BRAG's seventh AGM on 9 October travelled back 7 years to remind itself of its origins, its progress from birth to 2009 and to consider its future directions. At the first AGM in 2003, the then President Gill Burke noted "If BRAG is to act effectively as a lobby group for the arts in (the then) Tallaganda Shire, and if its activities are to help raise members profiles and incomes then every possible person needs to join. Otherwise we could dwindle to become simply an esoteric group that has parties - which is not the point at all."
In this context, Gill Burke, in her parting words as outgoing President noted that in 2009 BRAG reports a membership of 100+, covering the whole spectrum of cultural and creative activities, and that many BRAG members also benefited from grant funding achieved via BRAG's auspicing. The Country Arts Support Program, the Regional Arts Fund and the 'Quick Turnaround' small grants were all sources of funds for BRAG members over this period. By acting as auspicing body BRAG enables members to access funds unavailable to them as individuals, plus administering the grants in a transparent and accountable way. Gill said that "over the years members exhibited, performed, wrote, played - taking frequent advantage of BRAG's Public Liability Insurance cover. Brag's purpose is to support and help them. To do this BRAG needs funds. BRAG has grown and evolved into a body where the natural progression took its members to the desire to create a tangible focus for BRAG's activities - "An actual place. Somewhere we could have a gallery, shop, performance space, meeting room, office, etc. This would not only be a locus for members but would also improve our fundraising capabilities." And the Arts Centre concept was first mooted."
The AGM expressed heartfelt thanks to Gill, and acknowledged the achievements of BRAG under her leadership, especially taking on the onerous task of pursuing the Arts centre, involving writing pages and pages of submissions to State and Federal bodies, completing a myriad of bureaucratic forms, attending endless meetings and, at the same time, having workshops for the Gundillion Women, running BRAG, writing newsletters and running The Silken Tent. Gill said: " Raising exposure is not enough, there have to be things set in place that will increase income generation and encourage mutual support. That is why I remain committed to the Community Arts Centre project - not because it was the voted instruction of the membership to the Committee nor because I've been trying to achieve it for the last several years, but because I believe its central to BRAG progressing and growing as an organisation."
Gilly announced that she decided not to seek re-election as President and together with Jill McLeod, nominated Judit Kovacs for the position, but agreed to remain on the Committee as Special Projects and Fundraising to continue with the Arts Centre project - either by progressing it to fruition or by tidying up the loose ends if everything goes belly-up.
The newly elected BRAG Management Committee (President - Judit Kovacs, Vice-President /Minute Secretary, Committee Members - Jill McLeod, Gill Burke, Susie Edmonds, Sandra Fisher and Samantha Maher, with the positions of Treasurer, Secretary and additional Committee Members to be confirmed) acknowledged Gill Burke's legacy, and , building on the achievements, expressed commitment to concentrating its activities on lifting BRAG's public profile, taking BRAG to a level that makes it desirable for all to join, with extra attention given to recruiting younger members, and to work with other community groups to the benefit of Braidwood.
Judit Kovacs
President, BRAG
Email a friend
Favourites
Del.icio.us
Facebook
Digg
StumbleUpon
MySpace
Reddit
Newsvine
LinkedIn
Kwoff
Twitter