Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held at 4.00pm on 12th October 2008 at Harborough Bank

Draft status only until confirmed as a true record at a subsequent AGM

Present: Rachel Greenwood in the chair, Margaret Campbell, Hazel Davis, Corinne Frost, Monica Hermolle, Pat Hibbs, Angela Richey, Bob Thomas, Janet Thomas. Eugene Sarbu observing.

Apologies: Ruth Herbert, Mary Cohen.

Minutes: The minutes of the AGM held on 14th October 2004 at Harborough Bank were agreed and signed as a true record.

Matters Arising: There was further brief discussion of importane of understanding the factor of respect when considering the distinction between appropriate and inappropriate physical contact between teacher and student.

Chairperson's Report:

Rachel Greenwood thanked the Committee for its work during the year, with particular mention of the Treasurer and the Secretary. She then reported on events and activities since the last AGM with special reference to the following.

• Corinne's Small Ensembles Workshop on 11th May was very professionally done, emphasising the importance of slow motions. Rachel said she had learnt a lot.
• The house meeting on 29th June, rapidly relocated from Hereford to Yardley Wood, had been a small but lively discussion of the ever-important initial steps in teaching a beginner.
• The ESTA Summer School, in its new regular venue in Cheltenham, had been impressive. Rachel had been caught up in Simon Cartledge's infectious enthusiasm, and had enjoyed Judy Tarling's sessions on baroque playing, including trying out some baroque bows. Raphael Wallfisch's recital she found she could hear every note.

Treasurer's Report:

• Janet Thomas tabled the accounts, with particular thanks to Angela and Richard for lending their home as an event venue.
• ESTA GB had queried whether ESTAWM's practice of posting newsletters to members was cost effective. The members present were very clear that it was a feature they appreciated and wished to be continued. Hazel proposed a motion to that effect, which was seconded by Monica and approved unanimously.
• Adoption of the accounts was proposed by Hazel, seconded by Monica and adopted unanimously.

Election of Officers:

• Chairperson: Rachel Greenwood, proposed Bob, seconded Monica and agreed unanimously.
• Secretary: Bob Thomas, proposed Rachel, seconded Angela and agreed unanimously.
• Treasurer: Janet Thomas, proposed Angela, sconded Monica and agreed unanimously.
• Committee members: Margaret Campbell, Hazel Davis, Pat Hibbs and Angela Richey, agreed unanimously.
• National Forum Representative: Rachel Greenwood was provisionally appointed: if she should not be available another representative would attend.

Other Business:

Janet drew attention to the following.

• The National AGM and Conference on 9th November.
• The 2009 International Conference in Vienna, 3rd to 8th April.
• The Colourstrings Course at Half Term.
• ESTA GB was trying to create a Teaching Repertoire Database on its website. She invited everybody to come back to her with thoughts on how they would want to use such a database.

Ideas were trawled for possible future regional events. All of course were merely proposals and would be entirely subject to agreement and detail. They included a Pupils' Concert, a house meeting and, to accompany the AGM, a playthrough of of some of the available junior and pedagogic ensemble music.

Date of Next AGM: Sunday 18th October 2009 was the most likely date. A meeting of the new committee was convened at Margaret's house on Friday, 14th November at 11.00am.

The meeting closed at 4.38pm.

END