Our Secretary, Linda Wilson, chaired this year's AGM in the absence of Paul Dutton who is recuperating after a serious illness. We send him all our best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.
Linda started by thanking all volunteers, sponsors, patrons, accompanists, scribes, stewards, teachers, the Trophy Secretary, performers and the organising committee, without all of whom we would not have a festival. She then thanked the Walker Galleries for stepping in to receive trophies prior to the Festival this year. We need to find a new venue for trophy returns next year.
No grant was received in 2015/2016 from Harrogate District Council although we did receive one in 2014. We have been invited to apply this year so, fingers crossed.
Linda thanked Harrogate Ladies' College (in particular the Principal, Sylvia Brett, her colleague Chris Briscoe and all the other College staff) for their support over the last eight years. They decided after this year's event that it was no longer consistent with an ever increasing number of College weekend activities and their increased safeguarding and child protection responsibilities, so we have been looking for a new home. We hope to make an announcement about that soon.
Linda mentioned the Music For Fun special needs event which went ahead during this year's Festival. She said that we hope to develop this further to enable people with a wide range of disabilities to perform and to gain confidence by being part of the Festival.
Linda ended her report by repeating her thanks to all the volunteers who make the Festival possible.
Prior to hearing the Chairman's Report we heard the report from our Treasurer, Mike Greenberg. It is sufficient to say here that the Festival is in a relatively strong financial position moving forward.
Work will shortly commence on next year's Syllabus, which will be available in September.
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