Metheringham News - 25th March 2010

From Dot Howes

Metheringham Amateur Dramatics ( MAD ) held their Annual General Meeting at Blankney Old School on 24th March with a very pleasing turnout of 26 members. Chairman Gaynor Little and treasurer Ingrid Burns were re-elected for another year. The new secretary is Sue Kelly and Fran Pembery has taken over as Membership secretary. The rest of the committee are Ken Frape, Rob Halls, Dian Robinson, Sally Wilson, Roz Treadwell, Pat Healey and Amanda Whitehead In her report Gaynor outlined the successes and disappointments of the various productions during the year. The disappointments of deferring Starlight Bethlehem and the Radio review and the one wet Twelfth Night were overshadowed by the success of The Allotment at the Sleaford Festival, The Shakespeare Review, the rest of Twelfth Night and the Pantomime, Pirate Treasure.

She asked for members to turn out and help when required to move scenery and props and sort out the container as the group are currently looking for more storage area, having lost one of the buildings they have been using.

MAD will be very sorry to see Anne and John Harrison leaving the village hall and she hopes their successor will be as helpful and considerate of the hirers as they have been.
Productions for the coming year include the Shakespeare Review which will be re-vitalised and reduced to be performed at the Sleaford Live festival, Allo Allo in June, the Radio show in the autumn and the Pantomime and possibly a production of Willy Russell's One Day Out next year. A Gala performance of Allo Allo will take place in aid of St Wilfrid's Church roof fund on June 17th.

Gaynor said that the success of a production should not be only gauged in financial terms but also on artistic terms and she felt members should be encouraged to be brave, experiment and use their imagination and also to take on directing and backstage roles.

The accounts showed a slight loss on the year but less than the previous year and still leaving a healthy balance. The auditor had given the group some pointers for recording expenses and membership.

The meeting agreed to allow Darren Hawbrook to create and manage a MAD website which will provide news of MAD activities and forthcoming auditions and productions as well as archive material, photos etc.

The meeting also had a long discussion about the administration of the membership. Resolutions were eventually carried to make all subscriptions due on 1st September, to facilitate the setting up of standing orders to pay for subscriptions, to have a membership card which can also be used to ensure membership has been paid before involvement in MAD productions and to obtain concessions where applicable. Auditions are open to anyone regardless of membership. It was also agreed to allow the committee to confirm and clarify to members the benefits of membership.
Following the closure of the meeting there was a short informal quiz.

There will be a blood doning session in the village hall on Tuesday 6th April.

2010 Easter services for the Methodist Church and St Wilfrid's are as follows:
Maundy Thursday 1st April, St Wilfrid's Church, Holy Communion at 7.30 p.m.
Good Friday 2nd April, Metheringham Methodist Church, service at 10.30 a.m. St Wilfrid's Church, Compline service at 7.30p.m.
Easter Sunday 4th April, St Wilfrid's Church, joint service at 10.30a.m.

There will be a Spring Fayre in Metheringham Village Hall on Saturday 8th May 2010 between 9.30a.m. and 1.00p.m. Tables are £6 and can be booked with Gwyneth on 01526 322633.

The Blankney Crossing will be closed to road traffic on Tuesday 20th April between 8.30a.m. and 3.30p.m.