EGM held at 11.25 am in Westerton Hall on Saturday, 7 February 2004

 

Chair:                    Andrew McCafferty (Chairman);                    Minutes:                Adrienne Girvan (Vice-Chairman/Secretary)

 

1.       Adoption of audited accounts for session 2002-3

 

C Donald answered various questions from the floor.  Key point to note that £5,000 of the income figure (Awards for All grant) should be discounted, thus ‘true’ income-expenditure figure at end of year is only £574.55.

Accounts accepted as being true and accurate reflection of the year’s activities.   Proposed:  L Fellows; seconded: H McLafferty  OBE.

 

2.       Subscriptions levels for session 2003-4

AMcC advised that two issues to be discussed:

Rates - for session 2002-3 stood at £60 (full) and £25 (concession – i.e. children, OAPs, students, unemployed). 

Non-payment of subscriptions - In previous sessions, non-payments occasionally slipped through the net as DCB smaller, thus anxious to encourage attendance/membership.  Non payment is no longer acceptable to band members and from now on payment of subscriptions will be enforced.  CD advised that nothing noted in constitution as to how to deal with this situation.  The motion to be discussed was “anyone who doesn’t pay his or her subscriptions by the end of the session will be asked to leave”.  CD advised that weekly membership works out at £1.33 (based on £60 full rate and 42 rehearsals).

 

Discussion of various issues – to date £1,685 been received in subscriptions, although CD had felt unable to approach members until accounts audited and this year’s rate set.  It was unanimously agreed that members who did not pay will be asked to leave. 

Action point: DCB committee will actively approach members for payment of subscriptions.  JF raised question of paying by direct debit; CD advised that standing order a more appropriate method. Action point: CD to put together a standard letter for issue in September (this can also be adapted to allow people to pay subscriptions in instalments, e.g. 3 x £20, in special circumstances and at the discretion of the committee).

It was agreed by all that there should be a pro-rata arrangement, i.e. for new members who join part of the way through the session.

 

3.       Musical Director’s honorarium

 

Current rates are £60 per concert (regardless of status) and £50 per Saturday rehearsal.  After discussion, there were various proposals put forward:

 

1. Keep both rates as above until end of session.
2. Increase rates in line with amateur band circuit, i.e. by £5 each.  P Mackinnon further suggested that this should be backdated to the beginning of the session.

 

AMcC pointed out to the meeting that SS about to put in a grant application to cover musical director’s honorarium for 3 years; this application would carry a higher rate for the 3 year period.

 

After discussion, a 3^rd suggestion came from the floor:

3. Keep both rates as above until end of session, but with a declaration of intent to increase rates at next AGM.

The 3^rd proposal was carried unanimously by the meeting.

 

J Davis further suggested that the AGM discussion on the MD’s honorarium should include that of an extraordinary honorarium, i.e. back payment.  P Woods proposed that subscriptions and donations be shown separately.  This was felt by the meeting to be appropriate, and was seconded by Julian Fosh.

 

3.  Gozo accounts update

 

AMcC advised that J Fosh and N Girvan had audited these and found to be in order.  Some reserve funds are to be transferred to the main DCB account, to be used to purchase music and instruments (a condition of transfer).  This was imminent

 

The meeting concluded at 11.55 am.