Dear
Friend,
At a
public meeting of the Friends held on 13 November 2003, the decision
was taken to become incorporated as a charitable trust, and this
legal process has now been completed. Our sincere thanks to one
of our members, Mr Graham French, who generously donated his professional
legal services free of charge to speed the process. The main object
of the Trust is to support and facilitate a continuing contribution
by the organ to the city's musical life. As a charitable Trust we
are now able to apply for grants (for example from the Community
Trust) to ensure the continuation of events like the annual series
of solo concerts featuring top organists of international reputation.
I am
asking you personally to become a member of the newly incorporated
Friends of the Town Hall organ. Membership carries the normal privileges
such as voting rights at the AGM, and receiving mailouts like this
one to inform you of concerts. To cover administration costs of
these and in terms of the Trust deed, we ask for a nominal annual
subscription of $3 per member.
Another
benefit of membership is that subscribing members will receive discounts
on the ticket prices for the International Organ Concert series.
Simply complete the membership application form below and return
it to our secretary, who will send you your 2004 membership card.
Show this at Ticketek when you book and you will receive a $5
discount on the already generously discounted concession ticket
for the series of three concerts. (One membership card per discounted
ticket.)
Details
of the 2004 concert dates, artists and musical highlights are given
here and it promises to
be another enthralling year.
As our
budget is limited we are not able to place large adverts in the
media, and we rely on our supporters to spread the word. For the
concerts to continue we need to increase our attendance numbers
even further. Please actively promote the series amongst your friends.
If everyone brings along just one new person this year, that would
be a 100% increase!
If you
have any queries about the new Trust please feel free to ring one
of the initial trustees, Martin Setchell (351 6450), Peter Barton
(355 5869), Delwyn Sell (374 4331) or Ronice Henderson (358
5093).
I look
forward to seeing you at the concerts this year, starting on Sunday
29 February!
Martin
Setchell
Town Hall Organ Curator and Trustee, Friends of the Organ
PS: The IR has confirmed
that if any member of the Friends would like to make a donation
to the Trust of $5 or more, such a donation would be tax deductable.
