This year has flown by; it seems like only a couple of months since the last AGM. This has been a year of transition in our theatre. It has been a year of changes but I guess that we can say all the years fly by in the theatre as we are always busy.

We now have new backdrops one is already up and been used for Fawlty Towers, and another two waiting to be put up once the Christmas show is over. I wonder how many shows have been painted on the old ones; by the weight of them I can say there is a lot of history on those drops.

We have new lighting, new flats, new stage floor, new dishwasher, new members using the theatre, new members on stage, building sets, working backstage, front of house and nominating for positions on the committee. It has been a very busy year with some excellent shows and excellent new talent and this has made me proud to represent T8 as President. The committee has been very busy keeping up with all these happenings and it doesn’t stop in 2011 as there are more shows and changes planned.

On a more serious note we are still in consultation with the City of GG re the Vesting of the two blocks that T8 and the car park are situated on. This started in Jan 2008 when in the first draft our theatre was to be demolished to make way for a car park! We know that our theatre is on Crown Grant for Repertory use only, but the City still hold the Vesting of the land. More negotiations are to take place as I will not give up until I have explored all avenues to assure us that we are not at any risk as we do not have a new lease for the vesting even though it was promised in 2007.

We also have the situation of the Draft plan for the Eighth Street Precinct. I attended a workshop on Thursday 4^th Nov, with the stakeholders who are affected by the plans for multi purpose stadiums, these include, basketball, netball and badminton all of which involve our parking. There are 3 draft plans and in each of these we are to share our bays with other clubs therefore cutting down our parking for patrons, as the City holds the vesting they hold the decision making over the block! So we have to be a presence at all meetings and workshops to put forward our disagreement to these plans. We need to show our support also for the sporting groups that will lose their autonomy and freedom of choice through these plans.

I have to thank all the volunteers who have worked tirelessly throughout the year in the kitchen, front of house, bar, backstage, building sets, sound and lighting, sewing costumes, helping with the juniors.

Thanks to the committee members who have attended meetings and agreed to disagree over the many issues that are discussed and voted on, these are the issues that keep our theatre operating.

I attended a workshop regarding running committee meetings for a not for profit organisation such as ours and I would like to see a more business like agenda for our committee meetings to streamline our organisation and agenda. I think it is now time to take our business to a higher level and I hope that the new committee will agree to this. Another suggestion that I would like to put to the new committee would be that each director tables an advance budget to give some idea of the expenditure of the show. We can then plan our income and expenditure.

I would like to mention our supporters and sponsors (maybe we will get that sponsor board next year) there are many of them who give or lend props, materials and equipment I would like them to be acknowledged on our programs and posters to show that we appreciate their support. A thank you must go to Lil Wilson who very kindly donated the new dishwasher for the kitchen (It wont be the same Lil not seeing you with your arms in the sink all night) and to Robert who has donated some spiffy new lights that will really make our shows sparkle (enjoy playing with them Rob) Phil who has donated materials and time for the new stage. Thanks to all the wonderful people that give their time and love to our theatre on stage and off without you all we could not give the community the great pleasure that coming to see the shows gives to all. I cannot thank everyone by name as there are so many. But to the committee a huge thank you.

To all members who have had some illness this year I hope that you will be in better health in the future.

Doreen Howells

President 2010

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