QUARTERLY MEETING October 2022

Oct 11, 2022 | Minutes

Paint Brushes Background. Meeting Minutes
HAA Admin

By: HAA Admin

MINUTES OF THE QUARTERLY MEETING OF HILLINGDON ARTS ASSOCIATION

MONDAY 11TH OCTOBER 2022 in Committee Room 6 at the CIVIC CENTRE, UXBRIDGE

PRESENT

Sylvia Taylor, Trustee, C0-Cair HAA, Argosy Players

Lydia Holland, Trustee, Co-Chair HAA, Hillingdon Philharmonic Orchestra

Sheila Scoates, Trustee HAA, Hillingdon U3A singers

Fred Davis, Trustee HAA

Richard Freeman, Trustee and Treasurer HAA

Lisa Enright, Hillingdon Artists

Sheena Rosser, Hillingdon Artists

Eirwen Smith, Hillingdon Choral Society

Ron Webb, Voices in Accord

Jenny Thorne, Townswomens’ Guild and Embroiderers’ Group

Vicky Yeung, Encore

Les Dearlove, ROS

Gaynor Lasch, Ickenham Arts

Peter Russell Middlesex Wood Turners

Gaye Russell, Free and Easel

Nelon Jarrett, St Martin’s CofE Primary School

Ariane Charlebois, Uxbridge Choral Society

Joyce Carpenter, Society of Ruislip Artists

Dot Cosgrove, HADS

APOLOGIES

Paul Burke, Middlesex Woodturners

Steve Moses. Klos

Michelle Needleman, Ux Chor and Sine Nomine

Marjorie Chamberlain Proscenium

Chris Terry, Sine Nomine 

David Pearson, Proscenium

TP Singh, Punjabi. Theatre Academy

Margaret Hamilton, Hillingdon Arts Society (NADFAS) 

Ali Whittall, Hillingdon Musical Society

Pam Currin, Eastcote & Ruislip Choral Society

Tricia Kirkham, Uxbridge & District Floral Art Socy

Richard Nokes, Phrase Writers

Lynne Kauffman, Ruislip Lions

Carina Cross

WELCOME

Sylvia congratulated all present on attending – given the difficulties many had had in parking in the Civic Centre car Park as has always been possible in the past.  A new system is now in place.  Members wishing to park should kindly let Sheila know before the day of the next meeting and she will endeavour to make the necessary arrangements.

MINUTES OF THE QUARTERLY MEETING 11th JULY 2022 and MATTERS ARISING

The minutes of the July Quarterly meeting were agreed – but Fred Davis, who had not been able to attend that meeting or the AGM on the same date, objected that the accounts for the year 2021-22 had not been properly examined or passed.  He said that he had prepared full accounts from April 2021 to March 2022 (attached), but what had been approved at the July AGM was a single page of summary figures prepared by the new Treasurer, Richard Freemantle.  Moreover, this sheet had a series of hashes (#####) in place of the bottom line.  The matter was discussed :

  • The figures prepared and presented by Richard were identical to those prepared by Fred
  • Except that one page of Fred’s accounts – the one with the details of expenditure – had not been given to Richard, so he had been unable to prepare a detailed statement.  This page has since been found and is attached.
  • And except that the hashed figures were entirely visible online, but unfortunately disappeared when printed due to a problem with font size relative to cell size.  

Richard’s sheet is also attached to these minutes.  

WEB SITE – Lydia reported that the page on the Website for change of Officers of Societies should now be able to make the necessary changes.  Sheena had had trouble trying to get in and make changes.  Fred advised that it is always a good idea to press reset to avoid cache reload.  

FINANCE

Sylvia introduced Richard Fremantle, who has been Treasurer since the pandemic, but was not able to attend the July QGM and AGM.  The new Lloyds bank account is now up and running.  Reminders will be sent out to societies that have not yet paid subs for 2022-23, which will need to be paid into the Lloyds account as the Unity bank account has been closed.   Full details will be provided.  HAA needs a new Examiner.  The Treasurer of Hillingdon U3A, Barbara Hall, has kindly agreed to do this.  A vote will be proposed at the next Quarterly to approve Barbara as the new Examiner.

