AGM Report

FELIXSTOWE SCRIBBLERS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
THE ROOM AT THE TOP, FELIXSTOWE LIBRARY
TUESDAY 6th JANUARY 2010

Our membership remains fairly healthy although attendance slipped during the final meetings of the year. Of course not everyone is able to attend regularly but the uniqueness of Felixstowe Scribblers means that membership, however infrequent the visits, remains open to all for as long as they wish.

This year we saw the third Bill Budner Competition sponsored by Maureen Budner who again donated cash prizes in her husband’s memory. Bill’s memory is also kept alive with our regular in house ‘anonymous’ writing competition next being held on 19th January. It has been heart-warming to know that on each of the eight occasions held there has been a different winner each time, something of a testament to the ability of our writers.

Our short writing exercises held regularly have usually been light hearted affairs with some extremely diverse and entertaining creations from the selection of words.

These in-house events have proved popular and brought variety to our meetings since they were first introduced.

This year our annual torchlight meeting prior to Halloween, raised concern with two members. In defence these meetings have been very popular and extremely atmospheric with many and varied tales of the paranormal. The general prognosis is that such meetings add another aspect of our creativity and certainly do not enter into devil worship.

We embarked on two major projects this year, the first with Barry, Jane and Les producing the 2010 anthology, a remarkable achievement gathering work from so many different writers from the past and the present. The content is very enjoyable and is a showcase to our group. Dedicated to some members who have sadly passed away in the last few years, profits will be donated to the East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice. It was both surprising and rewarding to receive a review of the anthology from the international review writer, Bernard Jackson of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in which every featured writer was mentioned and this was read out at the end of the meeting.

There was an excellent evening’s book launch which was opened by Ruth and Rachel Sloane and thanks go to them, to Kol Paterson for providing free of charge, the background music and, of course to the management of the hotel. Thanks also went to Dick for taking over the reigns when Dave was rushed to hospital a week before the launch.

We were invited to write a Murder Mystery for the Colneis School Parent Teacher association which was to be performed by Rushmere Players. Trish, Tony, Dick and Dave met for many weeks to create the play under the guidelines set out by the representatives of Colneis and Rushmere Players. It needed humour and a storyline which would leave all participants as likely culprits and this was produced. However we were informed it would not be performed and the Colneis evening was cancelled. The understanding is that it was too adult and that some of the humour would not work on stage.

On the social front we organised the Christmas Social in January (2209) when with after dinner speaker Roz Collyer who also hosted a group and a number of personal workshops on a very successful weekend. We had another lively beach party and, of course, ended the year with the Anthology Book Launch. Although no events have been planned for this year, plans are being made for an event in springtime which may include a guest speaker and workshops again.

Meeting formats will remain unchanged and the published programme (on the weblog) has been agreed. Some evenings will have a specific topic or genre attached to them with the 16th February on a history theme. This is intended to increase the range of our writing abilities.

We are investigating sharing a stand at the Art On The Prom event in the summer and will consider providing a static display which can be used at other events. Possibly the Library will hold a Poetry Day display this year to which some of our members may wish to contribute.

Time and personal constraints reduced committee meetings to just one meeting again in 2009 but the lack of need for these meetings indicate that we have been working positively.

With the breakdown of the felixstowescribblers.com website and the sudden inability to post on our weblog Dave decided the best thing was to set up this new weblog (http://scribblers2010.blogspot.com) Whether this remains our weblog or if we are able to revert to the original one will be decided in due course.

Former regular Ken is now living in Cyprus and has been building some websites via a hosting company at www.pickaweb.com for around £8.99 a year, food for thought.

Dave confirmed that he will remain as secretary until the 1st May 2010 which will mark ten years as secretary so it is now up to Felixstowe Scribblers to decide on a replacement. The remainder of the committee has been re-elected for a further year.

Again thanks to everyone who has supported the Scribblers over the past year with special mention to Liliane for religiously collecting the library key.

Hoping 2010 will be a successful and profitable year.