The Harsnett Choir
(Registered Charity no. 1136648)

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held at Truro, 10  August 2011

Present

Graham Spearman (Chair), Maralyn Arnull, John Bridger, Sylvia Bridger, Diana Cockrill,  Jill Denbigh, Barbara Elliott,  Mark Harris, Malcolm Hollis, Chris Jack, Elizabeth Jack, Sally Johnson, Jerry King, Mary King, Sarah King,  Gill Mapley,  Pat Oakley, Alan Power,  Geoff Walker and Martin Woods.

In attendance

Ed Sutton (Director of Music), Clare Scott Booth, Rachel Booth, Sarah Brown, Jacqueline Davis, Verity Harris and Charles Vince.


1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from Clare Sutton, Katie Coombe, Deborah Macintyre, Alison Norris, Helen Petchey and Rosemary Wells.

Apologies were also taken as having been given by Anne Jones, who was prevented from attending by illness.  Members wished her a speedy recovery.

The meeting also noted the good wishes sent by Derek and Mary Perry, Derek being a former member of Harsnett Choir whom a number of those present knew.


2. MINUTES OF 2010 AGM

The minutes of the 2010 Annual General Meeting were approved as a correct record and signed. 


3. MATTERS ARISING

There were no matters arising.


4. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

Graham Spearman welcomed members to Truro, including those who had just come to sing with the Choir for its summer week, and summarised the previous year’s events.
·The 25th anniversary evensong at Southwark Cathedral, when the anthem Sing, ye faithful, commissioned from the Choir’s former director John Rippin, had been given its first performance.
·The Winchester weekend in May 2011, which had contained five services (including a wedding) in two days.
·The Choir’s first visit to Birmingham Cathedral.
·Visits to Rochester and St Albans Cathedrals.

Graham also thanked:
·Rosemary Wells, who was standing down as librarian, for her service to the Choir as singer, librarian, and hostess of committee meetings;
·Sally Johnson, who was standing down as Accommodation Officer;
·Geoff Walker, who wished to relinquish the role of robe-keeper which he had carried out diligently since the Choir’s inception;
·Ed and the Committee for their support.

Graham concluded with an optimistic view of the Choir’s future.

No questions were raised.


5. MUSICAL DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Ed Sutton gave his report.  Key points were:
·That there had been a number of retirements of experienced singers at the end of his first year as MD, which had led to a decline in the standard of performances;
·That it had been difficult to recruit while the Choir had been primarily based in Woodford, but this had been counteracted by dropping the Woodford rehearsals in favour of rehearsals at the venue on the day, and by recruiting additional temporary singers from  choirs and choral societies local to the performance venue.  Some of these had since joined Harsnett.
·That although the standard of the Choir had been raised, the Choir had the potential to be even better by attending to various points of musicality.  Emphasis would be placed on these during the summer week, but members would need to work harder at their music at other times also.

No questions were raised.


6. SECRETARIES’  REPORT

Mark Harris presented the secretaries’ report, of which the key points were;
·That the Choir now had 140 singers and organists on its mailing list, of whom 45 were currently paid-up members.
·That, in a good year for recruitment, membership had been given to Sue Handscombe, Frances Diamond,  Mary Jeffreys, Maralyn Arnull, Kat Salvetti, Sophie Nicholson, Zoe and Suzie Wilkins, Peter Horley, Sue Nairn, Simon Smith, Judith Bamber, Chris Tutin, Paul Spearing, Pat Barclay, Pat Oakley, Shirley and Richard Perry, Deborah Macintyre and Anne Robson. 
·That three new organists had played for the Choir this year, namely Ghislaine Reece-Trapp, Martin Hall and Nick Morris.

Thanks were extended to the cathedrals which had hosted the Choir over the past year and to those who had loaned music to the Choir.  These included: St Andrew’s Church, Backwell; St John’s Church, Leytonstone; Guildford Cathedral; the Farrant Singers; St Matthew’s Church, Darley Abbey; and Allestree parish church.

No questions were raised.


7. FINANCIAL MATTERS

7.1 Treasurer’s Report

John Bridger presented the examined accounts for the year ended 31 December 2010, showing a deficit of £1178.66.  It was noted, however, that a Gift Aid refund of some £400 was awaited from HM Revenue and Customs.

The accounts were unanimously approved.

7.2  Subscription for 2012

It was resolved that the subscription for 2012 should be £40 a year and that the day rate should be £8, capped at a maximum of £40.

7.3.Change to HMRC Gift Aid scheme

The meeting noted the impending change to the Gift Aid scheme rules, whereby choirs and choral societies would in future be required to determine in advance what part of their subscription related to tuition, and that this part would not be eligible for Gift Aid.

The meeting noted that singers were sent music before Choir events and were required to learn it in their own time, with no organised rehearsals being held.   The meeting resolved that no part of the subscription related to tuition and instructed the Treasurer to proceed on that basis.


7.4  Appointment of Independent Examiner

Thanks were expressed to Geoff Walker for having examined the accounts.

Geoff indicated his willingness to be reappointed as the independent examiner and the meeting unanimously reappointed him.


8. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

Mark Harris reported that it was proposed to remove the post of librarian from the list of committee members and choir trustees set out in paragraph 4.2 of the constitution.  This was a matter which was within the competence of a general meeting.  The effect of the amendment would be to reduce the number of trustees from six to five, which was well above the number legally required.  In practical terms the amendment was not likely to present problems, because the librarian’s attendance at committee meetings was not an absolute necessity.

Mark also explained that, although someone had been found who was willing to become the Choir’s librarian, that person did not wish to be a committee member or trustee.  The Committee had considered this scenario and was confident that it was workable.

The meeting unanimously approved the proposal and resolved that the constitution be amended accordingly.


9. ELECTION OF COMMITTEE

The following, being willing and eligible to stand for re-election, were unanimously re-elected unopposed:

Chairman -  Graham Spearman
Membership Secretary  - Clare Sutton
Meetings Secretary - Mark Harris
Treasurer -  John Bridger

Both Chris and Elizabeth Jack were willing to assume the post of Accommodation Officer.  They agreed between them that Chris should do so.  There being no other nominations, Chris Jack was unanimously elected to the post.


10. ANY OTHER COMPETENT BUSINESS

10.1  Appointment of librarian

Graham Spearman reported that Katie Coombe had volunteered to take on this role in succession to Rosemary Wells.  No other nominations were received.  The meeting unanimously approved Katie’s appointment as librarian and thanked Rosemary for her service to the Choir in that role.

10.2 Appointment of robe-keeper

Graham also reported that Ben Foulser had volunteered to take on this role in succession to Geoff Walker.  No other nominations were received.  The meeting unanimously approved Ben’s appointment as robe-keeper and thanked Geoff for his service in that role.


11. CLOSE OF MEETING

There being no other competent business, the meeting closed at 11.53am.