​Chair’s Speech
 
BACC AGM Chair’s Speech - my last speech
 
Thank you all for coming along to the AGM and indeed to our summer concert season. We hope we have an exciting year ahead.
 
We are delighted to have won the Arts organisation Award in the Pride of Stratford District run by Touch fm. This award celebrates our achievement in bringing a range of people from different backgrounds and of different ages together and being totally inclusive – particularly for supporting and developing our young people through their musical journey and offering opportunities to them at a time when schools’ arts opportunities are reducing.
We were invited to attend a working group - Better together for Bidford. It was also noted that we retain our teenagers - something other organisations fail to do. The spread of ages was also remarked upon and the community feel that this gives us. Therefore, it is vital that we continue to grow if possible, our children’s choir and teen group.
The choir continues to flourish with two amazing concerts last year and participation in a range of community events. We do sound better year on year The vocal coaching workshop really seemed to make a difference.
It is a great testament to Amanda Oliver’s original vision, that we now have a waiting list for people wishing to join us in the main choir for the first time, though there is still some space in the teen harmony group and in the children’s choir - so please tell your friends and neighbours.
For a number of reasons, not least the number of people we can safely accommodate on stage, the main choir is closed with 80 members. We have looked into ways to increase this – including hiring tiered seating, changing venues and increasing our stage capacity none of which have proved to be viable propositions though we thank Graham , Steve and Adam  for their time, effort and expertise in trying to help and support us.
The constitution will be amended to say the membership number is 75. As a community choir we are loathe to turn people away and hope the 75 target can be achieved through natural wastage.  Going forward, we will be asking that if you are intending to take a break that you tell us in advance. With people wishing to join us, we do need to know if you are hoping to return. While a waiting list exists, priority will be given firstly to children reaching year 7 and wishing to move up to the main choir, returning members and then people new to us. 
It is wonderful that over the last choir year, we have also been able to support many other village and local events including The Bidford Lights, The Jolly Teapot, Barton River Festival and The Dementia Café and thanks to Sue , our own social events proved to be really popular.
Louise  our Treasurer will talk more about our financial position, but we have been able to buy more music this year, and also to invest in the choir, which we also hope to do again this year and give donations to local charities which we hope to continue to do going forward.  At the summer concert we will be making a donation to the Salford Priors Guides.
Subscriptions have remained at £37.50 which we feel is great value for money. Knowing who is coming back and having the money in in advance, has really helped us with planning so please, for the next season, all fees must be received by 1st September.
We are exploring the option of a second performance opportunity after all the hard work we put in, but this is not yet finalised. Please see the website for updates.
As you know our librarian, Steve is taking a break from rehearsals and Hannah has kindly volunteered to support us on a weekly basis.
In conclusion, I must say a huge thank you to you all for all your hard work and to our musical directors for their commitment, skills and patience, our outstanding Masters of Ceremonies and particularly a massive thank you to everyone who helps behind the scenes for the many hours of work they put in.
 

Officers standing for re election
Chair Angela Hurd
Treasurer Louise Green
Secretary Judy Smith
Librarian Steve Jackson
Membership Secretary Judith Harrison

​Constitutional amendment - members 75

​AGM
Tuesday 13th March 2018 at Bidford Methodist Church
BIDFORD AREA COMMUNITY CHOIR
  
The Annual General Meeting for the Bidford Area Community Choir 
 
The Methodist Church on Tuesday 13th March  at 7.30pm.
  
AGENDA
  
Apologies
  
Chairman’s report and welcome
 
Treasurer’s Report
  
Amendment to the Constitution
​
Election of Officers - including vacant posts Treasurer and Secretary
  
Confirmation of Safeguarding Officer,Health and Safety Advisor, Patrons Lead and First Aiders
 
 
Any other business

 
 
Bidford Area Community Choir
 
Minutes of AGM held on 13th March 2018
 
at Bidford Methodist Church
  
Present:  

Chairman’s Report
 
Angela welcomed everyone to the meeting and delivered her Chairman’s report, 
Chair's Report
Thank you all for coming along to the AGM and indeed to our summer concert season. We hope we have an exciting year ahead.
The choir continues to grow and flourish. We have more members, have participated in a wide range of community events and happily sound better year on year!
Last year particularly saw our Children’s choir develop with 16 children on stage at the concert. We hope this will be a continuing trend.
We would like to welcome some new members today and hope they enjoy the whole choir experience.
We had two incredibly successful concerts (we even ran out of chairs for the Winter concert) and had some excellent feedback. The introduction of a Master of Ceremonies enabled us to have a slicker presentation and a more professional feel. This is something we hope to continue.
I know those of us who could make it also found singing at Ragley Hall an amazing and unforgettable experience.
Mary as you are aware devoted much time and energy, over and above the fee paid, to ensuring the choir put on two concerts whilst dealing with complete devastation in her personal life. We are particularly grateful that the winter concert went ahead at a time when her husband Mel was so very poorly. 
It is wonderful that over the last choir year, we have also been able to support many other village and local events including The Carers Café, The Dementia Café and the Shakespeare Hospice.
In many ways we gain more than we give by taking part in these lovely community events.
 
