PRESIDENTS REPORT MARCH 14^TH 2006

It has been a good year marked by very successful concerts. Our original idea of a WW2 revue was changed and ended up as Last Tango in Little Oneroa followed by a Cabaret. We did use one song from the war era and that was Lilli Marlene, which as you know was sung by both sides. A more comprehensive run down of our musical activities will be given in the Musical Directors report .We have all enjoyed the choice of music. We held a workshop in May and our first concert was held in June at the Palm Beach Hall. On the social side we held a Winter solstice get together at Onetangi Hall. This was a good opportunity to mix and mingle and socialise with each other in a relaxed atmosphere, away from rehearsals. As Palm Beach Hall is now our official home base we had a sign painted and put up on the board outside the hall. This was very kindly donated to us by Konrad Wolmarins. We decided not to join in the Waiheke Christmas Parade and Beach Carols because the choir is so busy at that time of the year, we felt that we couldn’t do it justice. Due to the uncertainty of the reopening of Artworks, our mid year concert was moved from the original date and opened at Rocky Bay Hall to a very full and enthusiastic audience, especially as the weather was atrocious. That opening really brought out the very best of our choir. We really coped with the small stage and backstage facilities and the enthusiasm of the audience and cast was overwhelming. We really did get rave revues for Last Tango . We helped to paint and generally clean up Artworks to finally stage the show there properly. We had full houses and for the very first time we had to put up a “House Full” notice for a final performance. A small group sang for the Over 40’s in October and we took the opportunity to advertise the show. As usual you all made our Christmas bash another rollicking success and this way of finishing up the social part of the year was much preferred to a restaurant meal. We finished up the year with a Christmas concert with Sister Shout the koha going to the hospice.

Finances are in good shape thanks to the good housekeeping of Mark James and Philip Symonds. Philip looked after them while Mark was overseas.

Alan and Eileen Boghurst were awarded Life membership. They have given many years of work to the choir but sadly Alan has passed away We dedicated the production of LTILO to Alan He never missed performing in any show that was staged by the choir and he also stood in as conductor if Richard couldn’t make it, we miss his little aside.

So many people drop tools and get stuck in when the choir asks for help and it is very difficult to thank everyone personally. To the committee who have been wonderful and have taken on all sorts of jobs outside of the job description, to Jack Watson who has been a very able secretary, and Mark James and Philip Symonds, for keeping us within our budget, thankyou for your help, suggestions and advice. The ladies on the committee were always there keeping the threads of work untangled and keeping us fed and watered. A committee meeting at 6pm. Followed immediately by rehearsal doesn’t leave time for dinner, thanks Marie. Jan McCartain has been the liason person for us with Palm Beach Progressive, Accappella and been responsible for checking that the hall is left spic and span and locked up properly after use .A big thankyou to Marion Robertson for being so patient with us and playing at rehearsals and Concerts and also taking part in the play, and to Kit Nelson who is there when needed. A special thankyou to Marion Knight who phones you all when an emergency crops up. To Richard, who is the Kingpin of the whole caboodle. His unfailing courtesy ,commitment and patience with us is awesome and to Mary who gives us Richard week after week, the whole choir thank you both.

Jeanne Mellamphy.