, there is still plenty of room at the moment - Action: MS
Sunday 21st June – Una Voce – Stevenage Arts Festival joint concert at Gordon Craig Theatre with Stevenage MVC (if they are prepared to share cost) + A N Other. Local schools that couldn’t join us at Christmas 2008 will also be invited. Letters of invitation to be sent out before Christmas. Tickets will be £12 for adults and £8 concessions with a family ticket to cover 4 people costing £30. Action:AMC/TdVW
4th July – Leigh Orpheus MVC visiting here – American Theme – venue tba, remembering that the LOMVC are 70+ strong – Coptic Cathedral being assessed with collecting tins for donations to charity to be arranged. Action: AMC/TdVW
19th September – Churchdown MVC – visiting them – venue tbc but possibly at their Community Centre in Bader Avenue, Churchdown GL3 2JH with possible overnight stay – all tbc. Coach provisionally booked and hotels being researched. Cost to be advised at later date.
10th October – possible joint concert for Voices for Hospices – no more information at the moment.
24th October – Loughborough MVC – visiting here.
31st October – Festival of Brass & Voices – Royal Albert Hall – Ann-Marie collecting deposits and names. Coach provisionally booked.
5th and 12th December (tbc) – Christmas concert(s)
+ plans for an away joint concert with Basingstoke mvc (tbc) – no date yet.
2010 (all to be confirmed)
20th March – NAC Conference/Concert – Gordon Craig Main Hall / Coptic Cathedral.
May – Concert at Holy Trinity Church in Stev Old Town for church funds – contact has been made – Action: MS
Correspondence IN
• Email from Ann-Marie about Festival in Verona, Italy for 2010 50th anniversary – favourable response from the ladies with the flying option being preferred.
• Letter of thanks from Herts Air Ambulance for extra donation.
Correspondence OUT
• Letter to Iris Bentley acknowledging return of her uniform.
• Letter to Herts Air Ambulance to send extra £92 donation.
• Email to previous members asking them about their pink blouses – see Uniform report above.
Financial Report
Financial report from 31st August 08 to 23rd October 2008 – copied to committee + a copy to be put on notice board.
Section Reports
1st Soprano
Q1 For carols that are being sung with the audience, can the ladies use their books?
A1 No – not everyone has a book and it’s against choir tradition to use the music.
Q2 Can plenty of time be allowed to learn any music planned for Italy.
A2 Yes, of course.
2nd Soprano
Q1 Can the programme music sequence at concerts be discussed?
A1 Ann-Marie determines the sequence of music at concerts, but requests will always be considered.
Q2 Can we have some more rehearsals before Christmas?
A2 No – more rehearsals means more cost and it’s mostly music we already know.
Q3 Too much heat on the stage last Saturday – quite distressing.
A3 Difficult to control, especially at an away-concert.
Q4 How much has been raised for charity over the years?
A4 Depending on the records kept, will try to find out.
Altos
Ann Dawkins and Sue & Eileen Moody will not be returning to choir – letters given to Mary.
Other questions covered in other sections.
AOB
Terms & Conditions - for Ann-Marie and Guy. To be reviewed at future date. – ongoing
It was felt there was too much music to learn in too short a timescale. To help those who don’t read music, investigations into the distribution of backing tracks and a beginners guide to music will be produced for the New Year – Action: AMC/GC - ongoing
A password for the members area of the website to be created for information such as music lists, uniform for concerts, minutes etc.
NEXT MEETING
Next meeting to be held at Wendy Merritt’s house, 3 Kenmare Close, Great Ashby, Stevenage SG1 3XW, on 15th December at 8pm.
Meeting closed at 10.45pm with thanks to Tanya for her hospitality.
Those present:
Olive Rispin Mary Sabine Wendy Merritt Ann-Marie Chessman
Sandy Steadman Tracey de Vere White Tanya Spencer-Ashby
Apologies:
Vikki Morrison Rosemary Totman
Minutes
The Minutes of the last meeting were read and agreed.
Matters Arising
Uniform – All arrangements for red & black uniforms for Christmas in place. Thanks to Sandy for producing the guidelines. Red ‘T’ shirt tops for this agreed by the committee. Seven pink blouses have been returned by ex-ladies with two more expected. The silk waistcoats previously worn by the ladies have mostly been handed in – Angela Dormer to be asked to sort into style and size and give Wendy a list before advertising them for sale on our website as well as with Making Music and the like. Ladies to be reminded about this – Action: WM
Website Update – Website address: www.stevenageladieschoir.co.uk – all up to date.
Concerts/Events - 2008
11th October – Joint concert with Luton MVC at Our Lady Help of Christians RC Church in Luton. Feedback: this was thought to be an excellent concert with a fine performance given by both choirs, although it was commented upon by several ladies that the chatting and inappropriate behaviour shown whilst the men were singing was thought to be unwarranted. Will ladies please note for future concerts.
18th October – Joint concert with Vauxhall MVC at St Margarets Methodist Church in Luton.
Feedback: Again, this was thought to be an excellent concert with fine performances given by both choirs. In the future, all information concerning concerts should be channelled through Tracey who will pass it to Ann-Marie. mail@slc.co.uk is the main email contact address.
We are trying to pull together a front-of-house team such as the Luton & Vauxhall MVC’s have, in order to spread the load and make concerts run smoothly – a letter of interest, with a tear-off slip at the bottom, to be prepared and given out at choir – Action: MS
2nd November – Half-marathon in Stevenage – all arrangements in hand. Volunteers have given names to Jan and supplies have been purchased for this and the concert on 6th December.
