CHAIRMAN’S
REPORT 2009
The
challenge of my previous nine reports was to find fresh words to
describe the status quo. But that was then. Now the challenge is to
chart the way ahead, for the ‘wind of change’ is blowing through
Sain Clwyd Sound. It started as a gentle zephyr last year but has
steadily ascended the Beaufort Scale, so that my task this year is to
map the direction of that wind, to outline the effects of its
increasing strength and to reflect on its implications.
So
much has happened in 2008 that I’ve been searching for a plan of
attack – a structure in which to place these changes – a set of
pegs on which to hang them.
However,
the one constant in all this is our commitment to consistently
deliver (pardon the split infinitive!) our monthly sound magazine
that is Sain Clwyd Sound to the highest technical and creative
standards within our capabilities.
Back
to the pegs. My rack has 3 pegs – the 3 P’s
Peg
1 is Personnel, and I’m starting at the top.
Our
President in the past has provided us with a figurehead, but over the
last two years, starting with Mr. Ron Parry and continuing now with
Mr. Keith Evans, we have presidents who are keen to involve
themselves actively in our work – attending committee meetings,
chairing our AGM, providing items for our editions and promoting Sain
Clwyd Sound in the outside world. Redefining the role of the
President has been an immense advantage to us and on behalf of myself
and the committee, I thank them for it and welcome Mr. Evans as the
present incumbent.
In
his Presidential remarks last year, Mr. Ron Parry told us that we
were not getting any younger. Age and health take their toll.
2008
has seen the changeover in the Welsh Group, with the baton of
Co-coordinator being passed from Mrs. Mai Court to Mr. Wyn Parry.
Mr. Parry had already taken over the role of producing the welsh
edition from Mr. John Blythin, and is the key person in introducing
their CD edition. So he bears a heavy responsibility. We thank Mai
and John for their many years of service to Sain Clwyd Sound.
We
are all standing on the shoulders of those who have gone before us,
and this was brought home to us recently by the death of Eddie
Hewins. As Technical Officer, Eddie oversaw the introduction of the
compact cassette and recruited succeeding Technical Officers
including our present one, Mr. Brian Fenn. So his legacy continues.
My
theme is change but on the peg of Personnel we must not forget all
those whose hats and coats have not changed – from contributors to
editors, from copiers to distributors, from administrators to
technicians. You know who you are; we could not do without you and
we thank you: particularly Mrs. Margaret Jones, our Secretary and
Mr.Glyn Thomas, our Treasurer, and Mr. Brian West, our contributor
‘extraordinaire’.
Peg
number 2 on the rack of change is the P for Performance.
We
continue to deliver our editions on time and on budget but the
changeover from cassette to CD has passed the halfway stage and is
due to be completed by the end of the year. This has meant new
disposable CDs and pouches, new equipment for their printing and
copying, new procedures involving new skills – a much increased
workload for editors and copiers, especially has we have been
producing both cassette and CD formats throughout the year.
Vital
to this change has been the presence, expertise and efforts of Mr.
Brian Fenn. We have relied upon him totally to guide us through it.
Thank you Brian.
However,
once completed, the wind does not die down. Where next? At present,
we compile the tape version first before copying it to CD, but the
aim is to by-pass the cassette tape completely. Cassettes are being
phased out generally and the CD gives better quality and
accessibility. So items recorded digitally will be transferred
directly to the computer and the edition can be compiled on the
computer, prior to burning it to CD.
How
will this be achieved? Through the combined training efforts of Mr.
Brian Fenn and the University of Glyndwr – a contact made by Mr.
Keith Evans and developed to the point at which a course on sound
broadcasting, designed to meet our particular needs, and delivered in
Welsh and English, is scheduled to start in a month’s time.
If
we can achieve this, our P for Performance will have been pushed to a
higher level.
Peg
3 on the Panoply of change is Profile (and perhaps, Promotion)
Previous
years have seen Sain Clwyd Sound on the street in Mold, outside local
supermarkets, or promoted by talks given by Winifred and Brian West
and at coffee mornings – we have added an English group event at
St.Deiniol’s Library in Hawarden to the regular welsh gathering at
Bethesda Chapel in Mold. Not forgetting our website, designed by
Brian.
However,
this year we are one of the Charities chosen by the Chairman of
Flintshire County Council, Mr.Quentin Dodd, leading to a presence on
the Bridge in Shire Hall, and at the Charity Dinner at Deeside
College – resulting in encouraging interest shown in our work.
We
again won the Mold Rotary Club Quiz at Beaufort Park Hotel –
publicizing our name and boosting our finances! Mold Rotary Club
have been our main sponsor this year – not forgetting Clwb y Parc
in Denbigh and the Llanarmon Show – a change in the raising of
money prompted by the increased costs of disposable CDs and extra
equipment. We are grateful for their continued support, and our
association with them has spread to us recording their ‘Youth
Speaks’ Competition.
Radiating
out from Mold, we are planning to make our items available to
Calon.FM – the radio station based at Glyndwr University and
serving the Wrexham and South-East part of our area – and we have
started to supply our CDs to Hospital Radio in Bangor.
Sain
Clwyd Sound is spreading its wings in this digital age. Hopefully,
more people will know who we are, what we do, enjoy our work, and,
who knows, want to help.
So
there you have it. I’ve reached the end of the peg rack – I’ve
set out the stall – I’ve mapped out my view of the landscape –
I’ve mixed the metaphors! My message is that we really have no
choice but to run before this prevailing wind of change – tacking
into it is not an option.
So,
take down your gabardines from the pegs, don your sou’westers, set
your spinnakers and prepare to goose wing towards the marker buoy.
Let’s hope we reach it without jibing or capsizing and round it
into calmer waters beyond.
I’ll
close by wishing us all ‘Bon Voyage’, and remind you of the words
of another President – ‘We can do it!’