Oxford Youth Choirs - AGM minutes 2002


minutes of Annual General Meeting held at Mansfield College, Oxford, on 22nd June 2002

Present: Sue Glaisher (chair), Alan Armitage (secretary), Catherine Dilnot (treasurer), Lorna Swadling (committee), Peter Kent (committee), plus seven other parents.

In attendance: Richard Vendome, Penny Martin-Smith.

Apologies: Louise Gullifer, Maggie Rawcliffe, Mary Kroll.

1. Minutes of AGM on 9th June 2001: These were approved as a true record and signed by the chairman.

2. Financial Report.

  • CD reported that there had been a surplus in the last financial year, after several years of deficit. There were three main reasons for this:
  • Better at catching new joiners and collecting membership subscriptions;
  • Broken even on concerts;
  • Surplus on the tour to Leiden.
  • The accounts had been examined by Tony Lingard, to whom CD proposed a vote of thanks, which was agreed unanimously. Since Tony’s daughter is no longer a member of the Choir and he wishes to stand down, CD proposed that Cathy Knowles, who teaches accounting at Oxford Brookes University, should examine the accounts in the next financial year. This was seconded by Sue Glaisher and agreed by the meeting.
  • A policy has been adopted of holding a full term’s costs in reserves, which has been achieved.
  • CD proposed increases in subscriptions from £42 to £44 for Prep choir members, £63 to £65 for others, in order to cover increased costs of music staff and of premises. This was seconded by Sue Glaisher and agreed by the meeting.
  • CD proposed that the accounts be accepted, which was seconded by Peter Kent and agreed by the meeting.

3. Music Director’s Report.

  • RV reported that there will be a large number of sixth formers departing at the end of the current school term, which will leave the girls’ choir looking very different. There are some excellent 11 to 13 year olds, but in general he expected to be doing simpler music in concerts for a while, for example in the Christmas concert.
  • The recording project has made some progress, but will now depend on former members of the choir available during the summer vacation. The Chamber Choir may also need to use some former members for a period, in order to maintain revenues for the choir from paid engagements.
  • The Prep Choir is now so successful that there is a waiting list to join. Growing the numbers would cause difficulties and change the nature of the choir, so he did not favour it.

4. Chairman’s Report.

  • SG first apologised that she had not been able to be involved with the choir much during the last year, because of illness and a new demanding job, but she felt that a number of successful initiatives had emerged, led by Catherine Dilnot and Peter Kent. For example, the partnership with the Christ Church Festival Orchestra had worked well and looked as if it would continue.
  • SG explained that Victoria Couper had joined the music staff as assistant tutor, and Nancy-Jane Rucker had agreed to work as administrator (about 4 hours a week) to relieve some pressure on others, particularly RV and CD.
  • She regretted that Maura Allen had stood down as wardrobe mistress, causing a vacancy which was still open, with CD valiantly helping out where possible.
  • SG explained the reasons for the move to Oxford High School for Saturday rehearsals.
  • She expressed her thanks to Alan Armitage, standing down as secretary, and to Mary Kroll for having improved the membership system.
  • She finally thanked Catherine and Andrew Dilnot for allowing the committee to meet in their home throughout the year.

5. Election of officers.

  • Chairman: Peter Kent was proposed by Sue Glaisher, seconded by Catherine Dilnot and elected unopposed. PK thereupon took the chair for the remainder of the meeting.
  • Treasurer: Catherine Dilnot was proposed by Peter Kent, seconded by Lorna Swadling and re-elected unopposed.
  • Secretary: Roger Cutts was proposed by Alan Armitage, seconded by Caroline Brown and elected unopposed.
  • Membership Secretary: Mary Kroll was proposed by Peter Kent, seconded by Alan Armitage and re-elected unopposed. She has indicated her willingness to stand again.
  • Other committee members: Louise Gullifer was proposed by Peter Kent, seconded by Roger Cutts and elected. She has indicated her willingness to serve. The committee will try to identify somebody to take responsibility for costumes, and co-opt them to the committee under provisions of the constitution.

6. Any Other Business.

  • RV would like somebody to maintain the website, and asked for volunteers. There are currently 7000 visitors to the website every month.
  • CD thanked Sue Glaisher for her work as chairman and presented a bouquet.

AEA/06.02