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Committee Meeting 16-May-2015 Minutes 

# NAWG BOARD MEETING -- 16 MAY 2015

## DONINGTON PARK SERVICES M1

Meeting commenced at 10.10.

### PRESENT

Pam Fish, Pat Newcombe, Anne Steward, Catherine Fitzsimmons, Kevin Machin, Chris Huck.

### APOLOGIES

Steve Bowkett, Elizabeth Guyver, Marvin Close, Joyce Worsfold.

### MINUTES

Minutes of previous meeting were read. Acceptance p. Catherine, s. Kevin, all agreed.

### MATTERS ARISING

  (a) (see agenda with these minutes) Kevin reported that the groups directory had been overhauled. He would like to consolidate what he should do next with the website. Catherine suggested that we list the competitions, members first and open after. Pam said that the Festival should be back on the first page. (see Kevin's handout with these minutes). The site cost us 33.94 for 5 months, £12 p.a. for registration, £4.99 p.m. for domain name.

  (b) Patron and committee pages. Anne will put together a photo and half page for patrons and committee members should do the same, send Kevin a photo and 2 paragraphs of personal information. C. Members should let Kevin know what they do so that future members can follow suit.

  (c) Brochure with Link logo can be given by groups to their members but individual statements need to be printed on 'Publisher'. There are 2 versions, one for members and one for group leaders to use locally. Catherine has altered the poster, it can be altered by groups for their own use. Catherine has altered 'Accessing your NAWG benefits' and made hyper-links to the website. Pam will contact Steve Bowkett about clarifying help with the self-publishing and proof reading service. Kevin suggested that we have a footnote to the E-Letter saying what we do. Pam said that we must check Mail Chimp in order to keep our lists of email addresses current. When a paid adverts expire Pam will send a list to Kevin to remove them. Catherine pointed out that we should be clear about what is an advert and when does it become an article, Steve should clarify this. She handed out copies of the promotion information for discussion.

  (d) Pam handed out copies of the new application form and readjustment of some boxes was agreed.

  (e) Kevin reported that the newsletter was going well.

  (f) BBC Get Creative. We are now a Creative Writing 'Champion'. We can't list the Festival but they suggested we have an outside people 'taster workshop' at the Festival. Pam suggested 3.30 -- 5.30 on Saturday and that Steve would present it. Pam will try the local newspapers for free promotion. It would be held in the Engineering Building.

  (g) Pam's People Competition, an article will be in Link for the 2015 competition.

  (h) We will continue to use the three links logo. It can be used horizontal or vertical.

### AOB

  (I) We need Steve Bowkett to be at meetings and Pam will ask him to attend regularly.

  (II) Finances. Warwick want a large payment and we only have enough money to pay it. Pat pointed out that most of NAWG's income arrives in the early summer and it might be better to spread the group subscriptions out so that money comes in on a more regular basis. She reported that we have 101 paid up groups and 55 associates members. Pam suggested that we raise the Group subscription from £40 to £50, Associates £20 to £25, Link only £12 to £15, starting on the 1st October 2015. p. Chris s. Pat all agreed.

  (III) Chris reported that Wentworth would probably have between 10 and 12 delegates.

  (IV) Competition Administrator's report on internal competitions is with these minutes. Chris reported that there has been a typical quantity of entries to previous years.

  (V) Open 100 competition. Kevin reported that we have had around 50 entries.

  (VI) Membership Secretary's report. See Pat's report with these minutes.

  (VII) Festival. Anne reported that there have only 14 paid up delegates so far. She said that we must push for more delegates.

  (VIII) Chris and Pam reported that they had visited Bardstown WG, Stratford on Avon, by invitation and had given a talk on NAWG.

### FUTURE COMPETITIONS

  (a) Pam's People Competition, see report above.

  (b) Should we hold an open competition for children? It was agreed that we would look at this again in 2016. Catherine suggested that we approach non-member entrants and ask them if they would like to join.

### FESTIVAL

  (a) BBC Get Creative, see above.

  (b) Pam showed pictures of Engineering Block where we have lunch and where the tables will be etc. We should allow an hour clear before lunch on Saturday to give delegates some time to themselves. Writers Bureau will donate one of their Writing Courses for the Raffle. The Committee looked through the Festival programme and through the Festival task list.

Meeting Closed at 3.35pm.

Next meeting will be held on Saturday the 25th July at Donington Park Services.

Author: Kevin Machin ♦ Created: 18-May-2015 ♦ Access: public ♦ Article: committee-150516-minutes ♦ Topics: old WordPress site, committee