MINUTES OF WOKING WRITERS’ CIRCLE MEETING AT ST MARY’S CHURCH HALL, HORSELL ON 17 NOVEMBER 2022

Present: Simona, Tricia, Sarah, Amanda, Heather, Peter, Liz, Carla

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Our November meeting started with our 30th Woking Writers Circle AGM. Copies of the Agenda and Constitution were distributed, and each item was discussed individually.

  1. The previous AGM minutes were presented; Tricia proposed these for approval, Heather seconded, and the group unanimously agreed.
  2. Meeting venue: No issues identified. The venue continues to be adequate.
  3. Chairmans report was circulated and read out loud by the Chairman. Peter highlighted some of the Circle’s significant events (ability to now meet in person, our dear Greg’s relocation), some things that make us successful (published work, review of local theatre) and some actions that we should consider for improving our membership and our constitution. Peter ended his report suggesting that the Circle should continue to be run as a loosely managed group and offering thanks to Hilary (our Treasurer) and Amanda (our Secretary).
  4. Membership discussion was deferred until after the Treasurer’s report.
  5. The treasurer’s report was presented highlighting that the current level of fees will not be sufficient to sustainably cover the Circle’s outgoings. The Treasurer proposed 3 options to remedy the declining cashflow: 1 Continue with the same membership value until practically unsustainable, 2 Increase the membership fees from £30 to £45 and 3 Decrease the number of meetings. Before any debate could be held the group unanimously agreed that option 3 should not be considered. The group then voiced that they would agree to an increase in fee, with the exception of Peter. Peter was then given the floor to present his argument: A higher fee may deter members from joining and the group’s active membership is quite low. Peter suggested we should create a campaign which would help us attract new members which at the current level of membership may be sufficient for us to operate. Tricia suggested that due to the overall financial situation, now may not be the time to attract new members but may be worth trying. Suggestions were offered by Carla & Liz (poster and leaflets distribution in key locations) as well as Amanda (online campaign). Simona proposed that the conversation be moved to a dedicated meeting where we can plan accordingly. The group agreed.
  6. Subs: Tricia proposed that subscriptions be increased to £35, Heather seconded, and everyone agreed unanimously for the increase. Liz proposed that should young talent wish to join we could waive their membership fee. Peter agreed and suggested flexibility should be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  7. Website Report: Simona stated that handover from Greg has not yet happened due to some technical difficulties, but a workaround has been found. Amanda noted that the website looks good, professional.
  8. Election of Committee: Hilary, although absent was proposed to continue as Circle’s Treasurer by Peter. Her confirmation will be noted in our next meeting. Peter suggested a rotation of the committee, but the group was reluctant. The group was happy to continue having Peter, Amanda and Hilary as Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary. Liz was once more confirmed as the Circle’s Steering Officer.
  9. AOB: Sarah suggested we should renew our mailing list and that every active member be made aware of it with Amanda confirming she will action the point as Secretary. The group suggested that we should ensure no breach in GDPR rules in regard to old member’s details. The group agreed on the mailing list being made up of active members and 2 years lapsed members. Sarah suggested we should review our constitution and add this point in.

NEWS

Liz announced that the Book Group’s previous meeting was centred around ‘The Promise’ by Damon Galgut. The group gave it a unanimous 8/10. Liz described the read as a ‘depressing family saga’ with little in terms of cultural nuance. The Group’s next meeting will be discussing ‘Brixton Beach’ by Roma Tearne.

READINGS

Peter’s poem was inspired byhis recent read of ‘The Lady of Shalott’. He noted that really old poetry, which he sometimes enjoys reading, is quite unsophisticated and sometimes bad. His poem ‘Punk Girl at the Co-op’ explores a mundane experience transformed into something exciting by the sight of the ‘Punk Girl’. The group agreed that the poem had a fair amount of entertainment value and even incited some laughter. Sarah praised the imagery as she could visualise the Girl as the poem was read, Liz enjoyed the poem so much that she did not want it to finish, and Amanda stated that the rhythm of the poem was great. Carla comments that it comes through as Peter likes the Punk Girl and Peter acknowledges her effort of dressing to impress.

