## **AGM Minutes 21[st] October 2019** 

Minutes of last meeting held on 29th April 2019 - Proposed by George McCloskey, seconded by Marie Barnes 

- Appointment of Officers and Committee for Festival 2019-20 

      - President - George McCloskey - Proposed by M Barnes / Seconded by J Mulvenna 

      - Vice President- Etta Wilson - Propsed by R Barnes / Seconded by A Hill 

      - Chair - R.Barnes - Proposed by J Mulvenna / Seconded by T Hoare 

      - Vice - Chair - H Allen - Proposed by R Barnes / Seconded by D Thornton 

      - Secretary - D.Thornton - Proposed by A Hill/ Seconded  by M Barnes 

      - Treasurer - M.Barnes - Proposed by J.Mulvenna / Seconded by A.Hill 

      - Social/ Fundraising Treasurer - E Wilson - Proposed by M.Barnes / Seconded by G.McCloskey 

      - Child Protection Officer - M Barnes - Proposed by R.Barnes / Seconded by E Wilson 

      - Trophies / Cups Officer - M Allen - Proposed by E Wilson / Seconded by G McCloskey 

      - PR Officer - A.Hill - Proposed  by R.Barnes / Seconded by M.Barnes 

- Dates for Festival 2020 - confirmed as 29th April to 2nd May - First Larne Presbyterian Church. Running order to mirror that of 2019 Festival 

- Jonathan Rea confirmed as Adjudicator for Vocal, Piano and Instrumental classes 

- No Adjudicator for Traditional or Guitar classes - suggestion of asking Mairead Forde to adjudicate the Traditional class. Consideration of asking the Music Yard to suggest an adjudicator for Guitar classes. 

- Accounts - Balance is currently £4,500. With all bills paid for last year, there is now  need to consider methods of fund raising. 

- Friends of the Festival - Poor turnout at this event last year. T Hoare suggested reaching out to teachers in schools, and also reach out to adjudicators. D.Thornton suggested the PR Officer could also contact parents of those whose children entered the Fesitval last year 

   - **Action - Anna Hill to contact teachers in schools and parents of children** 

## **entered last year to encourage to become Friends of the Festival** 

- T.Hoare advised contact with Deborah Neil to consider entering the Festival into an Awards Scheme 

## `o` **Action - T Hoare to contact D.Neill to progress this matter** 

- Friends of the Festival event **-** Suggested this could run in early March 2020 **-** possibly Fri 6th March in Larne Town Hall again. 7.30pm suggested as time of event. Posters to be placed in prominent locations in advance of the event. 

- Suggestion from some committee members to invite winners from previous years to provide entertainment at the Friends event 



- Insurance: Suggested that it would be cheaper for the Committee to go to websites and do this ourselves. This should be progressed by someone on the committee who does not currently have a formal role in order to provide assistancce to Committee. Anticipated time required to do this is 30 mins. 

- Syllabus: R.Barnes starting to work on this now. New class for soloists with ESN. 

- New trophy to be provided by G McCloskey for Junior Piano 

- Query re ESN category and need for a trophy? 

   - Action: A Hill to query this and R Barnes to speak to Graham (?) regarding this. 

- Photography: How to enforce Ban on schools taking photos of their pupils. Agreed this should not be permitted during performances. A reminder email will be sent to schools the week before the Festival 

- New Venue for Festival Committee meetings: There is a cost associated with holding meetings in the Curran Court hotel, therefore the Community Room In Asda to be considered for future meetings. This is a free venue. A.Hill also suggested it may be possible to use the upstairs space in Hill's Financial Offices, Main Street Larne. `o` **Action: A.Hill will advise if it is possible to use the Hill's Financial Offices. If not Asda meeting room will be considered.** 

- Pull Up Banner for Festival : If a Banner can be sourced, artwork will be needed. Suggestion of designing a Logo, with some identifiable Larne landmarks in that artwork 

   - **Action : D Thornton to ask colleagues in work if they could assist with graphic design** 

- AOB: New Committee members are needed. All to consider how to encourage others to join the Committee. 

- Date of next meeting @ 25th November 2019 - Venue to be confirmed in advance 

## **Meeting ended : 8.55pm**