The TWFS committee
Why does TWFS need a committee? What does it do?
To answer the second question first, but in variegated sequence: decide what TWFS is for and what it should be doing, publicize the society to attract new members, answer enquiries about membership, administer applications for membership, maintain a record of current memberships, process membership renewals, manage the finances, produce annual accounts for approval at the AGM, ensure that we do not conflict with legislation (tax-wise, data-wise, etc.), negotiate with the cinema on terms, pay our bills, solicit opinions from members and decide how we need to change, maintain a database of members’ film requests and of films, decide on the film programme that we would wish, agree with the cinema a final programme, liaise with the BFFS, remind you of film nights, produce film notes for film evenings, attend film nights to stifle revolt, send out the very occasional newsletter, promote other appropriate activities, produce and maintain this website, generally watch our costs so that membership fees are kept to a minimum. Those are examples.
As to the first question, can you remind us what it was?
Who’s on it?
All are society members, either elected at the society’s AGM (usually in October or November) or co-opted since.
In alphabetical order, by surname:
Peter Crossley is chairman and membership secretary, liaises with the Film Centre, scribbles the rare newsletter, and maintains, sort of, this web site. He used to work for IBM once. Once, he thought he had retired.
Jenny Latham is Secretary, and our contact with the British Federation of Film Societies (BFFS) of which we are a member. She has a deep interest in literature and film, which may be genetic, as her forebears had too.
Ann Martin is Treasurer and writes the film notes which are always appreciated and frequently controversial. The committee has yet to find a film that she does not know, or a member of her family who is not in some way connected with the movie business.
Philippa Thistlethwaire claims, unsuccessfully, not to know much about film. She joined because she did not wish to see this society vanish and has, nobly, taken on the challenge of promoting us to the world and increasing our numbers.
David Williams joined the committee after a lifetime in the film business. He used to be a film editor, so you may well see his name in the credits. Like Ann, he brings to the committee a huge knowledge of and enthusiasm for film.
All are, of course, subject to election or re-election at the AGM, usually held in October or November.
Who decides who’s on the Committee?
TWFS members. They elect the Committee at the AGM, usually within 3 months of the start of a new TWFS year.
The Committee can also decide, however, to co-opt additional members for the remainder of a TWFS year.
How’s the Committee paid? In cash?
They aren’t paid at all. It’s against our Constitution. But reasonable expenses can be claimed. As I suspect that you suspect, in practice they claim less than they should and often nothing at all.
© The Wells Film Society 2004-8