Sunday 4 October, Johnsonville Club, 1 Norman Lane, Johnsonville, 2.00 pm
An Acoustic Routes Special General Meeting will be held on Sunday 4 October at 2pm, upstairs at the Johnsonville Club, 1 Norman Lane, Johnsonville. Please do come along if you can – the club really needs your presence, support, interest and input.
We’ll start with food to share from 1-2pm, and after the meeting (which will be short if enough people put their hands up) you can join in a Jam Session, Sing & dance-along, with invited guests Michael Muggeridge and Cara Brasted. They’ll be bringing their guitars, banjos, fiddles, mandolins, voices and energy! Be sure to bring yours too so you can join in, and maybe even dance!
The SGM will start at 2pm. This year we need your support more than ever. Constitutionally, our president is required to step down after six consecutive years in the role, which means, sadly, that Ruth Birnie has to step down from the committee at this time, and a new president must be elected. Ruth is committed to the club and will be available to support the new incumbent and help with their transition into the role, as will others who have been involved in the longer term.
At the recent AGM we were unable to elect a committee for the 2026-2027 year. The existing committee agreed to carry on until the Special General Meeting, at which time we will, hopefully, elect a new committee. We have a new treasurer waiting in the wings, but we still need to elect a new president and secretary along with a few new members on the committee. It’s a special opportunity to add some ‘oomph’ to the club!
It’s not a significant time commitment – we meet once a month over snacks and drinks to book musicians and plan the club’s activities. We currently have three main events each month, which need to be publicised and which require at least one committee member to be present to set up, host and run. Club members who are not on the committee often help.
Possible Tasks – Helping on the desk to meet and greet members and take money at the Concert nights so the performers can be paid. Compering at a concert. Assisting the set up and pack down with help from the audience at Concert nights, sing-around sessions and Social Club daytime sessions. Promotion of Acoustic Routes events through any media or networks available to you. Help with other activities such as the Joan Prior Award.
Please note that all of these tasks can be learned “on the job”. Your enthusiasm for and interest in folk music, energy and ideas are what’s most needed.
For more information about standing for committee, or to volunteer to stand for committee, please contact a committee member – contact details are on page 8.
If we don’t elect a new committee, the next step according to the constitution is to wind up the club. You can help prevent that from happening by coming along to the SGM and showing your support.
Janette Munneke for AR Committee
If you’ve got a moment to go onto Facebook, and you’re planning to come to the lunch, please hit ‘going’ on the event invite – it will help us with catering.
https://www.facebook.com/wellingtonfolkclub
https://www.facebook.com/groups/347362439094076