President: Edna Sharman Chairman: Neil Airey Treasurer: Richard Hartzig Secretary: Chris Knowles Membership Secretary: Mary Coote Membership Coordinator:  Lynda Lowth Committee Members: Chris Briggs, Barbara Carter, Johnny Denny, James Hutchinson, Jenni Thornton Honorary Members Martin Bott, Barbara Carter, Joan Craghill,  Meryl Evans, Clive Faulder, Colin Fleming, Laura Houston, Judith Hume, Lilian Kelly, Jane Newby, Nick Newby, Kath Scoon, Jean Taylor, Brian Wilkinson, Doreen Wilkinson, Roy Hindley Made with Xara Web Designer Keswick Amateur Operatic Society The KAOS Committee meets once a month to plan, manage and review the activities of the Society.  The Annual General Meeting is held in September, at which officers are appointed and committee members are elected.  Members are elected by the committee to become officers (Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary). Annual General Meeting, September 2011 Details of the 2011 AGM are given in the press briefing below, followed by a copy of the retiring Joint Presidents Opening Remarks. KAOS AGM Changes to the Committee The 2011 Annual General Meeting of the Keswick Amateur Operatic Society took place on Thursday 22^nd September 2011 at the St Herbert’s Centre, Keswick.  Doreen and Brian Wilkinson were founder members when KAOS started 40 years ago, and in their Opening Remarks as Joint Presidents of the Society they reminded the audience of the “many devoted / talented / industrious people who, over the last 40 years, have been associated with the Society.”  Doreen and Brian are now standing down from official duties with the grateful thanks of the members for all they have done for the Society, and we are delighted they are staying involved. Edna Sharman, in her role as Chairman, gave a summary of the previous successful year, including the November Charity Concerts and the production of “Cabaret” at the Theatre by the Lake in May 2011, which received excellent reviews.  Thanks were given to all those involved, with particular thanks to Chris Briggs who took over the role of Production Director at short notice.  Edna has been Chairman for the past four years and is now taking over the role of President.  Again the members thanked Edna for her considerable efforts over the years, and welcome having her guidance in her new position. Neil Airey has been elected as the new Chairman of the Society, a position he has previously held, and we are fortunate to have someone of his experience and expertise to call upon to lead us. Richard Hartzig is remaining in his position as Treasurer of the Society and provided a summary of the Society’s accounts.  Whilst overall the Society made a small loss in the year, “Cabaret” made a small profit and was within budget, and the overall financial position of the Society is satisfactory.  Membership is increasing, and we are particularly pleased to welcome a number of younger members. Two other long standing members of the Society, Lilian Kelly and Stanley Hinde, are standing down from the Committee and we thank them for their valued contributions.  Chris Briggs, Barbara Carter, Mary Coote, Chris Knowles (Secretary) and Lynda Lowth (Membership Liaison) have all agreed to continue, and Johnny Denny, James Hutchinson and Jenni Thornton were voted on to the Committee.  The three new Committee members all played leading roles in “Cabaret”, and we are very pleased to welcome new blood to help take the Society forward. It is one of the traditions of the Society to recognise the long term contribution of members by conferring Honorary Membership status, which this year has been awarded to Barbara Carter and Judith Hume.  Congratulations and thanks to both of them. The Society is in good health and spirits with rehearsals under way for the November Concerts under the guidance of our new Musical Director, Colin Brind, and planning for the production of “Anything Goes” at the Theatre in May 2012 is progressing well.  We look forward with confidence to the next 40 years.  Further details can be found on our website, www.keswickoperaticsociety.co.uk. K.A.O.S. