Wetherby Choral Society AGM 13 June 2022
Chair’s Report
My Report starts and ends with Covid - what a journey we have all been on! When face to face rehearsals began in September, we had mixed emotions – eager to be back doing live singing, but concerned as to how our voices would sound after such a long period of isolation and zoom rehearsals. Driven on by John’s belief in our abilities and determination to perform live music we not only managed to put on a concert within three months, but it was received with enormous enthusiasm by the audience.
We even managed to do a concert in March at a time when Covid case numbers in the UK were at their highest in Yorkshire. John beavered away to find replacement orchestra members when they were dropping like flies, and the Committee were worried when Harrogate had to cancel their concert due to a whole section of choral singers being wiped out by contracting Covid. But we did it, and an audience turned up and again it was a riproaring success!
More recently, as restrictions have lifted, our rehearsals have moved towards normal times. Many members have spoken to me about how much more they are enjoying their singing because we are now sitting closer and singing together as a choir rather than in individual isolation. We have also returned to having an interval during rehearsals with a raffle and refreshments, which has not only helped raise funds, but also allowed us to interact should we so choose, and this has been warmly welcomed too.
The Committee has done its best to encourage members to return to face-to-face rehearsals as safely as is feasible, and also to involve those not yet ready to return by regular communications. Our fully paid membership currently numbers 114, which includes most wonderfully 24 new members! Additionally, some of our members who have not yet returned have already indicated that they would like to return in September. This is a far healthier position than we could have dreamed of at the start of this season!
Sadly, some of our members have passed away this year including Marion Davies and David Stott. They are much missed and their families are in our thoughts.
Recently, the sad news about Marjorie’s ill health leading to her retiring from being our much-loved Accompanist has been a huge blow to us all. After 37 years of fabulous piano playing for Wetherby Choral Society, she is admired by everyone for her extraordinary talent. She will be a hard act to follow! She is hoping ‘by hook or by crook’ (her words!) to put in a brief appearance at the Summer Social on Sunday 3[rd] July where, we hope, we can present to Marjorie a cheque representing your kind donations, in grateful thanks and appreciation for bringing us so much joy over the last four decades.
During this last season we have had fixed costs to pay yet our income has been irregular and the amount of money we could raise through subscriptions was an unknown quantity. Understandably, social distancing and concerns over Covid have impacted upon ticket sales too. So, please can I stress the importance of fundraising for the year ahead! Each and every one of us can help with this – please, please consider any way in which you can help? Our Fundraising Secretary, Christine Outram, will be encouraging you all to come up with suggestions. This needn’t be choir related and could easily be something you enjoy doing via sports, hobbies etc. Other ideas in the past have included sponsored walks, book sales, bridge competitions, coffee mornings, plant sales and monthly cake stalls. John has offered to do an organ recital to raise funds. Please think about what you can do? Perhaps you might like to sponsor a member of the orchestra, or a soloist? Every contribution you can offer will make a difference.
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Naturally, there are many people who I would like to thank on your behalf. Until I was on the Committee I had absolutely no idea how many things needed doing to run a choir well! Although this is a long list, their contributions are significant and deserve both our praise and our grateful thanks:
1) Outgoing Committee members for their efforts on behalf of the Society over many years
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those who left in January 2022, including Alison Telfer, Graham Reed, Hilary Marsden and John Visser
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those leaving after this AGM, including Enda McCarthy for coordinating refreshments and Charlotte Meeks for organising wedding services, gifts for soloists and Facebook posts. Both of these lovely ladies have been on the Committee for 16 years!
2) Those carrying out vital roles outside of the Committee
- Many thanks to our stalwart crew including Gill Midgley (ticket sales and posting flyers all round Wetherby), Tony Gooch (rehearsal seating and staging), Enid Doyle (putting up banners and posters around Wetherby), Julie & David Spoors (organising music hire), Chris Bishop (whose many roles include operating our website, making and printing poster designs and tickets and concert manager), Sally & Greg Warren (100 Club), Pam Leaf and John Dunford (recording concerts on to CDs for sale), Anne Sweet and Lynne Shaw for sterling efforts with fundraising, Jean Basson (continuing to do our Publicity despite resigning from the Committee last June!) and Hilary Marsden (continuing to write our Concert Programmes despite resigning from the Committee in January)…
and thanks to our new volunteers, who include Bren Walter (raffle), Hilary Farnell (refreshments coordinator), Julia Cockram (membership), Fiona Hogan (publicising concerts in magazines, newspapers and local radio)
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3) The Committee You have worked like Trojans for us all, stepping up and taking on new tasks and I can’t thank you enough!
