This month’s meeting was held on Wednesday 21 October at 7:30pm at the (almost dry) White Hart. The meeting was chaired by Andrew, and he did his best to scribble down what was going on. He also managed to break a pomegranate – sorry Graham!
Apologies were received from Jude Price (who did turn up near the end of the meeting) and Eric Dunlop.
Here’s what we got up to…
0. Any other business
- Rob said he had some new poems, so we decided to open the meeting with him reading them: Budding Poet, Extinction, Autumn, Harvest Home, and lastly, Silence.
- Welcome to two new members Maria Spain and Jacquie Novis!
- John said the meetings start too early – he doesn’t have enough time to have tea! He motioned that the meetings should start at 8pm, there was discussion, and we settled on 7:43pm instead. Now John can at least have tea, but no pudding.
Motion (John, 2nd Graham): Meetings shall start at 7:43pm. Agreed unanimously.
- Graham said that he would like to have a workshop day where the public are invited to pay just one entry fee for a day’s worth of various creative workshops.
Motion (Graham, 2nd Maria): Graham shall investigate the logistics of a “Dabble Day” workshop and report back to Whitchurch Arts with a firm proposal. Agreed unanimously.
1. Enjoy creative works that members have brought along
We enjoyed Rob’s poems, as previously mentioned. Graham showed a Shelly’s ceramic pomegranate (which Andrew re-broke), and one of two minotaur glass eyes. Maria showed photos of word carvings that her friend does.
John announced that his Whitchurch Bollards idea is now underway – the contracts have been signed! He handed out a pretty pamphlet about the project and asked if we’d like to paint one. He encouraged everyone to give him ideas for what to put on the bollards around town.
Motion (John, 2nd Andrew): Whitchurch Arts shall sponsor a bollard with its design to be agreed by its members. Agreed unanimously.
2. Membership renewals – pay up!
Renewals due this month: Graham and Gillian; Eric Dunlop; Tim Haukins.
3. Special recognition awards
Andrew would like Whitchurch Arts to give out a special award to recognize people who have had an outstanding creative impact on Whitchurch. There was enthusiastic support for the idea, and discussion about possible receipients. Suggestions for what form the award could take were also made.
Motion (Andrew, 2nd Graham): Whitchurch Arts shall create a special recognition award. Agreed unanimously.
4. Upcoming Events
- a list of our 2009 and 2010 meetings and events was handed out
- there are Art shows at the Parish Hall on 21/22 Nov (organised by sister group “Hampshire Artists”) and at Esseborne Manor on 20/21 Nov
- Hallowe’en event on meadow and our Creative Pumpkins & Guys competitions – prizes galore! Enter now!
- Graham said that the Charity Shop will be run by the Scouts near Christmas; and that they would like their window decorated
5. Data Protection
Andrew reported that the Information Commissioners Office, and their notification document (specifically Question 8), stated Whitchurch Arts does not need to officially notify (register) with them as a data controller.
This is because we are a not-for-profit organisation with a constitution, and the work we do where personal data is collected falls within the scope of our objectives – thus we are “exempt”.
We must, though, comply with the 8 data protection principles of the Data Protection Act 1998.
~ Non-Agenda Item ~
Graham said he would like to read out a poem he created during the meeting, so he did.
~ Non-Agenda Item ~
Motion (Andrew, 2nd John): An emergency break shall be made immediately. Agreed unanimously. Everyone socialised, went to the toilet and (tried to) refill their drinks over the next 10 minutes.
6. Off the Walls (OTW) progress
Kevin announced that the Whitchurch Doctors Surgery is the latest venue to join our Off the Walls project! This is very exciting news as the art put there will get a lot of exposure (to infections?). A meeting with the surgery’s manager is planned for next week.
Kevin and Steve Morris discussed the progress of a management system for the artwork, artists and venues. A demo of a prototype web-based system was given to interested members after the meeting. The website will be open to the public, with portions of it closed off to only participating artists and venue owners. Members were encouraged to have a look at the site and give them feedback.
John, our publicity manager, asked if the site had been tested on an Apple Macintosh. Steve said it had been tried on about 7 browsers, but only Windows based computers. John volunteered to have a go on his Mac. He also said he was available to meet up with Steve and Kevin to discuss the styling of the OTW website, with a view to make it and the main site look and feel similar.