Enniskillen Light Operatic Minutes of AGM
Monday 11[th] December 2023
St. Michael’s Community Centre
7.30pm
Attending
Dave Rees, Amanda Finch, Danielle Gallagher, John McCann, Amy Bogue, Stephanie Graydon, Ryan Moohan, Shauneen Hamilton, Christine Farry, Ciara Farry, Enda Quinn, Heather Wilson, Paula Bogue, John McCrea, Alison Lappin, Nadia Stenson, Gwyneth Blair, Maddison Blair, Clare Murphy, Cara Murphy.
Apologies
Paul Doherty, Clodagh Sweeney, Moya Sweeney, Holly Clements.
Minutes of previous AGM
Proposed by Ryan Moohan, seconded by John McCann, as an accurate representation of the meeting. No matters arising.
Chair’s Report
Presented by Dave Rees. Dave reflected on the year gone by, thanked a number of individuals for their contributions to the society this year, and concluded by offering a list of recommendations for the development of ELO.
Full Report:
I came into this role a few weeks ago and I would like to report on my perceptions of this year, the show and the challenges going forward.
Thank you to the following
This has been a challenging year for many reasons but the show that has been put on I believe was a really good show, we have a huge pool of talent on that stage and that bodes very well for the future. I would like to thank Holly and Ryan for all their efforts as codirectors and SM, Shauneen for outstanding choreography and MD Moya for the incredible singing we heard thank you both for your efforts and creative endeavours. Your days and hours of work created that show. Thank you
A particular mention to Ryan and the contribution he made to piloting the society through a few difficult months at the start of the year, this was a very challenging thing to come into and then also being chair and a director – thank you.
I want to thank our cast, they are outstanding performers. The energy and vibrancy they brought to the stage was truly wonderful.
The band led by Stephen was as always so very good. The costumes once again were great - thank you Mandy for your hard work and as secretary this year and those back stage led by
Clare – such a crucial role that goes beyond hair and makeup but it seems to me to health care and social care of everyone involved.
I would further thank all our volunteers, supervisors, programme sellers, Eileen for refreshments and much more and all our stage hands and crew, all those, including our parents that helped bring this together.
Our social media team have excelled themselves Cara Amy and Nadia your work here and elsewhere has been exemplary and surely boosted our tickets sales when so sorely needed. Cara and Amy also – young leaders helping and supporting younger cast – vital role thank
you
Nadia I honestly don’t know how you do with all your commitments but your positivity and proactivity is phenomenal.
The fantastic efforts made in fund raising have really helped this year and it’s something I think we can develop on for next year. Quizzes, bag packs, cake stall, raffle etc. all of these greatly helped and the contacting of sponsors was crucial. All those who played a role in any and all thank you so much. Paul thank you I know that you have had the craziest of few months and I appreciate the efforts you were able to make. Clodagh I also know you would have liked to have been involved a bit more but thank you for all your efforts and filming too.
The committee – you do so much, Clare, Gwyneth, Stef you are the engine room of our society you do so many things without which we could not run and you are great laugh too! John whose wise head and his work in licensing and chaperoning and well as treasurer made things happen without a fuss and bother but always so vitally important. I do wish to make a special mention here for Danielle as well as vice treasurer was my and I believe our safety net. I cannot begin to tell you all the things she has done this year, but it’s vast and it’s done with a precision and a commitment that I am in awe of.
Moving forward I feel there are a number of things ELO has to face and deal with. I think this next year is a crucial one for the society. These are my ideas and suggestions that any new committee may wish to look at.
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We have to attract our audiences back in an environment where there is a cost of living challenge it means audiences are more choosy and many cannot afford to go to multiple shows e.g. us and pantomime therefore
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The type of show is vital, it must be decided early, NOW, so that maximum effort can be made regarding publicity, fund raising and awareness. Auditions and casting is completed well in advance so that we have our parents and cast to help early on and develop the community family feel. It must appeal to a wide range of people. It must be dynamic, exciting, and colourful and capture people’s imaginations.
