“The Green House” in Bethal Street, for members to meet on the first and third Saturdays of each month during the Summer beginning on 21st July at 2.00pm.
The Chairman, Adrian Dearnly, felt that it had been a successful year with well attended meetings and social events and excellent speakers including Louis de Bernieres. The Open Poetry Competition was very well supported, culminating in an enjoyable Awards Evening. Despite unfilled committee positions and difficulties with the website. the committee and other members worked hard behind the scenes to maintain all services including updating the Blog. He thanked everyone and added that work is now underway to improve our web presence for the coming year.
The Treasurer Alan Rosser was pleased to report that we had maintained a good bank balance with the OPC generating over£700.
Doreen Rosser Membership Sec said that although numbers were down to 43 members it was to be expected given the difficulty with the website and the shutting of the Learning Shop which supported our leaflets.
Maureen Nesbit, retiring OPC Sec, was pleased that with a variety of helpers the Open Poetry Competition generated over 600 entries and turned in a profit.
Elizabeth Taylor retiring In-house Competition Sec remarked that although the competitions generated less entry numbers this year some of the competition genres were not general interest, however many members rose to the challenges.
Programme Secretary Phyllida Scrivens said that this year’s success had been a mainly due to Marilyn Fountains programme, She told the members that because of the questionnaire earlier in the year, this programme would be somewhat experimental although there would still be four competitions she had tried to fulfill the request for more workshops.
There was a lively discussion on ideas for the manuscript evening, - general subjects versus work in progress, versus failed competition entries versus feed back for visitors. Adrian decided that we should remain flexible and decide later what would be appropriate on the night.
The Publicity Report: Victoria Bartlett thought the general overall publicity had worked well with several new members. However in the light of previous remarks it seems urgent to work on different aspects of the Circle including our social status, friendly atmosphere, reasonable rates and diverse events.
It was reassuring to have 22 staunch members present with enthusiastic volunteers taking up committee positions.
Election of Officers:
Chairman: Adrian Dearnley Vice-Chairman: Sean Hindle
Hon. Treasurer: Alan Rosser Publicity: Victoria Bartlett
Programme Secretary: Phyllida Scrivens
Webmaster/Blog: James Dimelow
Competition Secretary: Anastasia Pope
Minutes Secretary: Val Fullerton
Membership Secretary: Doreen Rosser and
Assistant: Jaani Seaman
Committee: Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Taylor
OPC Secretary: Vacant
OPC 2013 and Circle Anniversary publication
There was a spirited debate when Adrian asked members if we should continue to have the OPC or celebrate our 70th year with an anthology of members work, or do something else (short story comp) or drop everything as open competitions took a lot of labour.
Diane Wilson suggested keeping the NWC celebration to 75 years as this seemed a more usual one.
Neil Walker asked if any members entered the OPC.
Put to the vote the majority voted to keep the OPC and left the committee to organize and decide how this was to be achieved.
Minor issues of venues for socials and other details of newsletter were then discussed before Vice President Elizabeth Bencze presented prizes.
Since 1943 Norwich Writers' Circle has welcomed writers of all genres and ages to its fortnightly city centre meetings. Our meetings, in The Sexton Room at The Assembly House, run from September to the Summer, every first and third Tuesday from 7.30pm onwards. For more, please visit www.norwichwriters.org.uk.