Tricia’s poem was in line with the theme set in our previous meeting which she aptly named ‘Bittersweet’. The poem, a powerful piece, was inspired by her own recent revelation of ongoing Child Labour in Cocoa Plantations in Ivory Coast. Although innocent at first, the poem takes a dark turn with thoughts of own demise from the protagonist and . Sarah thanked Tricia as he felt she was open to a topic of which she was not aware, and the group agreed.

Liz’s poem, ‘Northeast’ was a nostalgic piece describing historical imagery of personal importance. The group requested a second reading as the journey was amply descriptive and the group wanted to feel immersed. The final image leaves the reader/listener remembering the snowy picture alongside Liz, with anticipation of an impending kettle which ‘would have whistled’. Carla suggested that the last two stanzas grip the reader really well but felt that the last 3 lines could be cut with no detriment to the poem. Heather, Sarah liked that the last line evokes sound, a change from the beautiful snowy image.

Sarah’s piece, ‘Empower Challenge and Drive…’ was a monologue which started off implying a strained relationship with another person. As the monologue progressed it is revealed that the relationship is actually with a banking service. Although the piece turned somewhat comical, the frustration of the protagonist was deeply felt through her interaction with the young woman with ‘dead bored fisheyes’. Amanda stated that the piece captures how we all feel about the lack of humanity in having to navigate today’s changing technological environment. Liz pointed to some fantastic lines such as ‘the ‘No’ lands on me and slithers down my throat’ and considered them to be visceral. She loved the piece entirely.

Heather’s poem, called ‘Brain fungus’ depicted the life of a fungus between moments when observed in her garden. Amanda liked the very last line, ‘a shared expression of warm blood’s unease’ and she feels very connected to the sentiment. Carla thought the poem was very physical, and liked the observation, and the unusual and personal perspective leaving the reader wondering on what she actually meant. Amanda said the words used evoke imagery very well. Heather expressed that she felt a sort of kinship with the badger and its unease at the sight of the fungus. Although Liz suggested that the poem made her feel unsettled Heather counteracted with the fact that poem in itself may not be the cause of uneasiness but Heather’s reaction to the fungus through the poem.

Amanda’s piece was called ‘BSC week’ which although an acronym, its meaning will not be shared here. The piece gives insight into the last week before half term in the life of an Assistant Head Teacher. The frustration of this last week is cleverly crafted by a multitude of events which at times are somewhat humorous, especially in hindsight. Simona suggests that this could be a piece we could use at a possible collaboration event with the Write Out Loud group.

Carla’s 2 poems were written as a workshop exercise drawing inspiration from two paintings and 2 pieces of music. Both poems, ‘The Rhythm of Watercolour’ and ‘Variation in spiral’, were well received by the group. Heather stated that she enjoyed the mix in the first poem and more specifically the ‘feeling well in the insubstantial’, the loss of substantial form through music, watercolour which she could feel very powerfully. In regard to her second poem Heather suggested that it is more open than what Carla usually writes but she enjoyed the imagery. Peter praised Carla for her use of the abstract as it encourages the mind to wonder, it is stimulating. Peter’s only suggestion would be to change the order of the colours to match something more familiar. Sarah suggested that the potential peacefulness of the painting comes through the second poem, but the last few lines carry a sense of unease. Liz stated that ekphrastic poems are fascinating in their ability to become more akin to paintings or pieces of music. Amanda liked the flow of colours in the second poem while Simona suggested that the first poem may not be making use of sound as much, but the second poem does it so much better. Carla’s final remark was to state that the abstract makes you freer to express or think whatever you like.

Apologies received in advance from Heather

Meeting: 15th December, informal

Jobs for December:

Chair: Free flowing.

Minutes: Sarah

Mince pies, panettone, and sausage rolls: Liz, Carla and Peter

Wine: Tricia & Amanda

Homework: Covent Garden