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Rev Committee Handover Meeting: 2 May 2003, 3pm, Room 8 - 23 West Road
Present: Lu, Natalia, Andy, Jamie, Dan, Alex, Chris R, Catherine, Chris T, Xanthe, Ant, Olly, Guy, Jacqui, Jocy
Dan spills tea; Xanthe arrives 10 minutes late with the excuse of having helped a friend on crutches do some laundry - no sympathy shown; Chris R admits to riding from John's to Sainsbury's on his bike during his undergraduate years - general consensus that he's sad.
3:15 - Peterhouse posse arrives - Ant is blamed for their standard of punctuality. A world record is achieved: 2 people simultaneously laugh at one of Chris R's jokes. Chris T tries to referee a wrestling match between two of Lu's rats - unsuccessfully, as they take no notice. Chris R has a gem of wisdom for us all: never put a light bulb in your back pocket - multifarious light bulb jokes ensue...
Agenda:
Apparently we had a concert - was generally good: money, audience, our singing and CD sales. Was well received.
Some social stuff was organised, well one curry which the social sec failed to attend but otherwise (or perhaps because) popular.
Chris R expresses approval of our rehearsal venue - good for stability to be in the same place each week. We had 3 new conductors (Jamie, Ugo and Guy); numbers have been good although a bit down on Michaelmas term. The band was very good - many thanks to Jens for organising this.
Environment: Xanthe comments on lack of name-knowing - it would be a good idea to have something to refresh memories. Generally thought to be a good idea - must think about this.
Chris R expresses a desire for the choir to learn to move a bit more in rhythm - more animation would be good.
The comments box proved only moderately useful, but it's good to have it there just in case.
Environment Secretary: Ant is the outgoing holder and Olly and Natalia are the new ones. Well done to Ant. Suggestions: don't try to befriend the President in any way; organise Pause for Thought early, otherwise end up asking people at short notice - Pauses can be: poetry, section from a book, play songs, sketches, Alex suggests paintings as well, personal experiences, committee intros.
Chris T goes through the responsibilities outlined on the Committee Positions Sheet and underlines special responsibility of keeping things fun when the pressure is on for a concert, and keeping the rest of the committee unstressed.
Xanthe suggests that perhaps the names issue is something they could deal with alongside the social sec. Icebreaker as part of the warm-up each week would be one idea. Chris R suggests this would help with the movement issue and is duly ridiculed by Chris T - Xanthe suggests the hokey-cokey.
Dan thinks the WiM idea of having the Pause for Thought in the break might be a good idea.
Chris R highlights the need to be pro-active in welcoming (although this applies more to the whole committee than just to environment secs)
Chris T suggests Haribo as a replacement for biscuits.
Music Co-ordinator: Lu is outgoing and Jamie incoming. Chris T outlines responsibilities from aforementioned sheet
Creation of teaching plan from the song list, which can be decided by committee at the beginning of term. However, this doesn't really involve the whole choir, and so we may need to think about this. Problem is that sometimes this means having to deal with unlikely/impossible ideas and people suggest songs without being willing to arrange them. Xanthe suggests Jamie could send out an email to gather ideas from the choir.
Nurture existing and potential talent - good signs of potential conductor = helping others, picking up parts quickly. Xanthe suggests people are more likely to conduct their own suggestions.
Chris T ceremonially hands over the Blue Briefcase with all the sheet music to Jamie. Ant points out that there's a central music resource from Rev National, but Chris T's not sure this is up and running yet. Band co-ordination can be delegated.
Chris R emphasises need to run punctually from 7:30-9:30 and Andy highlights the need to have a mixture of new and known songs. Guy points out that assessing the difficulty of a song before we start to learn it is a Very Wise Plan. Xanthe suggests that playing a CD of new songs every now and again during term would be good as a reminder.
Issue of copyright is brought up - Dan is to check the National minutes to clarify the position.
National Rep: Dan outgoing, Andy incoming. Dan suggests Andy just do the things on the Sheet. Normally 4 Forum meetings per year in a pub in Warrington (?!). Andy asks about best time for feedback to choir - Dan suggests at the end with notices and send emails to committee to feedback to them.
Xanthe asks about the level of contact with other choirs; Chris T says this is entirely dependant on level of personal contact. Xanthe suggests emailing concert details to other choirs to improve level of contact. Chris T suggests renewing contact with Norwich Rev - will pass contact details on to Xanthe.
National exists to help out individual groups - we could make more use of them than we have been doing e.g. get training down here as it's hard for Cam people to get away during term time.
5 July is the Rev 10th birthday bash in Warwick. Guy asks about accommodation - Dan thinks there'll be some on the church floor - Guy relieved to hear that church has new carpets.
Dan talks about new National Co-ordinator - will be discussed at Forum on 3rd May, so we need to discuss it. Dan reads out the application and it's approved by all.
RESITS - work in Edinburgh as part of the fringe festival. Dan is unsure of dates but will let us know after Forum meeting.
President: Chris T outgoing, Xanthe incoming. Chris T ponders meaning of presidential role: admin for performances basically involves having an overview of the term and its aim/goal. Keeping track and knowing what there is to do and making sure it happens e.g. compiling weekly emails (liaison with rest of committee).
Chris T to pass on details of venues to Xanthe. Possibly look out for a good venue (e.g. West Road) for 5th birthday - this may be in 2004, but there's some doubt about the age of Cam Rev. ADC is a good venue, especially as they sort out sales etc.