Ongoing problems with the Council Grant form are still unresolved – but even worse, Sylvia and Lydia have been told that ALL grants to voluntary organisations will be stopped from April 2023.  

LBH Council has published a draft strategy that refers to Arts and Culture on its front page, but there is absolutely no further mention of either in the body of the document.  

WINSTON CHURCHILL THEATRE

WCT reopened for all societies to be able to use it again from September.  The theatre has new curtains and the pit area under the stage has been cleared.  However, the pricing structure has changed and lights must now be hired.  

WHAT’S ON

Fred has kindly agreed to prepare and print What’s On again.  The next edition will cover December, January and February and the deadline will be 11th November.  The simple way to get an entry into What’s On is to enter it on the HAA website.  The copies are distributed as follows: 1,000 to Libraries, 250 to Jenny,250 to Sylvia and 200 to Sheila.  As Hillingdon Artists now have two shops – one in the Chimes and one in the Pavilions – it will be possible to have What’s On available there too.  It was suggested that they should be sent to schools electronically and Ariane said that they should be distributed online wherever possible.  Fred said that What’s On can be printed at home on one side.  It was also suggested that Uxbridge BID should be lobbied to offer a wall on which to advertise events.  Those present were asked whether they wanted What’s On to continue as a paper document or an electronic document on the website.  Both were supported strongly.  

There was a discussion about subscriptions and it was agreed that they should remain at £20 for a society and £12 for an individual.  As teachers, Ariane and Nelon both suggested that approaches should be made to schools, because Arts and Music coordinators could be encouraged to join as part of their professional development.  Contact with HAA could be extremely beneficial for both the schools and the HAA societies.

NEWS FROM SOCIETIES

  1. HPO will present a concert in All Saints Church on Saturday 15th October featuring a Scottish programme including a fine young soloist who will play Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy for violin and orchestra.  Audiences have not yet recovered to 2019 levels, so we worry about finances.
  2. Sheila said that U3A Singers is combining with the U3A ukulele and guitar group for a concert at Christchurch on 19th November.
  3. Lisa said Hillingdon Artists will be moving to a new shop location in the Pavilions – a very good position next to Savers
  4. Nelon wants to start a project with Hillingdon Artists to get artist to come into the school and do an exhibition.
  5. Hillingdon Choral Society will be performing Britten’s Ceremony of carols on3rd December.
  6. Ron said that Voices in Accord also has a concert on3rd December – it will be Christmas carols for save the Children.
  7. Jenny represents Townswomen’s Guild and the Embroiders’ Group.
  8. Vicky said that Encore had not had a financial success with Schreck in the summer, so was hoping for better with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the Juniors doing Grease in November.  They had not had a good experience with Questors in Ealing.
  9. Les said that ROS had just finished doing Children of Eden and are now preparing for Legally Blonde and Crazy for You in March.
  10. Gaynor said that Ickenham Art had held 2 exhibitions and over 160 people had attended.  However, they had only made 2 sales – possibly because the café is closed.  Their membership is growing.
  11. Peter Russell representing the Wood Turners said they have been doing well.
  12. Gaye Russell said Free and Easel will be holding an Arts and Crafts event at the Cow Byre for a week starting on Sunday.
  13. Ariane said that Uxbridge Choral Society will be holding a Christmas concert on 11th December in Uxbridge and will perform Haydn’s Seasons on 4th February at St Anselms.
  14. Joyce Carpenter said the Society of Ruislip Artists had had 500 visitors to an exhibition in the Cow Byre and would be holding another in Uxbridge in 2 weeks time.
  15. Sylvia said that Argosy was preparing a panto – Rumpelstiltskin – for January in WCT.  Argosy had noted at the previous meeting that hire and related charges such as lighting, bar, ticketing have all been increased at the Compass Theatre and no doubt Winston Churchill Hall.  A recent sell-out performance had made a considerable loss so venues not owned by the Council might offer a favourable alternative if they are suitable.
  16. Harefield Amateur Dramatic Society will be presenting Agatha Crusty – a spoof Agatha Christy caper in January.
  17. Proscenium did not attend this meeting, but will be presenting “A Bunch Of Amateurs” at the Compass in January.

Date for next Quarterly Meetings will be 16th January and 29th March 2023

This concluded the business of the meeting.