Minutes of AGM on 18 February 2022

STRINGS ATTACHED

Minutes of the 11th Annual General Meeting held via Zoom on 18 February 2022 at 1130.Print/PDF

Present:

David Botibol, Sandie Botibol, John McKean, Mary McKean (Chair) Christine Moon, Paul Moore, Andrew Polmear, Margaret Polmear, Guy Richardson, Helen Simpson, Betty Skolnick

Apologies:

Michael Wilkinson

1          Chair’s welcome

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.


2          To receive the minutes of the tenth Annual General Meeting held on 12 February 2021
 

The minutes were accepted as a true record of the meeting.

Proposed: Helen Simpson
Seconded: Andrew Polmear                       


3          To receive the Annual Report of the Committee of Strings Attached

The report was received.

The Chair drew attention to the fact that, despite the strangeness of the past year as a result of the continuing coronavirus pandemic, three live-streamed concerts had formed an abbreviated 2019/20 season and had been well received. Live concerts were able to resume in October 2021.

She went on to thank those who undertake work for Strings Attached outside the committee as follows:

  • David Botibol for his overall management of the Strings Attached website and, in particular, for his help in creating an online membership facility.
  • Chris Darwin for the production of yet more outstanding programme notes and also for managing various aspects of the Strings Attached website including the calendar of events. It was noted that Chris has asked to reduce his involvement in writing programme notes and will, therefore, produce the notes for only three of the expected six concerts in the 2022/23 season.
  • Andrew Polmear for the regular newsletters and for agreeing to write the programme notes for those concerts for which Chris will not be responsible.
  • Michael Wilkinson for taking on the responsibility of being String Attached’s official reviewer of coffee concerts.

 

4          To receive the audited financial accounts for the year ended 31 December 2020

The audited financial accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021 were received.

It was noted that Strings Attached enjoys a healthy bank balance and, in particular, that gifts from Strings Attached members has remained constant throughout the pandemic which is very gratifying.


5          To agree the annual subscription rate for 2022/23

It was proposed that the annual subscription for the year 1 August 2022 to 31 July 2023 should remain unchanged at £10 (free for students).

Proposed: Betty Skolnick
Seconded: Paul Moore 


6          General Data Protection Regulation: data protection policy and proposed amendment to register of systems

The Chair explained that Strings Attached is required to present its data protection policy and register of systems for examination at each Annual General Meeting, the documents having been reviewed by the committee at its meeting prior to the AGM.  The committee, she said, felt no changes were necessary.

Betty Skolnick was thanked for undertaking a thorough review of both documents.

7          To appoint members to the committee

It was reported that all members of the outgoing committee were willing to serve for a further year and they were duly appointed.

Proposed: David Botibol
Seconded: John McKean

The Chair noted that nobody else had come forward to join the committee.

In response to a query raised by Helen, it was noted that nobody has come forward to be the organisation’s social media guru.

8          Any further issues for consideration

There being no further issues for consideration, the Chair thanked Andrew Comben and his team at Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival and the staff at the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts (ACCA) for their help in putting on concerts in the last year but especially to Andrew and his team who have worked tirelessly to make live music possible during the pandemic.

 

9          Closing remarks

The Chair again thanked everyone for attending the meeting and looked forward to seeing everyone in person at the next AGM.

MP/18.02.22