Minutes: 2000-2001/2000-10-16

 

 

 

 

 

 

MINUTES MICHAELMAS 2000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MINUTES

16/10/00

 

Present: Gina, Roz, Oli, Baz, Andy. Liz had previously

sent her apologies. Meeting tried to start initially at 2041, but was hindered

by Andy showing us his new Motorhead keyring, Baz's complete inability

to open a simple packet of ketchup, and Jimmer arriving late but still

going to buy beer first anyway (a man who knows where his priorities lie).

Baz's offer of chips was accepted by only two members of the Committee,

who for the purposes of maintaining the suspense will remain unidentified.

The meeting finally kicked off at 2046.

 

1/ MOTION

Gina wanted the committee to vote on the motion

that "All officialcorrespondence should be worded in a professional and

consideredmanner." This had been brought up due to a number of recent instances

where people have been offended by mails sent by certain committee members

which have perhaps been deemed, er, 'not entirely tactful'. This had in

fact led to the resignation of David Damerell as systems administrator

earlier this afternoon. This prompted some debate, and there was some objection

to the word 'professional' as Andy felt it implied we were being paid to

do this; thus, the word 'polite' was substituted, and the motion unanimously

passed. It is agreed that the Committee, when acting in an official capacity,

and particularly via e-mail, should always try to rise above comments made

by other members or potential members of the Society and not retort with

anything which could be construed as offensive. It was noted that there

appears to have been a lot of unconstructive criticism recently and that

this is effectively worthless. However, it was agreed that any member of

the Committee that receives any communication that is important or potentially

inflammatory is to forward both that mail and their 'polite and considered'

response to the committee list.

 

2/ DAVE DAMERELL

This led us on to the subject of what to do concerning

finding a new systems administrator. Oli commented that Dave might be persuaded

to come back depending on the outcome of this meeting. At this point, John

Sullivan came in and claimed that he was a chiark user and that, with Ian

Jackson's permission, would be willing to take over our systems administration.

The Committee felt that this would be a good move, particularly owing to

the existing bad blood between Mr. Damerell and Mr. Hudson. The point was

made that Dave had put in a lot of work maintaining the mailing lists and

web space over the years, and any future administrator would be there simply

to maintain the status quo as regards the administration. There was some

feeling that in the past this position had been abused (certain instances

of editing and annotating forwarded e-mails to official were cited, and

likened to a postman scrawling his opinions over unread postcards), and

that this would be unwelcome in future. John is to speak to Ian Jackson

this week with the committee's backing and confirm this at next week's

meeting.

 

3/ GOTHS

Andy suggested Zyklon-B, in a polite and considered

manner (this wasdefinitely a joke). There is allegedly some feeling that

there is a growing rift between the two societies. However, this was generally

felt not to be as serious as everyone on chat seems to be making out. The

Committee certainly wants to try and bring the two groups closer together

if possible. Roz is not going to remove Calling adverts from the webpage

following The Calling's price changes (see WUS later), and is going to

add a link to the main Camgoth webpage this week. It was noted that the

webpage is supposed to inform people in Cambridge of rock-related things

that they may be interested in, and as such, The Calling would obviously

count. Andy at this point went to the bar to get his sixth pint of orange

and soda. Hardcore motherfucker.

 

4/ T-SHIRTS

Oli claimed that Andy still had 4 longsleeve T-shirts

and 7 shortsleeves, and possibly some old ones. Andy claimed that he'd

looked for the T-shirts but didn't appear to have them. This sounded an

oddly familiar story to some of the Committee. There was some nervous laughter.

Andy did claim to have found some of the old ones under the DJ booth at

the Q Club and were now at his house. Along with most of the rest of Rocksoc's

assets. More nervous laughter. Oli is going to look after the T-shirts

from now on, and Andy will bring them next week. It was agreed not to order

any more T-shirts until we've looked for the missing ones some more.

