Committee - September 2008/09

Because the Fleischmann Choir is a class of the CIT Cork School of Music, the conductor has additional responsibilities for its administration and activities by virtue of his responsibilities as the member of staff from the CIT Cork School of Music taking the class. Nevertheless, since the choir was founded, he has relied extensively on the voluntary experience and contributions of members to administer the choir and all its activities.

Those members who have committed themselves to undertaking tasks and fulfilling responsibilities constitute the choir’s committee. No member of the committee is elected, just a volunteer. Any member of the choir can volunteer to help with any aspect of the work that is necessary for the successful existence of the choir. Members of the committee are not there “for life”, and different tasks constantly emerge, expand, contract, or even evaporate.

Anybody interested in helping and/or acquiring experience of undertaking a task, should signal this to the Conductor and/or Manager.

The Managers (John Byrne, Tel: 087-2795770 & Ali O’Mahony, Tel: 086-3317607) seeks to ensure that all the tasks undertaken by the members of the committee are done efficiently, effectively, and according to the requisite time-lines involved. They also seeks to ensure that the conductor is aware of all the relevant views of the choir’s members. Ali O’Mahony is also chairing the Sub-Committee taking responsibility for the logisitics of the choir’s visit to Dachau in October 2010.

The Treasurers (Jim Kellaghan & Graham Manson) account to the members of the Fleischmann Choir for income and expenditure in respect of performances, and specifically for the “Fleischmann Choir Fund”.

The Archivist (Betty Killeen, Tel: (021) 4372994) seeks to ensure that a complete record exists of the activities of the Fleischmann Choir. The Archivist welcomes any member drawing her attention to material in an effort to ensure that the archive is as complete as possible.

The Social Secretary (Willie Beechinor, Tel: 087-7689089) organises the choir’s social programme – specifically, but not exclusively post-performances parties!

The Stage Manager (Walter Beare, Tel: 087-9583291) seeks to ensure that everything that the choir needs in order to be able to go on the stage for a performance is sourced, appropriate and safe. The Stage Manager often needs extensive help from members immediately before and after a performance, and every member needs to offer him what help they can.

The Transport Managers (Dave O’Connor, Tel: 085-7393894, and John Daly, Tel: 086-1641212) are responsible for the logistics of the choir travelling away from Cork.

The Librarian (Shelley de Foubert Tel: 086-8707255) organises the music copies required by the choir. As all the music copies belong to the CIT Cork School of Music, the Librarian specifically seeks to ensure that everything is returned after use.

Website & CD recordings: John O’Mahony (Tel: (021) 4770740; E-mail: john@eastofbostonfoods.com) set up the choir’s website (www.fleischmannchoir.com), issued a recording of our recent performance of Berlioz’s Te Deum, and provides web access for (or CD copies of) all the line tapes prepared by the conductor so that every member can have a copy
Cassette tape production: Although the aim is for all members to access any sound files they need via the choir’s website, Aoife Minihane makes copies of cassette tapes prepared by the conductor for those members who need them/prefer using them.

Promotion & publicity of and for the choir’s existence, activities and performances is co-ordinated by Jim Cashman [Tel: 086-3550352], Alan O’Shea [Tel: 086-3884801] & Ann-Marie O’Sullivan [Tel: 086-8188163]. They actively seek to harness the help of any member who has media contacts.

The Box Office arrangements for the choir’s performance are co-ordinated by Judith Macklin [Tel: 087-2396295]. She co-ordinates advance ticket sales and front-of-house arrangements for performances.

The Line-Leaders – Emer Tobin (Sopranos) [Tel: 086-3449747], Margaret Mulcahy (Altos) [087-2213092], David Shine (Tenors) [Tel: 087-8129994], and John C. Ryan (Basses) [Tel: (021) 4968928] keep the weekly attendance record for their line and are the people who take on administrative tasks which have to be done on a Line basis (including ticket sales and head-counting for travel and social purposes). It is a thankless, but all-important job, and they have Assistants: Deirdre Ní Drisceoil [Tel: 086-3893041], Betty Murphy (Altos) [Tel: (021) 4541315], Brian O’Connor (Tenors) [Tel: 086-3896937], and Eoin O’Callaghan (Basses) [Tel: 086-1062819].

It is absolutely vital that each member knows who their Line Leader and Assistant Line-Leader are – and that they know who you are!

The “FC Fund Collectors” – Valerie Cooney (Sopranos), Ita Teegan (Altos), David Lynch (Tenors) and Finbarr O’Riordan (Basses) - collect members’ contributions to the “Fleischmann Choir Fund”. The contributions can be paid in instalments (multiples of €5, please) or (preferably) by two “term” payments. The contribution for the year is determined by the Committee in advance and generally equates to €2 per rehearsal. If anyone wants to pay by cheque, it must be made out to “The Fleischmann Choir” – not Cork School of Music or CIT.