Issue of non-uni people wanting to join the choir - up to the committee's discretion. Under-18s raises a Child Protection issue; Catherine and Jocy point out that this a nightmare to sort out, requiring CRB checks etc, so is decided that we won't take non-uni people who are under 18. Catherine is to email Junior Procter to query the situation with undergraduates who are under 18.
Singing at weddings - tricky because usually in August and no one is here. Garden Parties - see agendum III. Chris T passes over the Presidential Folder to Xanthe.
Lu points out that we should apply to Societies' Syndicate for guarantee against loss. Catherine asks about Public Liability Insurance for concerts - apparently this is covered by venues' insurance policies.
A very ceremonial passing over of the Cambridge Revelation memory book to Xanthe.
Secretary: Guy outgoing, Catherine incoming. Acclaim for Guy's secretarial skills. Chris T reads out the responsibilities from the Sheet
Catherine delegates web responsibilities to Chris T and Guy as she is incapable of doing anything more than typing and sending emails.
Olly is to book Peterhouse music room for rehearsals. Design skills are delegated to somebody Jocy knows. Advertise concerts etc in TCS and Varsity, produce posters, flyers etc. Freshers' Fair application needs to be done soon via CUSU website. Minutes to be published on website.
Guy has nothing to add.
[Chris T suggests a toilet break - lavatorial jokes flow forth in abundance]
Social Secretary: Chris R outgoing, Jocy incoming. Chris T details responsibilities from the Sheet.
Chris R procrastinates and then suggests doing a Pause for Thought for visibility and helping the environment secs. Going to Peterhouse bar is nice, but not many people usually stay. Punting and going to hall are both good, but hall is tricky now that block-booking halls isn't possible in most colleges. Suggests social slot in rehearsal or as part of warm-up.
Xanthe raises issue of post-concert party - could be social sec's responsibility.
Chris T says it's useful to have a committee meeting in run-up to week 1, but this has disadvantage of limiting choir input.
Guy suggests there's scope in the juice break for developing the social aspect. Jacqui suggests silly games.
Treasurer: Jacqui outgoing, Alex incoming. Chris T outlines responsibilities from the Sheet. Dan suggests that given Alex is an engineer, we'll be late and over-budget. Chris R emits a belly laugh.
We have an excess and so need to do something with the money - needs to be discussed; one good idea is to donate some to Czech Rev. As such, is the membership fee still necessary? Dan to investigate at Forum how much we should give them, as haven't given to the National for a while. Jacqui hands over stuff to Alex. Catherine, Xanthe and Alex to be signatories on Rev account this year. Need to go to the bank this week to sort out the mandate for this.
[biscuit break]
Lu points out that initial concert expenditure can be got from the Societies' Syndicate. Xanthe suggests we donate £200, split between Czech Rev and the National - Dan to find out at Forum how we should split it. Then we should keep an eye on our giving and keep our commitment to Czech Rev regular. Jacqui stresses the need to keep receipts for all expenditure.
Garden Parties: we want our own - Chris T suggests combing with A Cappella Society as a whole or Jesus College Gospel Choir. (We're part of the A Cappella society and Lu is to update the committee details as she's on the committee). We need to sort out: venue, refreshments (Lu to do the supermarket run in her car). Catherine to check out the rules for booking Garden Parties at John's. Other possibility is Peterhouse (£50 flat rate); Natalia to check out Tit Hall and Jamie and Lu will investigate Selwyn. Looking at 19 June as best date.
Amnesty want us to sing at their Garden Party at Hughes Hall.
Songs: Garden Party stuff needs to be a cappella, which is also useful for busking, so perhaps make it an a cappella term. Chris R points out that simplicity is of the essence in Easter term when attendance is sporadic. Alex suggests we could learn the songs currently in the medley in full to expand the repertoire. General consensus that "My God is Able" is getting a little tired!
Suggestions are: Freedom, Jordan, A Cappella, In the Jungle, Rejoice Rejoice, Eyes on Him, Be like Him, One by one, Bhombela, Goodnight Sweetheart, Go down Moses, Holy, Amazing Grace and some new tunes.
Xanthe: "I've been in the choir since I joined"
Chris T suggests encouraging people to get arranging/writing over the summer.
Xanthe and Jamie aren't in the country all summer so Chris T to turn down the singing at weddings jobs.
Dan has long-term idea of going to see the London Community Gospel Choir and Lu is looking out for The Duke's Men of Yale tour. Chris R has delusions of grandeur.
Jocy suggests having a cabaret just for the choir - idea from Edinburgh Rev
Possibility of having a concert in Freshers' Week - Chris T doesn't think this is feasible. Jacqui says aim of first rehearsal should be as fun as possible. Xanthe suggests reasonably well-known stuff.
Freshers' Fair stall - needs to be organised in good time - only a table is supplied, so need boards from somewhere. Another idea is busking to the Freshers' Fair queue.
Lucinda is trying to set up a choir at Barnies - is wondering about linked rehearsals - Jamie to contact her.
CDs - Toby has edited the Mini Disc recording of Lent term concert. Ant has CDs and cases to sell to Rev, and Alex is to burn them. Cover design (by Vashka) to be sent to Alex. Price £3. We sold out of 70 ADC concert CDs, so produce 100 this time. Idea of compilation of best tracks.
Xanthe proposes vote of thanks to last year's committee.
Catherine to compile a list of contact details.
Chris T is rudely interrupted by the doorbell, and with that, we finish.
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Colossians 3:12–14