Hediya Arabic Dance Club
Annual General Meeting
27 November 2004
Present: Committee members Chrissy Stephenson, Karey, Alison Comyns, Jo Elliott, plus Hediya club members.
Apologies for absence
Apologies were received from Joan, Celia, Jean and Mo Cowell.
Minutes and Secretary’s Report.
The minutes of last years’ AGM, and this year’s Secretary’s Report, were circulated to the members beforehand. Both were taken as read.
Treasurer’s Report
Although the Club made an overall loss this year, this was not unexpected, as it had been agreed to use up some of the Club’s resources. The Club’s account is in credit. The Saturday dance sessions are making a small profit, the Wednesday evening ones are not doing quite so well. The workshops have broken even when Arts Council funding is taken into account. The Cub still has a reserve fund of £900, some of which should be put into a saving’s account.
Matters Arising
Alison volunteered to open a current account and a savings account for the club at Barclays Bank.
New Officers
All four members of the committee agreed to continue in office. No new members were elected.
Adrienne has taken over running the video library.
A vote of thanks was proposed by Wendy and seconded by Jackie.
Membership
The membership currently stands at 25.
It was agreed that the membership fee should remain at £20, as this covers administration costs, with a little bit in reserve.
Dance Sessions
Saturday dance sessions are doing well, regularly attracting ten to fifteen participants. Wednesday evening sessions in port Erin are not so well attended, possibly because they only take place monthly. It is not possible to rent Port Erin Methodist hall on a weekly basis. Ballasalla Village Hall was suggested as an alternative venue and it was decided to book it for a ten-week trial period. A further Mirror session at the Operatic Society rehearsal room is to be booked.
Workshops
So far two workshops have been booked for this year;
15th January with Michelle at Castletown civic centre
Early May - Saidi and stick dancing with Helen Roberts. A venue has not been booked yet, we will need somewhere with a high ceiling!
A Hediya workshop will be held in March.
Social Events
It was generally agreed that holding a combined workshop and hafla was fun but tiring. An alternative combination of morning workshop and afternoon hafla was suggested but some members would find it difficult to attend.
It was decided to hold two haflas in the coming year, one in winter and one in the summer. It is possible than husbands and partners may be invited to one or the other of them.
An additional event: it is Chrissy’s 50th birthday in August, we would like to hire a hall and hold a party to celebrate.
Summer Break
The summer break will be from mid-June to the beginning of September.
AOB
The forming or a dance troupe for public performances was discussed. This would require a big commitment in time and extra dance sessions.
Joyce suggested that she could enquire about government funding to put on displays.
The meeting closes at 3.00 p.m.