6th December - Christmas concert – Walsworth Road Baptist Church in Hitchin has been booked.
Letters have been sent out for the 6th and the 13th December by Olive, but to date no-one is available to sing with us at the Hitchin concert. Posters, programmes and tickets are being produced, programmes & tickets to be sold separately. Helpers are needed for the raffle and selling tickets at the door. Gordon Sankey + One A.N.other to be asked.
The two charities to be supported from this concert will be Breakthrough Breast Cancer and the Building Blocks appeal for the Lister Hospital’s Bluebell Ward for Children.
VIP attendance will be the Mayor Designate and Consort Designate, Councillor Mrs Sue Myson and Mr Dave Myson as well as Senior Councillor Bernard Lovewell and his wife.
13th December – Christmas concert at St Hugh & St John’s Church, Stevenage. Camps Hill Community School choir are singing with us and the two charities to be supported from this concert will be Osteoporosis Society and the St Hugh & St John’s Church Building Fund. Posters, programmes and tickets are being produced, programmes & tickets to be sold separately. Helpers are needed for the raffles and selling tickets at the door. Gordon Sankey + One A.N.other from Olive’s team to be asked with everything else on track.
VIP attendance will be the Mayor and Mayoress, Councillor Michael Patston and Mrs Deborah Patston and Barbara Follett M.P.
2009
28th February – Joint concert with Basingstoke Ladies, New Harmony Singers from Bristol and possibly the Treble Clef Ladies from Weybridge, in Basingstoke - all tbc. A coach has been booked and an approximate cost of £8 per traveller (singers and guests alike) will be charged.
7th March – NAC AGM – venue to be confirmed, with the AGM, a workshop and a concert in the evening in the planning stages – Action: AMC/NAC Committee.
1st to 4th May – Tour to Wales with a 3 night stopover – arrangements are in hand but more singers would be advantageous . Hopefully some of the new ladies will sign up in the new year. With a 49 seat luxury coach booked, there is still plenty of room at the moment - Action: MS
Sunday 21st June – Una Voce – Stevenage Arts Festival joint concert at Gordon Craig Theatre with Stevenage MVC (if they are prepared to share cost) + A N Other. Local schools that couldn’t join us at Christmas 2008 will also be invited. Letters of invitation to be sent out before Christmas. Tickets will be £12 for adults and £8 concessions with a family ticket to cover 4 people costing £30. Action:AMC/TdVW
4th July – Leigh Orpheus MVC visiting here – American Theme – venue tba, remembering that the LOMVC are 70+ strong – Coptic Cathedral being assessed with collecting tins for donations to charity to be arranged. Action: AMC/TdVW
19th September – Churchdown MVC – visiting them – venue tbc but possibly at their Community Centre in Bader Avenue, Churchdown GL3 2JH with possible overnight stay – all tbc. Coach provisionally booked and hotels being researched. Cost to be advised at later date.
10th October – possible joint concert for Voices for Hospices – no more information at the moment.
24th October – Loughborough MVC – visiting here.
31st October – Festival of Brass & Voices – Royal Albert Hall – Ann-Marie collecting deposits and names. Coach provisionally booked.
5th and 12th December (tbc) – Christmas concert(s)
+ plans for an away joint concert with Basingstoke mvc (tbc) – no date yet.
2010 (all to be confirmed)
20th March – NAC Conference/Concert – Gordon Craig Main Hall / Coptic Cathedral.
May – Concert at Holy Trinity Church in Stev Old Town for church funds – contact has been made – Action: MS
Correspondence IN
• Email from Ann-Marie about Festival in Verona, Italy for 2010 50th anniversary – favourable response from the ladies with the flying option being preferred.
• Letter of thanks from Herts Air Ambulance for extra donation.
Correspondence OUT
• Letter to Iris Bentley acknowledging return of her uniform.
• Letter to Herts Air Ambulance to send extra £92 donation.
• Email to previous members asking them about their pink blouses – see Uniform report above.
Financial Report
Financial report from 31st August 08 to 23rd October 2008 – copied to committee + a copy to be put on notice board.
Section Reports
1st Soprano
Q1 For carols that are being sung with the audience, can the ladies use their books?
A1 No – not everyone has a book and it’s against choir tradition to use the music.
Q2 Can plenty of time be allowed to learn any music planned for Italy.
A2 Yes, of course.
2nd Soprano
Q1 Can the programme music sequence at concerts be discussed?
A1 Ann-Marie determines the sequence of music at concerts, but requests will always be considered.
Q2 Can we have some more rehearsals before Christmas?
A2 No – more rehearsals means more cost and it’s mostly music we already know.
Q3 Too much heat on the stage last Saturday – quite distressing.
A3 Difficult to control, especially at an away-concert.
Q4 How much has been raised for charity over the years?
A4 Depending on the records kept, will try to find out.
Altos
Ann Dawkins and Sue & Eileen Moody will not be returning to choir – letters given to Mary.
Other questions covered in other sections.
AOB
Terms & Conditions - for Ann-Marie and Guy. To be reviewed at future date. – ongoing
It was felt there was too much music to learn in too short a timescale. To help those who don’t read music, investigations into the distribution of backing tracks and a beginners guide to music will be produced for the New Year – Action: AMC/GC - ongoing
A password for the members area of the website to be created for information such as music lists, uniform for concerts, minutes etc.
NEXT MEETING
Next meeting to be held at Wendy Merritt’s house, 3 Kenmare Close, Great Ashby, Stevenage SG1 3XW, on 15th December at 8pm.
Meeting closed at 10.45pm with thanks to Tanya for her hospitality.