AGM – 5/3/10
March 9, 2010
Location: Lower Lecture Room, Lincoln College
Catherine’s Speech (6.08pm)
We’ve had a good year.
Catherine is the first female president! Let’s keep women involved. (Men too). We had an all female exec too.
We have sorted out the Moser stores: round of applause for Adrienne and Cat Cleary for all the work that they have put into it (they are not present).
In response to questions, Catherine notes that it pays for itself (the money from hiring props pays the people who work there) and that we have a first year from Wadham working with Adrienne. Catherine explains to Alex Prideaux how it all works.
Catherine thanks the committee, especially Juliette, Annie and Shivani.
Catherine also thanks the Playhouse staff (who are not present). TAFF’s relationship with the Playhouse staff has improved.
Catherine feels that TAFF as a society has progressed away from being overly reliant on its alumni, and we have reached a new, positive stage.
Questions for the President
Alex Prideaux asks about the Moser stores again. We agree that Annie should keep an eye on charging for props, but we note that all the money goes through the TAFF account.
Mark Roberts appears.
Juliette’s Speech
Do I have to minute myself? Catherine offers. Jake notes that I wouldn’t have to if I’d written it down. I have, so I don’t have to.
Given that we have probably TAFF’s funniest member as Treasurer, I was worried that he would make my speech look awful. So Jake has kindly donated the following:
There once was a society called taff
Whose 302 members were always a laugh
They helped with hundreds of shows
Of which there’ve been highs and lows
And thanks to those who worked on its behalf
On a more serious note, we currently have 302 members, plus 6 associates, and 27 alumni. This means we have doubled our membership since last year! By my calculation, this year we’ve done about 100 shows, so that’s not bad going really. Lots of us here were involved in West Side Story, which was a huge success, but we’ve achieved many amazing things this year, from the small to the big. We’ve run some successful workshops: our ‘Intro to Tech’ workshop, our ‘What to do if your lighting designer gets hit by a bus workshop’, and ‘what you need to know about technical theatre if you are a producer or director’ workshop.
On a personal note, this year I have made an effort to reply to every individual who has joined the mailing list, except during Fresher’s week, to find out what they want to get involved in. This has been successful in placing crew with shows, I think. I have also taken lots of minutes, and I really hope that Jake will put the minutes of this week’s meeting up on the website as soon as I get around to typing them up and emailing them to him, as they were particularly entertaining.
I’ve really loved being TAFF Secretary, and I’m sad to step down. Obviously if I’m hanging around for the next few years I will stay involved in TAFF, and if not, I’ll be back for dinner next year!
Matt’s Speech
(There are some handwritten notes at the top. They are illegible).
Matt had aimed to start with a joke, but he doesn’t know any. He googled them but he only got pages about him and his use of black LX tape an Alex’s views on that. Alex tells the story well.
Financial report:
We started TT09 with just over £2500, skewed partly by the fact that we hadn’t paid for last year’s TAFF dinner.
At the end of TT09 we had almost the same, minus some money for website design and minibus hire.
MT09: dropped to £1500 because we paid Lincoln.
Other outgoings: fresher’s fair, drinks, payments to Moser, Pitman painters.
No incomings.
He estimates the balance being at £2146.19 because of this year’s TAFF dinner.
He also has more money in cheques.
Matt thanks Henley Theatre Services for their £250 sponsorship and ETC for covering the costs of drinks at last year’s dinner.
Matt will answer questions about TAFF finance or will show anyone the accounts – but not tonight as he forgot them
Unsurprisingly, Matt thanks Shivani. For her skills as treasurer.
Also thanks the outgoing committee, and looks forward to working with the committee.
Matt questions what the point of TAFF is, and concludes that it’s about working on great shows, but that it’s particularly about the community, and the membership.
Matt likes having friends.
Questions
Annie: (To Matt): is that a fake bow tie?
Matt: no it’s real (Shivani tied it)
Stephen P: how much did we make from cuppers?
Matt: don’t know
Jake: can we spend more next year?
Catherine: on what?!
Discussion about gobo hire
Mark: do we break even each year?
Matt: about, yes?
Alex: What’s happening with the OFS?
Catherine: no shows next term, it’s going to become (eventually) a different type of venue.
Stephen P: it will closed for 2 academic ears, and there will a black box theatre in the Catholic Chaplaincy.
Catherine: We haven’t been asked to get involved with that.
Alex: lots of spaces are due to come on line, but haven’t yet: there are lots of college venues.
Annie stands up to say hi. Applause.
Josh: OUDS owes TAFF money and will pay.
There is general disapproval of Josh’s clothing.
Ends.
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