25/05/2009 by admin.

A question raised in the “Any Other Business” section at the Annual General Meeting referred to Area Magazines. Margaret Taylor, Crewe AOS, had heard at another area conference that area magazines, in their present form, were to be discontinued.  The CEO, Tony Gibbs, stated that this was not true although the whole question of magazine production was being examined by a sub-committee, on which the NW.Area Editor was a member.

It is a fact that the Eastern Area magazine no longer contains reports of shows in the printed edition, but that these reports were available on-line.  Details of the societies, and the respective shows reviewed, are listed in the printed edition.

It would be interesting to find out whether or not members of the North West Area would like to have their society reports only on-line, and for the area magazine to be smaller, contain more general theatre information and to be printed on lower quality paper, to enable the magazines to be produced more cheaply.

Send your views to the webmaster@nodanw.co.uk with the subject line Area Magazines

Posted in Area Magazines | No Comments »

23/05/2009 by admin.

This was another very successful weekend with 480 sitting down to dinner before the awards ceremony.  The cabaret by the X-Rays, the junior section of Rossendale AOS, entertained and delighted the assembled guests.

 The members of the  hotel staff were again superb with fast, friendly service, despite the delays in delegates being able to get into their rooms.  This delay was as a result of a 2 hour external  power cut, which meant that rooms vacated the night before could not be cleaned properly until the power had been restored.

The Monday morning workshop, “All the World’s a Stage”, was very well attended.  Jeff Brailsford, an adjudicator of drama festivals for G.O.D.A. (The Guild of Drama Adjudicators) gave a very informative, often amusing, insight in how to improve chances to win a drama festival.

Martin Roche, the adjudicator for the NODA North West Drama Festival in 2010, then talked about the role of the adjudicator and what an adjudicator looks for in a festival entry play.

One comment received, by email, which echoed many of the comments after the workshop was over, was that the workshop was very, very entertaining and useful but went on to ask the question, “Where were all the young people?” 

Posted in Noda North West | No Comments »

03/10/2008 by ariel.

If, as happened at the AGM, it has become the norm  totally to ignore the wishes of the membership, perhaps it is time to propose a vote of no confidence in the council!

Posted in Centralisation | No Comments »

30/09/2008 by admin.

At the annual general meeting of the association last weekend it would appear that being driven through council is a move to make the location of the national annual weekend permanent, in Leicester. Whilst the logic might appear valid the practicalities have not been thought through
All council was made aware of the views of the North West Area Committee by email wich is copied below:.

• At a recent North West regional committee meeting the centralisation of the national conference was discussed at some length. It appears to us that such a subject is a major change of the modus operandi of the Association and. as such, should not be placed before Council with the expectation of them to vote without the opportunity for consultation with their own committees for their approval or otherwise. This does not serve the democratic processes of the Association.
• Amongst many other foreseeable problems the very idea that, for example, the Scotland region would be expected to turn up in force to man a national conference in the Midlands might not be a workable proposition, particularly in the long term.
• Suffice it to say that the North West committee members would not be able to support such a proposition.
• To the proponents of centralisation we would suggest that they examine who it is who runs and pays for the Association away from Headquarters and the Council. It is the volunteers and the Regional Representatives, with the support of regional members, who directly make the Association what it is. It should be remembered that the Council and Regional committees are there to look after members’ interests rather than rule the members. It should be further noted that centralisation has been tried in the past and, at that time, brought the Association near to bankruptcy. Only the responses of the then areas and societies saved the Association. (Ref: A Century of Service)
  We are very concerned that the wrong decision might be made at the A.G.M. If proposals to centralise were put before members without due process of consultation and debate any motion to centralise might get a yes vote because delegates may not be fully aware of the ramifications.
• North West committee members.

It would appear that the North West Area Committee is not alone in thinking the proposal a bad idea judging by the furore that erupted at the Annual General Meeting.  That the next National Theatre Weekend will be held in Leicester is a fait accompli.  Without reference to the area for the incoming president, the venue has been booked in Leicester.

A comment has been made which is worth quoting:

Will the proposed centralisation of the national conference be of benefit to the association? I fear not.  It will take control by the areas even further away.  There are dedicated people in the regions who will evgentually have less to do, which equals less involvement, which equals less dedication and which eventally equals, “Its headquarters problem and nothing to do with us!”

Members of the association in the north west are invited to post their comments by email to the webmaster@nodanw.co.uk

Posted in Centralisation | No Comments »