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 22^nd September 2011 REMARKS BY THE JOINT PRESIDENTS Good evening everyone. Welcome to the Annual General meeting of KAOS and the fortieth anniversary of the Society. We have been members of the Society since the inaugural meeting and have now decided that forty years, half of our lifetimes, is long enough to remain active members. For this meeting we prepared our usual  “Congratulations on another superb show” piece. That it certainly was - but you all are aware of that - so this morning we scrapped that draft and started again. We decided that these “Remarks to the AGM” should be about our involvement with so many devoted /talented / industrious people who, over the last forty years, have been associated with the Society. Each year when we produce our programmes we list “Honorary Members” -  those people who have, in many different ways, made invaluable contributions to the Society’s success. The first records we have found of Honorary Members were listed in the programme for “Valley of Song”, performed at the Century Theatre in May 1990. They were Martin Bott (former Musical Director), Colin Fleming (Playwright and poet), Mary Burns (Founder Member), Tom Sharpe (former lighting designer), Meryll Evans (former Set Designer) and Dr J D Mitchell (former President). The word “former” gives the impression that the Committee decided that they must acknowledge the contribution made by those members in the development of the Society. If anyone was the founder of the Society it was Martin Bott with the support of his wife Pat. He was our first Musical Director and even though the fledgling Society was not able to stage a production at that stage in the Society’s life he kept us going in the right direction, presenting concerts, developing our musical skills and along with Colin Fleming from Cockermouth writing shows that we were able to perform. He was our chief guide and mentor. Once we were able to move into that collection of aluminium boxes called The Century Theatre Tom Sharpe was there to advise and support our amateur knowledge of stage production. Tom was the lighting technician for the professional company. Meryll Evans had been involved in Set Design when she was living in Kenya. She was delighted to have the opportunity to work in a real theatre again when she and her husband Archie returned to Keswick. Meryll had the ability to organise working parties of all ranges of ability.  She ensured that everyone could contribute to the creation of the set. Mary Burns was a member of the Keswick Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society who performed pre-war in the Pavilion on Station Road.  Mary was one of our senior members and well-known for her cameo roles. Dr Mitchell was a well-known local GP and our first President. Our 21^st anniversary was celebrated with a party at the Rugby Club, organised by our President Archie Evans. He was a “hands on President” and organised the making of slate coasters for all the Founder Members – who then became Honorary Members.  These were Jane Newby, Nick Newby, Kath Scoon, Jean Taylor, Doreen Wilkinson and Brian Wilkinson.  All of these members had served the Society in several ways:  Jane Newby as our second Musical Director, Nick Newby as Stage Manager on several occasions, Kath Scoon as Chairman, Pianist and Secretary, Jean Taylor as Publicity Secretary, Brian Wilkinson as Secretary, Chairman and Publicity Secretary and Doreen Wilkinson as Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Producer and Director. Over the years this list has been added to and includes Archie Evans (President) of the Society and who organised the front of House Team – and gave each female member of the Society a red rose on the final night. Peter Rae, double bass player and Clive Faulder, percussionist were two of the three piece orchestra we had for many years. Vera Airey, tea lady, properties maker, set painter, and prompt. Laura Houston, tea lady, properties for the show, any other job where needed, Lilian Kelly, Membership Secretary, Hall booker, tea provider. Bob Mann, props (weapons particularly) maker, Membership Secretary, maker of realistic cows. Joan Craghill, Librarian, Choreographer, stage ‘lady of the night’, booking office provider. Roy Hindley, props maker, general stage hand when making sets. Karen Billington, not a member, but appreciated for her professional support at Theatre by the Lake.  There are many, many others, not just the Honorary members, who we feel it has been a privilege to work alongside.  They include Mary Gay Pearson, set designer Mike Aldred, performer / musical director Neil Airey, director / set designer Chris Briggs, director / producer Edna Sharman, costumes and reluctant chairman Mary Coote, associate producer and publicity and the late Phil Kemp, who worked so hard to promote a new theatre to replace The Blue Box and encouraged KAOS to support the venture; Joan McMinn, who was our pianist from the foundation; Charles and Sandra Crane, Stage Manager and Make Up It has been a rewarding experience to be associated so closely with KAOS and we are grateful for having that experience. Our thanks to everyone, past and present.