Revelation Rock-Gospel Choirs

Cambridge

Revelation Rock-Gospel Choir committee meeting minutes

Minutes of Cambridge Rev committee meeting 06.10.03

17.00: People start drifting in. Xanthe plays hostess with superb aplomb. Pizza, Tanzania and prayer meetings are discussed. The bad jokes make a reappearance, as one could only expect at a Rev committee meeting ...

Freshers' Fair
1. Decoration of stall: Jocy's wonderful decorations are displayed. Everyone oohs and aahs. People are asked to bring music stands to the fair in case no boards are provided, and it is agreed that we can sponge off CICCU next door by hanging a "washing line" from their boards to string our stuff up.
  Times and materials to put up on our stall are agreed. Everyone is asked to arrive as close to 12pm as possible to arrange the stall.
  Xanthe will check that our website is up to date and ask Chris to put the first rehearsal on. She will also bring blu tack...
2. Sign-up sheets: Alex is to organise these.
3. Haribo: Xanthe is to get 5 tubs of Haribo.
4. Manning the stall: Everyone is asked to wear their Rev T-shirts and use the back stairs, being VIPs (or rather, not freshers).
  The hours for the fair are:
  Tuesday - 12pm setting up, 1pm disabled students enter, 2pm everyone else enters, 7pm fair closes, 8pm everyone must be out. Wednesday - 9.30am setting up, 10am everyone arrives, 4.30pm fair closes, 4.30pm everyone must be out.
  It is agreed that the stall will be manned as follows:
  Tuesday: Jocy and Alex (1-3pm), Ant and Chris (3-5pm), Jens and Xanthe (5-7pm)
  Wednesday: Jamie and Alex (10am-12pm), Olly and Natalia (12-2pm), Andy and Xanthe (2-4pm)
  Xanthe will set up an e-mail list for the freshers, which will last for approximately three weeks.
First Rehearsal
1. Monday 13^th October, 7.30-9.30pm, Selwyn Chapel: It is agreed that the first rehearsal should be "fun". People will be made to have fun if they are not already having it. Alex suggests bungee jumping from the chapel roof would be "fun". The idea is considered but regretfully shelved.
2. Getting to know you: Natalia and Olly are to think of games for the warm-up and juice break to help people get to know each other. It has been said that Rev does not move very much, so it is agreed that Jamie will tell whoever is doing warm-ups to use action songs, especially silly ones like "heads, shoulders, knees and toes" and the hokey-kokey.
3. PFT to introduce the committee: Natalia and Olly will come up with a silly introduction of the committee for the pause for thought. Everyone is to wear their Rev T-shirts and wear stickers.
  Everyone is to wear their stickers for the next couple of weeks as well, and introduce themselves briefly too.
4. Drinks afterwards: It is agreed that everyone at the rehearsal should be encouraged to come to the Selwyn bar together for drinks afterwards, so that we all socialise a bit.
Secretary
As nobody has put themselves forward to fill the vacant post of Secretary, it is agreed that the post will be advertised in rehearsals and by e-mail (though not in the list exclusively for freshers). Everyone is to keep an eye out (prompting exclamation of "ouch" from Alex) for a suitable person, and Xanthe is to check in the constitution whether a no-member of the University can hold the post.
Xanthe also mentions that two ex-Revvers from other choirs will be joining us next term.
President's (and Secretary's) stuff
1. Review of last term: Xanthe informs us that there was positive feedback from Amnesty and Newnham CU after we sang at their parties, and all agree that the garden party went very well.
  Attendance was slightly sporadic but this was to be expected in Easter term.
  Since we were short on sopranos, it is decided that we should see what numbers were like, and emphasise that the sopranos do not always sing the tune or "the high part". Using scales during the warm-up or checking people's ranges on the piano would also be helpful.
  The different sections should be mixed up for warm-ups, and then separated.
2. Aims and values booklet: it is decided that Xanthe should try to update Chris' booklet for the rehearsal on Monday, with the help of Alex and his text recognition scanner.
3. Hoodies and T-shirts: Jamie points out that requests have been made for skinny-fit T-shirts for girls.
  Since not many T-shirts are left, it is decided was more should be produced in the same colour and design. Either Xanthe or Jocy are to sort these out with Talking T's later in the term (according to an anonymous member of the group, his T-shirt doesn't talk).
  It is agreed that optional hoodies should have a firm design by week 4. These should have the Cambridge and Rev crests on the front, and "Revelation" on the back with a punting burpy. Jocy is to talk to the person in Edinburgh Rev responsible for their hoodies, and find out prices from Talking T's. Everyone is to think about a colour scheme.
4. Choir festival this term: it is agreed that we should not join this, since extra music would have to be learnt.
5. Tufts Beezelbubs: it is agreed that we should not sing with this group either.
6. Alvin Stardust: Natalia is to e-mail Phill Barnes to find out what is happening, whether Rev National sanctions the events and whether they should be publicised to the choir.
7. CICCU mission: it is agreed that Rev could do background music on one or two nights of the 2-week mission. We may have to slow down some of the music and quieten it so that we are more low-key. The mission should be kept in mind for next term. It is suggested that old members could sing some songs as a smaller group, and everyone could sing other songs, possibly with an extra rehearsal.
  [The meeting breaks up for pizza. Discussion is much facilitated thereafter by stringy cheese and other exciting things on pizza.]
8. Michaelmas term concert: since the ADC has not requested that we perform, various options are discussed. It is suggested that we could ask the ADC, or hold a Rev cabaret/sing along/both. It is agreed that Natalia and Olly should organise the Christmas party/cabaret/sing along.
