Changes afoot at Scribblers

The recent AGM was over and done with by tea time.

Beryl has offered to take over as Treasurer and Liliane has will help as Social Secretary.

Our members want to organise a meal at the Brook Hotel on Feb 22 or thereabouts and Les will enquire about the carvery for that day.

We had a discussion on what members would like to change or have added to the meeting structures and Barry is working on a schedule incorporating all of the suggestions.

Everyone agreed they would like at least two sessions where two people with long or serious or parts of novels would read to the group, one in each half and in that period have all present critique the work. There were two members who said the lack of such evenings was a reason they were doubtful about staying with the group.

So then there were the suggestions of an historical homework meeting, a geographical meeting and perhaps a picture evening where someone brings a postcard or a picture and we have a session of writing about the picture, then of course the four words. A four word exercise was completed in the second half of the meeting and everyone thought it was both hilarious and brilliant.

Barry

Secretary's Report

First of all I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and hope that you all had a good holiday break.

We finished 2010 on a low note due to the weather. Our last meeting had to cancelled and therefore we did not get to have our little Christmas gathering. We will have to make up for that in the New Year.

Our membership and meeting attendance fluctuated during the year with some of our members having work commitments and others having achieved success (Ruth being one) in their writing and having to devote more time to the cause.

We have had several new members join the group and stay with us but we would look forward this year to encouraging a few more of our local budding writers to attend a meeting and hopefully be encouraged to join us.

The committee will be shrinking by one and a half (the half being Ruth, who has said if no-one wishes to take on the job of Social Secretary, she would gladly work with someone).

So there it is, Peter, our Treasurer will be unable to say exactly when he will attend our meetings so will be stepping down.

We now have the task of filling that role and that of Social Secretary. This report will be going onto the Weblog, together with any names that might have been put forward at the meeting.

Dave, our Web-Scribe, is unfortunately unable to be here tonight due to ill health, so we wish him well soon. He will be carrying on the good work for 2011.

Barry

Rural Arts Directory

A new Rural Arts Directory is planned for 2011 and aims to provide a comprehensive register of artists, arts organisations, venues and networks across the region.

The directory will be available free of charge to pick up from TICs and Tourist Information Points; it is also sent to libraries and schools in the District. Previous editions produced by Suffolk Coastal and Mid Suffolk contained over 250 entries and we anticipate even more applicants will place entries in 2011.

Entries into the Directory are free to arts and heritage organisations throughout the District and beyond (if your organisation has an influence on the arts and heritage within Suffolk).

The Guide will also be available as a pdf download from the Rural Arts Suffolk website which is currently in development and we also hope to develop an arts database on the website, making it possible to update on-line entries in between print runs.

Pen Tales

Visit the following website for Pen Tales

http://mim.io/292c8?fe=1&pact=2590150135

Poetry Competition

Details of the Thynks Publications Poetry Competition 2011, are available at:-
http://www.christinemichael.org/thynkspublicationslimited

Shivering Santas....

Well Jack and I actually did it - we went into the North Sea on one of the coldest Xmas Days ever - it was like walking into ice and needless to say we didn't stay in long.

Thanks so much to everyone who sponsored me. For those of you who asked to be reminded at the end of the month, the website is still open for donations and any amount at all will be gratefully received by the hospice.I don't think I'd do it again - but maybe next year I'll go and watch, wearing my thermals of course.Happy New Year and thanks again.

Jane x

How brilliant that they surpassed their target figure for the charity of their choice. It's not too late to donate if you wish to. Go to http://www.justgiving.com/Jane-Bailey0

Another Christmas Day reveller from Scribblers was Debbie. Well done to her and to all those who took part in the charity swim.

Quote from the Scribe - "stayed at home with my cognac - for medicinal purposes only of course!"

Our Next Meeting

Here's wishing everyone a Happy New year.

The next meeting is due on Tuesday coming, the 4th of January in the new year of 2011. Goodness, how time flies. Well folks, the meeting will comprise the AGM, in which all attending will be able to put suggestions forward and also to try to enlist a new Treasurer. Peter, our current incumbent wishes to be excused as his other commitments will preclude him from being at most meetings. Sad to see him away from the group but we shall see him again, that's for sure. Therefore, its is left to me to encourage someone to fill the post. or at least enquire about it.

As for the rest of the meeting, if we have time we shall have a short writing exercise using our four little (or large) words, being brought in by all those attending. These words, as you know, should each be on an individual pice of paper and, as long as Dick brings his hat, we shall have them mixed up and picked out by one and all.I hope you all had a good Christmas and are fit and able to embark on a new years Scribbling.

Best wishes to all.

Barry.