Membership Secretary’s Report
Summer 2020
This is the first annual report I have produced, having taken over the role officially at the 2019 Annual General Meeting. In the Autumn newsletter, I thanked my predecessor, Robin Carter, for his help and guidance in the transition period and I would like to reiterate those thanks again now. As a fellow musician, it was also a particular pleasure to see Robin recognised for his services to music in the New Year Honours List.
The past twelve months have been gratifyingly busy with a very substantial number of new members joining the association. At the time of writing, 54 members have been enrolled (13 as reported in the Autumn newsletter, 25 in the Spring newsletter and 16 – so far – who will be listed in the next newsletter). In addition, it was a particular pleasure to enrol Sandra Harvey and Steve Collison, two very long-serving members of staff (and in Steve’s case a former school captain), to Honorary Membership.
Less happily, as reported in the newsletters, we have lost several distinguished and long-serving members, some of whom were the subject of tributes in the last two newsletters, with more such pieces to come in the next one.
The total membership now stands at 269, including eight (ex-staff) honorary members. A glance at the membership database shows that, as well being spread the length and breadth of the UK, we have overseas members in Germany, Spain, Belgium, the Republic of Ireland, Switzerland, South Korea, the USA, Canada and Australia (amongst others).
I am very pleased to report that we have no outstanding subscriptions due for 2020 and that many more members have now set up standing orders for the future, meaning the vast majority now pay either by this method or, in the case of those joining via the website, recurring PayPal.
The current situation, of course, means we cannot meet for our AGM or other planned activities. It also, no doubt, presents challenges and difficulties for many members, whether due to age or vulnerability. I am, however, constantly heartened by the good cheer and resilience of those who contact me and thank all members for their loyalty to our association.
Finally, I would like to thank the committee for making me so welcome over my first year in post; the combination of enthusiasm, good humour and gravitas makes meetings a pleasure. We are in good heart and, for all the benefits of Zoom, I look forward to the return of genuine human contact (not to mention lunch).
Marc Starling
June 2020
