3/08. MINUTES of a General meeting held on 16th September 2007 were approved and signed as a true and correct copy.
4/08. MATTERS ARISING. None
5/08. BRITISH FEDERATION OF BRASS BANDS.
Chairman welcomed Philip Watson (Development Officer) and Nigel Morgan (Treasurer) to the meeting.
Nigel Morgan spoke first and outlined the history of the Federation.It is now 40 years old and in 1997 became a charity for the public interest and benefit.There are 3 arms to the Federation, consisting of the Registry which also employs one person full time, a limited company BFBB contests Ltd and the Brass Band archive which is based in Wigan and open to all to visit. The Limited company is now almost at a level to remain stable.In December 2007 it had assets of £35,000 mainly cash.They want £40,000 for real stability.The arts Council have funded a full time employee for a further 3 years.Membership fees are now £100 for 2008.54% of membership have paid so far.The contest side is secure with sponsorships.Mr Morgan concluded by saying that they are there to see what assistance they can give to Bands in the UK.
Philip Watson thanked the assembly for inviting them.He explained that he had been an army musician throughout his life.He then explained what the Federation could do for bands, outlining information about events, an internal magazine, lobby government, there are various information packs available, do’s and don’ts to obtain funds, child protection policy, free to all bands, how to establish welfare officers in bands.For member bands a FREE CRB check service, a pack for trainers, Health & Safety, how to plan events, travel arrangements, risk assessments, diversity and equal opportunity packs, marketing strategies, contracts, press releases, 2003 licensing act, and a 2012 Olympics pack.All these packs are led by members.There are also packs for annual accounts and financial responsibilities.
He explained that part of his job was to lobby parliament, at the present time a lot of lottery cash has been lost to the Olympics.
Associations can have one vote the same as member bands, or bands can ask Associations to vote on their behalf, each band means a vote.He stressed that they are very keen to work with Associations and it is moving that way.Fedsure scheme will give a competitive quote although not necessarily the cheapest.St.Dennis VW said that his band had discussed renewing membership and did so because of insurance only, there seems to be a lack of communication so far, they said that the magazine should go to the cont4est secretary of member bands.They are hoping soon to resolve Marketing and PR by appointing Tabby Clegg who is a freelance marketing executive.
Brian Elliott pointed out that6 as an Association we did not know who were members.One delegate asked who wanted to travel from Cornwall to Lancashire for meetings.This will soon be addressed as they are moving around the regions for meeting.South West bands can appoint one member to attend meetings with an equal number of votes equivalent to the number of bands they are representing.
One delegate said that not many bands have the opportunity to enter the English National Contests.The reply. We do believe there I s a role for a National Body with a National view.We must encourage training and youth bands as a federation and associations.Bands are not dying out they are flourishing.Frances Calver asked that they lobby the Education Ministry to obtain more funding for schools.The discussion ended at 3.30pm and both gentlemen were thanked for their attendance by the Chairman and invited to stay for the rest of the meeting.
6/08. TREASURERS REPORT.
(a)In bank £3,791. 72 p.
(b) Subscriptions- 39 bands have paid out of a total of 62 members.
7/08. SOLO & QUARTET CONTESTS GRANTS.
5 applications have been received.Helston 2nd February, Bideford 14th June, Indian Queens 27th Sept, Launceston 11th October, St. Dennis 29th November.Executive recommended that each be paid £30 after contest has taken place and programme submitted.Seconded by St Breward. All in favour.
8/08. EXMOUTH BRASS BAND FESTIVAL, Saturday 6th September 2008
(a)Adjudicator will be Denis Wilby
(b)Garden use.Application to East Devon District Council
(c)Grant.Application to Exmouth Town Council
(d)Programmes and posters.Will be provided by Miller Countrywide
(e)Advertisements.Done in necessary outlets.
(f)Van.Problem with van last year as it did not turn up.This year Association
will hire a van and it will be driven by one of the Committee.
9/08. 62nd ANNUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, Saturday 15th November 2008
(a) Adjudicator Stan Pritchard-Jones
(b) Percussion.Will be provided
(c) Junior Section.A visiting band last year assured us they were a training band but were better quality.
This year the training band section will be open to Association Bands only
(d) Test pieces.A sub committee has be appointed to choose and will report back.
10/08. EDUCATION AND TRAINING
(a)Percussion workshop Saturday 6th October 2007.23 persons attended.Feed back very positive about the course and
Simone Rebelo.
(b)Conducting Workshop, Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th January 2008.
Only 5 persons attended but 2 letters received praising the event run by David Marshall.
The Filleigh Community Hall near to South Molton was excellent, the catering by Gwen Kingdom first class and South Molton Band did an excellent job.
(c)Brass workshop, Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th February 2008
There were 105 applicants slightly down on last year.The three tutors were David Marshall, David Barringer, Leonard Adams.David Marshall stood in at the last moment for Duncan Beckley who as not well.Sec reported very favourable comments from attendees.There was mention that the music was quite difficult, but so it should be as a challenge.It was remarked that the concert was excellent in view of the time available and the music, very complimentary to the tutors.Secretary pointed out that Goff Richards gets the music free of charge from the publishers.
(d)Trombone workshop Saturday 4th October 2008Confirmed that Nick Hudson will be the tutor and waiting for his programme.The venue will be Tregadillet Community Hall.
(e)Train the Trainer workshop Saturday 18th October 2008.This will be held at Filleigh Community Hall.The Tutor will be Vivian Willcock.
(f)Mid-Winter Brass workshop 2009.Secretary asked if same location and same weekend was in order.Meeting approved.
11/08. COUNCIL OF WEST OF ENGLAND BRASS BAND ASSOCIATIONS.
(a)Last meeting. Mainly dealt with up & coming Championships
(b)Stage Crew.Will wear black polo shirts.
(c)Limited Company.Not at present.We have sufficient funds to cover disasters.
(d)Grimethorpe Colliery Band.Sec wrote to Pavilions and Grimethorpe asking them to change the date of their concert which coincides with regional contest.They have changed it to 26th July.Those who have booked will be offered refunds.
(e)National Rules.They have been reprinted with no major changes.
(f)Entry Fee for 2009 will be £70.
(g)Sponsorship.Will be allowed provided it doesn’t conflict with main sponsors York Instruments.
(h)Championships 2009. – 14th/15th March.
12/08. ASSOCIATION WEBSITE
Anne Luxton reported there had been over 1000 hits.The site will be revamped to get rid of unsatisfactory adverts.
13/09. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
(a)Regional Championships.Delegate from Lympstone asked if there was the possibility of
a warm up room being provided before going on stage. Sec. replied that unfortunately every room had been taken up at the Riviera Centre.
(b)Adjudicators at Regional Championships.Delegate from Holsworthy asked about the possibility of Adjudicators being placed in separate boxes to make their decisions.Advised that the idea is for them to come to an agreement and compromise with their results.
14/08.NEXT MEETING.
The Executive Committee are recommending that because of the lack of attendance of bands at general Meetings, in future meetings will be held once a year.An extra meeting will only be called if something important needs to be discussed.The Constitution states that a meeting can be called by members if one third of the membership agree in writing to the Executive.
The floor agreed and proposed that the one General meeting be held on the same day as the AGM.