9. Christmas busking: it is agreed that this would be a good idea. Jocy has a dilemma over whether the Hawaiian or Meat Feast would be the best for her.
10. Lent term concert venue: various options are once more discussed, such as Holy Trinity, the ADC main show, or going somewhere else to be entirely different. Xanthe will find out about the ADC for Lent. It is agreed that we should not be in the same venue for both concerts. Jocy takes photos of Alex enjoying stringy cheese.
11. Memory book: Andy mentions that this had been left behind at the Rev Ball. He assures us that it is somewhere (rather than nowhere) and will be back by the 22^nd November. On a completely unrelated topic, Jamie urges us to patronise his webpage www.selwynhallqueue.ww.com if we are ever bored. Much interesting discussion ensues.
Music Co-ordinator's Stuff
1. Review of last term: Jamie states that the last term was fun, and the only problem was that soloists need to be sorted out earlier in the term. It is agreed that this should be done at the beginning of the song, and potential soloists should be encouraged to volunteer by the fact that they will be taught the solo. The committee should also look out for soloists. Jocy's pizza dilemma is resolved when she goes for the Meat Feast.
2. Music for this term: Jamie has lots of stuff. He discusses his music list with us, which amounts to about 12 songs. It is decided that we should do one new song and one old song at the first rehearsal. Details will be available from Jamie.
3. Busking stuff: it is agreed that we should sing Christmas carols with improvised harmonies, as well as some of last year's stuff.
Treasurer's stuff
1. Review of last term: Alex informs us that we currently have approximately £470.
2. Current situation: seems to have been covered above....
3. £50 for Catherine's present: has been sorted out.
4. Donation to National/Czechs: £200 has been sent to National.
5. Freshers' fair stall: £20 has been paid to CUSU.
6. It is agreed that the remaining CDs should be brought to rehearsals to sell.
7. Since money is needed for T-shirts and possibly the ADC, it is agreed that a cheque should only be sent to National if money was needed immediately.
8. Subs will not be charged unless necessary (in which case they will still be optional).
9. It is agreed that Natalia will get hold of some cups, and we should get cakes instead of biscuits for the juice break in the first rehearsal.
National Rep's stuff
1. Review of last term: Andy tells us that the Rev Ball was really good, and that Resits was great, despite small numbers. It is agreed that we should encourage people to go to Resits next year.
2. Stuff coming up this term: Andy informs us that training weekends will now be known as "weekends away". The Southern Training Weekend is in Oxford from the 14^th to the 16^th of November. Jon has encouraged full executives to go. Social events, workshops, singing and performance in a Sunday morning church service are part of the weekend.
  WiM is going to be in Hull, and will take place between the 3^rd and 10^th April 2004. A WiM Co-ordinator is desperately needed, and Andy will use a pause for thought to talk about WiM.
  Andy also tells us that the southern region is to have 2 regional workers, one of whom is likely to visit us.
3. Norwich Rev: Xanthe informs us that she has contacted Norwich Rev about a joint rehearsal but has not yet received a reply.
4. Andy also tells us that Rev National has positions that need filling, so if we know of any graduates who would consider applying, the information should be passed on.
Social Secretary's stuff
1. Review of last term: according to Jocy, not many events were held last term, and some of the ex-Cambridge Revvers at the Rev Ball were disappointed that there was no event to say goodbye to the leavers. It is agreed that this information should be passed on to the next committee.
2. Plans for term ahead: it is decided that one person in each section should organise a sectional meal in week 7. Jamie is to organise the tenors and basses, Jocy the altos and Natalia the sopranos.
3. It is agreed that the sections should be mixed up for easy songs (people only allowed to stand next to one other person from their section).
4. Jocy is to research curry houses for a curry in week 3 or 4.
5. It is agreed that people will contribute food to the Christmas party.
6. It is also agreed that Laserquest will be on the 1^st December at 6pm, before the Rev rehearsal.
7. Natalia is to check when and where LCGC are holding concerts, in case a group would like to go.
8. We are to advertise for new musicians (totally unrelated to Social Sec, but never mind).
9. Prayer meetings are to be held at 7pm before every Rev rehearsal, and Olly is to co-ordinate these.
Environment Secretarys' stuff
1. Review of last term: Natalia points out that it was difficult to find people to do pfts. It is decided that we will email around asking people to volunteer, and also mention it in the first pft. And keep mentioning it from week 1 onwards.
2. PFTs: covered above.... Xanthe mentions that if the worst come to the worst, the committee can cover the pfts at the drop of a hat.
3. Games: it is decided that we shall have games during the juice break etc., even silly ones. Everyone is to keep an eye out for games.
4. Rehearsal venues: Selwyn chapel is to be the venue for the first 3 rehearsals, then Peterhouse music room thereafter (to be booked from 7pm). It is agreed that a couple of people will be at Selwyn P'lodge to direct new people to the chapel.
5. Week 5 is designated Haribo Week.
Any other business
Xanthe reminds us that we should have an aim/goal for the term and stick to it, so we are all to think about this. Xanthe will email us.
Freshers' Fair - Xanthe will bring the Rev constitution and aims and values. We are all to be enthusiastic and wear our fabulous Rev clothing!

19.00 - The meeting ends, happily (and surprisingly) on time. Everyone takes away their jobs to do. And they all lived happily every after....

"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