Before we get on to the AGM, we do have a birthday this week. It is Alison Baker’s Birthday on the 11th August. Alison joined the choir in September 2019 and is an Alto, so has only managed one Christmas Season with us but it is lovely to see her joining us at the Annual Dinner and on Zoom Calls.  

Have a Great Day Allison.

Thank you all of those that attended the AGM Zoom Meeting, or gave their apologies. Not the easiest thing to do, not being able to see all of your lovely faces and watching expressions and reactions.  And then having you all muted so there was not the usual chattering, although in retrospect perhaps that’s a good thing 😊.

CHAIRMANS REPORT

As all of the documents were sent out and people had chance to read them before the meeting there was not a lot to be said about my report.  It was suggested that we make some sort of acknowledgement to Sandie and David for their contribution to the New Music Makers, and it is hoped that we can do something when they attend one of our Concerts, whenever that may be?  

TREASURERS REPORT

Sharon’s Treasurer’s Report was precise and to the point as normal, thank you for that and she was delighted that there were no questions regarding it.  Thank you everyone that is carrying on paying their subs to keep the choir going.

MD REPORT

Lillians report was well received and we spoke about perhaps doing another virtual choir song, but perhaps doing something with fewer words and easier rhythm. Lillian had said to me that it had been quite tricky lining us all up on the ‘All I ask of You” as it has some complicated rhythms in it.  

ELECTION OF THE COMMITTEE

We have a last minute addition to the Committee to be Vice Chairman. 

Natalie Hepple had volunteered and as their were no objections and she has filled the place as Vice Chairman.

Thank you to the all of the Committee Members old and new of both Committees, hopefully we can all get together at some stage and have something positive to talk about.  

Chairman  Lin Kellaway

Secretary Eric Gerrey

Treasurer Sharon Thomas

Vice Chairman Natalie Hepple

Committee Members        Margaret Ballard

Jerry Gamble

Maureen Pay

Louise Staniforth.- Archivist

Sarah Turl

Music Librarian Tony Jardine

Alto Rep Maggie Jacobs

Bass Rep Eric Gerrey

Sop Rep Hilary Green

Tenor Rep Percy Knight

Steve Swan had sent an email about this. We will only return when it is safe to do so and we will follow all of the government guidelines and will do a full risk assessment before we contemplate going back.  At the moment the Methodist Church is not opening and they will be reviewing the situation in October so even if we could, we would be unable to rehearse there.  Those cakes are going to be well and truly nasty by then.

Steve also brought up about keeping away from rehearsals if you have cough, cold or other virus symptoms.  This is probably a very good idea. On this point Beccy brought up the same point in that if it is getting near to concert dates people do not like to miss Concert Rehearsal time and has suggested that perhaps we can somehow record the rehearsal and make it available for people who have had to stay away.  This is something that the Committee can look into.

Eric has kindly offered his zoom account to the choir to use when we go back in September this will mean that we can have longer than the 40 mins that we have been dong lately.  We will be able to have breakout rooms with Lillian and Chris and we can practise our parts,   Hopefully we will have tutorials of Bond, Joseph and Cantate Domino for us to look at and then further down the line we will look at Christmas music from the 100 Carols for Choirs.  

After our Annual Dinner at the Botley Park Hotel we noticed that there was a Wedding Fair and thought that it would be a good way to promote the choir by putting our name forward to sing at Weddings.  We thought that we could make flyers to leave at wedding venues/churches/wedding fairs etc to let them know about us.  This would need commitment from choir members and we would need a balanced choir to make the best possible sound for their big day.  We had a show of hands to see how many people were interested, obviously not everyone was there but if this is something anyone who didn’t vote would be interested in could you let me know.  Again something for the future but a nice thing to do and it would bring revenue in for the choir funds.

Sarah reported that she would no longer be keeping Medical Forms. It was a Committee  decision because of data protection.  She suggested that everyone carries contact details and any underlying medical condition information in a wallet or handbag.

It was agreed that we would continue with our Golden Celebrations when we are able to and when we can celebrate in the manner that this milestone deserves.

I informed the choir that Mary Gunn had retired from the choir, she was finding driving to choir a struggle especially since they have been closing the motorway and feels it is time that she should stand down.   We wish Mary well and we hope to see her at our Concerts.  

Beccy said about the fact that the title of Chairman is not right for a female, but after research “The Telegraph style guide bans the use of chair and chairperson; the newspaper’s position,  as of 2018 is that “chairman is the correct English”.  So I am quite happy to be a Chairman and I have checked with Natalie and she is happy to be a Vice Chairman.   It seems that Chair or Chairperson is an American Usage.

But thanks Beccy for your concern. 😊 

Join the  Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81691367380

 

Meeting ID: 816 9136 7380

A bit of fun this week with a “Top and Tail” quiz (guess the songs from the intros and endings).

Then if time, we will have some breakout rooms and a sing-song at the end.

 Some words attached although we probably (?) know them all.

 

 A Million Dreams

 

I close my eyes and I can see
A world that’s waiting up for me
That I call my own
Through the dark, through the door
Through where no one’s been before
But it feels like home

 

They can say, they can say it all sounds crazy
They can say, they can say I’ve lost my mind
I don’t care, I don’t care, so call me crazy
We can live in a world that we design

 

‘Cause every night I lie in bed
The brightest colours fill my head
A million dreams are keeping me awake
I think of what the world could be
A vision of the one I see
A million dreams is all it’s gonna take
A million dreams for the world we’re gonna make

 

There’s a house we can build
Every room inside is filled
With things from far away
The special things I compile
Each one there to make you smile
On a rainy day

 

They can say, they can say it all sounds crazy
They can say, they can say we’ve lost our minds
I don’t care, I don’t care if they call us crazy
Runaway to a world that we design

 

Every night I lie in bed
The brightest colors fill my head
A million dreams are keeping me awake
I think of what the world could be
A vision of the one I see
A million dreams is all it’s gonna take
A million dreams for the world we’re gonna make

 

However big, however small
Let me be part of it all
Share your dreams with me
You may be right, you may be wrong
But say that you’ll bring me along
To the world you see
To the world I close my eyes to see
I close my eyes to see

 

Every night I lie in bed
The brightest colours fill my head
A million dreams are keeping me awake
I think of what the world could be
A vision of the one I see
A million dreams is all it’s gonna take
A million dreams for the world we’re gonna make

 

For the world we’re gonna make

 

 

You Raise Me Up

 

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;

When troubles come and my heart burdened be;

Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,

Until you come and sit awhile with me.

 

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up’ to more than I can be.

 

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up’ to more than I can be.

 

There is no life ‘ no life without its hunger;

Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;

But when you come and I am filled with wonder,

Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

 

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up’ to more than I can be.

 

You raise me up’ to more than I can be.