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It has been the case that shows struggle to make money the above may help with that but so that we can invest into the future we need to look at remodelling our sponsorship and funding streams – I suggest a dedicated subcommittee for this
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We need to look at our relationship with local business and establish working partnerships where they are not just sponsors but are invested in the society and are woven into it.
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Communication must improve inside the committee and without. I suggest one simple thing atm that we create dedicated ELO Gmail accounts eg One for Chair/Vice Chair, one for treasurer/vice, secretary, social media, one for production team. These would not be personalised so they can transfer to other people in the next committee. It would also mean that businesses and external contacts know where the communication is coming from.
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Looking at the volume of work involved I suggest that director and chair should not be the same person unless under a very very urgent situation.
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Policy development with particular regard to paid professionals, clarity of contract with committee and agreement on the terms and conditions of employment well in advance of shows and rehearsals.
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We must develop the number of licenced chaperones
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Our trustees are almost the invisible parents.. We need to establish how they fit into our governance, they should meet quarterly, be updated with matters - they are after all financially liable for this society.
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Succession planning. We have started this in a way, no role/office within the committee should be down to one person, by this I mean there should be a vice to each officer, knowledge and understanding must be disseminated to ensure the structural resilience of the society so that it does not rest within one or two people. Members need to be developed.
This society produces the most incredible shows. The talent we have within it is extraordinary it is our duty as a committee and whoever leads next year it is their duty to ensure ELO and the people in it grow and develop rather than just surviving. I should say that I will not stand for chair my commitments with the festival and a number of other local groups are too much. I will go for vice chair as before if people want me.
I commend this report to the meeting.
D H Rees
Treasurer’s Report
Financial report of the year ending 30[th] September 2023 presented by John McCrea. Total income: £34,160.39 Total expenditure: £36,235.25 Total carried over (including previous balance): £6,047.73
Interim report on the income and expenditure for the School of Rock presented by Danielle Gallagher. Please note these figures are not finalised. Income: £25,233 Expenditure: £23,483 Balance: £1,750
Full report in attached document.
AONB: Suggestions for next year’s show (max 3 per person). Beauty and the Beast 9 Nativity 9 Little Women 7 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 6 Alice in Wonderland 4 Elf 2
West Side Story 2 The Sound of Music 2 Fame 2 Billy Elliott 1 Half a Sixpence 1 Kinky Boots 1 Oliver 1 Phantom of the Opera 1 Rock of Ages 1 Joseph’s Technicolour Dreamcoat 1 Shrek 1 Hunchback of Notre Dame 1 Beautiful 1 Legally Blonde 1 Grease 1 Dirty Dancing 1 The Commitments 1 Saturday Night Fever 1 Carrie 1 Flashdance 1 Big 1
Ryan Moohan offered a report from his position as director of this year’s show and Chair for much of the year. He noted that in 2025 ELO will be 30 and it might be good to celebrate in some way. He raised the possibility of a masquerade ball, which was previously proposed but needs a good length of time to organise.
Election of New Committee:
The current committee stood down en masse. Ryan Moohan acted as Interim Chair for the election of the new Chair.
Officers:
Chair: John McCann volunteered to stand. Voted in by all present. No objections. Proposed by John McCrea. Seconded by Stephanie Graydon.
Treasurer: Danielle Gallagher volunteered. Proposed by Dave Rees. Seconded by John McCrea.
Secretary: Amanda Finch volunteered. Proposed by Clare Murphy. Seconded by Amy Bogue.
Vice Chair: Dave Rees volunteered. Proposed by Stephanie. Seconded by Danielle.
Vice Treasurer: John McCann proposed Enda Quinn, who agreed to stand. Seconded by Danielle Gallagher.
Vice Secretary: Danielle Gallagher proposed Ciara Farry, who agreed to stand. Seconded by Enda Quinn.
Committee Members
The following present volunteered to stand as committee: Dave Rees Nadia Stenson Shauneen Hamilton Clare Murphy Cara Murphy Danielle Gallagher John McCrea Ciara Farry Amy Bogue Stephanie Graydon Paula Bogue Heather Wilson Enda Quinn Maddison Blair Gwyneth Blair Amanda Finch
There were no objections.