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4) John Dunford You bring us the joy of music, the passion for choral singing, the energy to make us constantly strive to be better. You seized the chance to get back to rehearsing face to face despite the fact that at the front you are in the firing line! You were determined to put on a ‘belter’ of a concert programme, and pushed us to believe we could live up to your expectations. You liaise with soloists and the orchestra, record our concerts and write our concert reviews. And most recently, you are taking the lead in finding a new Accompanist. We couldn’t do it without you…you are marvellous!
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5) And finally, to my husband Wayne who is my rock and my sounding board. Frequently ousted from his own home for meetings, always willing to do jobs for the choir, and who makes the ‘well upholstered’ Chair laugh!!
Although Covid hasn’t gone away, we are now in a much brighter place and can focus on the new season with great excitement. Onwards and upwards!
Heather Marsh (8 June 2022)
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Wetherby Choral Society
Wetherby Choral Society Approved Accounts - 1st May 2021 to 30th April 2022
| Income | 2021/2022 | 2020/2021 | 2019/2020 | 2018/2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Subscriptions | 14,468 | 0 | 14,465 | 13,565 |
| Tickets and sales | 6,637 | 0 | 9,762 | 12,396 |
| Donations | 183 | 2,907 | 1,622 | 1,532 |
| Gift Aid | 0 | 0 | 5,334 | |
| Fund Raising | 2,606 | 0 | 3,797 | 5,696 |
| Sundries | 255 | 0 | 92 | |
| Dinner | 0 | 0 | 950 | 1,146 |
| Sponsors | 1,000 | 1,250 | ||
| Total Income | 25,149 | 4,157 | 36,022 | 34,335 |
| Expenditure | ||||
| Concerts | 16,942 | 0 | 15,553 | 21,799 |
| Accompanist fees | 3,300 | 2,925 | 3,550 | 3,775 |
| Musical Director fees | 5,725 | 5,825 | 4,831 | 4,820 |
| Room and Music hire | 1,623 | 0 | 1,190 | 1,065 |
| Sundries | 0 | 0 | 18 | 874 |
| Dinner | 0 | 0 | 950 | 900 |
| Insurance | 622 | 523 | 613 | 613 |
| Administration | 598 | 444 | 345 | 86 |
| PerformingRights | 0 | 0 | 426 | 0 |
| Fund RaisingCosts | 50 | 0 | 165 | 965 |
| Total Expenditure | 28,860 | 9,717 | 27,641 | 34,896 |
| (Deficit)/Surplus | -3,711 | -5,560 | 8,381 | -561 |
| Statement of Assets as at 30th April | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Cash in Hand | 0 | 0 | 208 | 0 |
| Bank Account | 11,097 | 13,590 | 19,426 | 11,015 |
| Current Account Total | 11,097 | 13,590 | 19,634 | 11,015 |
| Less unpresented cheques plus uncleared income |
9,879 | 19,586 | ||
| COIF Deposit | 10,130 | 10,117 | 10,056 | 10,008 |
| Interest | 7 | 13 | 61 | 48 |
| CCLA Funds Total | 10,137 | 10,130 | 10,117 | 10,056 |
| Total Assets | 20,016 | 23,719 | 29,703 | 21,071 |
Notes relating to current year
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No rehearsals,concerts or fund raising events during the summer term due to covid restrictions
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Three concerts were held during the year
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The Society had no liabilities as at 30/04/2022
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The Charity's policy is to have 6 months cash reserves
(the &xiety) forthe year ermled 30 April 202L 145 of the 2011 Acl and in carryin8 (yjt my examirwtion I have followed all the applicable Directx)ns wen by the Charity Comrnission under secticm 145(5Xb) of the ACL I have cmipleted niy examinatithi. I confimi that maiffial rnatte hwe come to my attenti in ¢<ectIon with the examination giv1 me cause to believe that in any nterial l the accounts do not accord with those record& KJ D. M4U Narne: 1kn1 Carmell Relevant profe55ional qualificatlon or membershlp of professional ljodles: ACMA