 

5/ MONEY

Liz and Andy will definitely get together at some

stage soon (no innuendo intended at all. Oh no.) Andy is to mail Liz this

week to arrange a mutually convenient time, although he commented that

now was not a great time for him (presumably something to do with his genital

herpes - joke, Andy, joke!). The publishing of the accounts was also discussed

- perhaps this could be done quarterly, and put on the webpage. It was

agreed that it would not be a good idea to put it on the mailing lists

as probably 90% of the membership wouldn't care. It was agreed that this

could be put somewhere subtle on the site, possibly accessed by clicking

a particular bit of Oli's head.

 

6/ BLACKSTAR

It was agreed that getting too involved with this

company would probably contravene chiark regulations and was probably more

trouble than it was worth. Roz is to put a link to Blackstar on the website

anyway, and we won't worry about the money too much; Oli said he'd contact

them about Rocksoc members getting a discount instead, although this was

deemed to be highly unlikely. Baz was momentarily surprised by Led

Zep coming on the jukebox. Andy noted that Baz had managed to spell his

own name wrong in the book.

 

7/ WUS PRICES

As of next WUS, we are going to have to increase

the entrance fee for WUS, for the same reason as The Calling prices going

up. As of next time they are going to be £1.50 for members, £2.50

for non-members, with the likelihood that they will be going up to £2

and £3 as of next term; Roger at the Q Club has requested that we

stagger the price increases. Half of the price increase is to go to Roger,

so that he will now be getting £60 per WUS plus 25p per person through

the door. We are going to review the situation at the end of this term.

Andy said that he would do a sign for tomorrow's WUS explaining this situation.

Dave T. who was helpfully standing near by commented that it was probably

still the cheapest rock club in the country and anyone who disagreed would

get a punch in the face (although now that he's out of the country, this

not-inconsiderable threat is probably invalid). Just for reference, Dave

commented that when WUS first started up, the original prices where £1/2

before 10.30pm and £2/3 after 10.30. Andy and the rest of the Committee

want to make it very clear that we feel that the Q Club is an excellent

venue, that we have an excellent relationship with the management and that

we owe a lot of our success to them. We are committed to keeping WUS at

the Q Club, and so discussion of other venues was not entered into at this

juncture.

 

8/ WUS SURVEY

Oli commented that it might be a good idea to

take another survey of what people feel is both wrong and right about WUS,

and what music they would like to hear more / less of. Andy commented that

he did not control what music was played at WUS, only what time-slots he

gave to DJs, knowing what sort of thing they were likely to play. It was

generally felt that by trying to get more of a particular style of music

played would not work, and that the best way of dealing with the situation

is to carry on letting people have slots and play whatever they want to

hear played. However.

Andy said that he is no longer going to allow

experienced DJs to plan sets in minute detail and then use this as an excuse

to refuse to play requests. There were some mixed feelings on this; most

people seemed to acknowledge the need for more flexibility, but Baz felt

it was important not to turn DJs into human jukeboxes. Andy said this was

not the object, and that more varied sets were what he had in mind. Andy

said he would prepare a set of guidelines that he would present to the

Committee next week to see what people think.

Andy also said that demand for sets had outstripped

supply, that he was booked up until the end of term, and that as of next

term he was going to be giving priority to the first years for the first

half of the evening. A discussion about half hour sets as opposed to hour

sets started up, and concluded with Andy saying hour sets were preferred,

but two half hour sets would be a recourse if the hour doesn't work for

a particular set.

 

9/ BRUMFEST

Oli has asked people whether they are interested

in going this year and quite a few have replied. Assuming that we get more

than about 20, we are likely to get a coach. Jimmer said that he was looking

into it and was going to get some quotes. Some of last year's problems

were revisited, and it was commented that it would be nice if we had a

driver who wouldn't get lost and knew where to park. Andy revealed that

our proposed trip to see Morbid Angel at Christmas is most likely

off due to most of the bands pulling out (sob, sob!).

 

The meeting was finally closed at 2157 with no-one

giving a damn that Earache were reissuing the Nocturnus albums next month.

Heretics.