An incredible amount of hard work goes on behind the scenes and there are many people who have put in a tremendous effort to keep the choir going. Thank you to you all.
The committee also dealt with six complaints this year: two written, two by telephone and two in person.
All complaints were responded to in writing within 12 hours of receipt, with additional discussions held with those people who requested verbal contact.
As you will also hear from Helen, we have a number of financial considerations to take into account and going forward we feel that it is not right that committee members are out of pocket, sometimes for over £1000 while they wait – sometimes months until subs come in – for reimbursement. 
We have also to allow for repairs to our assets like the piano and the staging and it is our wish to maintain a small amount of money to support the bursary scheme introduced last year.
Furthermore, if for any reason we are unable to hold a concert the patrons’ programme may need to be reviewed with a view to offering members a full or partial refund.
This year the choir funded two sets of scarves and bow ties – green jackets and bow ties had previously been funded by choir members in addition to their subscriptions and we felt that this was the right thing to do in ensuring we remain an inclusive choir.
Going forward, the next concert will give a donation to Working World and Garage Art. These charities were notified of our intention last year.
We would ask members to remember that as unpaid volunteers, we all do our very best to ensure that the choir continues to thrive.
We would ask you to speak to us if you have any concerns, comments or queries.
We really want this choir to be a happy and friendly group to be part of.
I know that I speak for everyone when I say that we are delighted that Louise and Mary have come back for this concert run -  we know they will work us hard but we will be better for it!
We hope 2018 will see the choir continuing to play a key role in the community.
We would ask everyone to support each other and particularly to embrace our members who have had to deal with personal tragedy as we look forward to a “Summer of Love.” I would particularly like to mention Alison.
I personally would particularly like to thank everyone on the committee for the massive amount of work that has been undertaken this year and for their support through very difficult times.
Having expressed their intention to step down last October, I wish to express the choir’s gratitude to both Helen and Gill for all the work they have done on behalf of the choir.
Thank you, Gill, for your time as secretary and for organising our creative efforts for the Christmas Tree Festival. I hope one of the gifts will be useful when you get the keys to the home office!
I have one last huge thank you to give.
On behalf of us all, I would like to thank Helen  for all the years she has devoted to the choir as our Treasurer. Without going into too much detail (because I don’t want to put Louise  off) the role carries with it many, many duties that Helen has carried out with her effortless organisational skills and professionalism.
Helen has managed all the accounts, paid the myriad of bills, organised the purchase of our new scarves and ties, explored insurance options, prepared floats and banked any revenue from the concerts.
Thank you so much for everything you have done, Helen.
Thankfully Helen is staying with us to sing!
 
 

James  sought clarification concerning events following our very successful winter concert.  John also commented.     
 
Subsequently, James apologised and retracted his statement once he was in possession of the full facts.
 
The meeting closed at 8.00pm. 

 

​
Annual General Meeting
Minutes
 
The Methodist Church, 28th February 2017 7.30pm
 
 

Chairs Report

CHAIRMANS REPORT FOR 2016.
2016 was a strange year for the choir as it fell into two distinct halves. The
first half, the Spring Concert, was a roaring success. The Barn was almost
full, so we raised a lot of money for local good causes. But the concert was
tinged with some sadness as we said Goodbye to Amanda, Darren, Megan
and Helena, as they moved away to pastures new.
And then,we welcomed Mary into our midst as she agreed to be our Musical
Director. She selected the music for our Autumn Concert, which was held in
The Barn, almost a full house again and more money was raised for charity.
Christmas was a very busy time for BACC starting with carols at the Bidford
Lights Switch On, RSC. Icknield and Westholme Court and at Salford Hall.
And now we are about to start our Spring Season for 2017.
And finally, some of you will have heard that I am standing down as Chairman
of BACC. I have been in office from almost the inception of the Choir and I
am getting older now and I think the time is appropriate for me to hand over to
someone younger than myself. I have had a wonderful time watching the
choir grow and long may it flourish.


Alan summed up the very successful year the choir had had.
More people had joined for each concert run and the choir was a thriving community venture.
He felt it was now time for him to step back. He also thanked Jane for her fantastic job of setting up the music library and acting as “Rottweiler” when looking after the music.
An amendment was proposed to the constitution to include the role of Librarian on the Committee. This was carried unanimously.
Alan also thanked the Methodist Church and reminded members to be considerate to the neighbours when leaving.