12th March 2019
ALL MEMBERS OF THE ARTS SOCIETY, MENDIP.
CHANGE OF VENUE FROM 2020
Dear Member
You will recollect that I wrote to you last December and since verbally kept you up to date with progress being made towards moving to new premises for our monthly lectures. This has been necessary owing to the fact that we cannot be guaranteed use of the revamped building at The Bath & West Showground beyond December of this year.
After much deliberation and many visits to possible alternative premises arrangements are now well in hand to use the Strode Theatre in Street with effect from 7th January 2020. We have taken into consideration the travelling distances for our Membership, the need to maintain the same days in the month for lectures wherever possible and at the same time that we are all used to. On top of that, we have to look at adequate parking facilities and to a lesser extent provision of coffee facilities and arrangements for seating together with the technical facilities available. Only time will tell, but we are hopeful, that faced with all such considerations the response from you all will be positive. We are such a diverse geographical area that the quickest route from home to Street may not be immediately obvious but we are as sure as we can be, that wherever you live, the journey to Street will be shorter for some and very little longer for others.
Our greatest hope is that you will wish to continue your Membership when it falls due for renewal in the summer. With that in mind, I have already indicated at a recent lecture your Committee are not intending to consider any increase in Membership fees for next year. You will also be assured of more comfortable seating arrangements than currently exist, as well as an improved screen and projector enhancing the visual quality of lectures.
Indications have been given that a change may commence with effect from September this year but owing to lectures already booked, linked to unavailability at Street on two Tuesdays requested before Christmas, the transition has been delayed to the New Year. This will also enable us to arrange the customary Christmas Lunch in December as a Grand Finale at Shepton Mallet. Do come!
To overcome any doubts the following timetable will apply
1. April, May and June. Lectures as published with AGM at 10 am in June.
2. July and August-no lectures. Renewal letters will be despatched.
3. September, October, November, December. At Shepton Mallet on dates as published in the New 2019—2020 Programme.
4. December-Christmas Lunch following lecture.
5. January 7th First lecture at Strode Theatre. Maps of car-parking spaces will be distributed in due course.
I hope to see you all at the next lecture on 2nd April. If you have any questions do not hesitate to ask me or one of the Committee. With that in mind we are very much hoping that two new Committee members may be attracted to join us in the Autumn. Please give it some thought and let me know if you would like to discuss this possibility. We need you!
With Best Wishes
JOHN LEDBURY
Chairman.