Hello Ravens,
Sorry in advance, this is long, please read to the end.
I've mulled over everyones ideas and here's what I've come up with for our
charity Christmas content - Tower Ravens do the 12 days of Christmas!
We're gonna modify the popular carol with raven-y lyrics and content to be
released on facebook, twitter and insta over 12 days from the 13th Dec to
Christmas Eve. Each of the posts will be accompanied by a bit of info about
our chosen charity and a plea to donate.
Sounds good, right? YES! BUT I NEED YOUR HELP! Below is what I need from
you as soon as possible - and I will be harassing everyone on whatsapp. I'd
like people to pick what they want to do, but if I have no takers I WILL
ASSIGN TASKS.
Firstly, I need a 6-10 second landscape video of -
*A Raven climbing a tree* - you don't actually have to climb a tree if it's
dangerous! I'd be happy with a foot braced against the truck and arms
stretching out to a branch.
*A Raven eating brie* - for someone who likes eating brie obvs, and maybe
holding the triangle packet to make it clearer what it is.
*A Raven cooking peas* - a pan from the peas to the raven so we can see
that it's peas in the pan.
*A Raven chasing a bee* - does anyone have a bee toy they can pretend to
chase?
*A Raven drinking tea* - looking refined with a nice china cup?
*A Raven full of glee* - looking happy with tinsel in your hair and maybe
glitter on your face!
*A Raven with a curry for tea* - ideally sat a table with a nice spread of
Indian food in front of you.
*A Raven with a goatee* - someone will need to draw this on their face!
*A Raven having a wee* - anyone happy to be sat on the loo in kit??? (you
don't have to have your tights down if you don't want, I think we'll get
the picture)
*A Raven getting vitamin C* - drinking a glass of orange juice
So all of these need to be in kit because the song specifies "A Raven..."
but many of these can be from the waist up so a kit tee, our logo tee or
zipped-up hoodie will do if you don't have access to your full kit, or
don't fit in it, Ffion ;)
Secondly, I need -
A 10 second landscape video of 6 of you stepping a rapper step or a clog
step. We have 6 already from the DERT team so this is a chance for those of
you not in the DERT team to show your stepping. Feet and bottom of skirt
only. There's no sound so don't worry about being out of practice as long
as it looks okay.
11 of you piping! Do we have 11 members who have access to a
whistle/recorder/flute/clarinet/other pipe-y instruments? Emma H, I will
accept kazoo. This is just a photo, and kit (or zipped-up hoodie if no kit)
would be great.
3 more ravens playing instruments - ideally not pipe-like things, so
there's a contrast. I have a nice photo of Martin, Will and Pat in their
kit and I just need 3 more volunteers to take a photo playing
their instruments.
Some more dodgy dancing photos! This is non-folky dancing! I already have
one of Me, Becky, Ffion, Emma H and Martin (let me know if you four would
rather I didn't use these photos (I won't use the Becky in a cage one!)) I
need 5 more.
That's it! Thanks for reading this far. All photos can come to me on
whatapp. The videos should be emailed to me so they are a nice quality.
I'll put a message on the whatsapp after this email goes out asking you all
to let me know what you feel prepared to do. ONE MORE THING - I need to
jump on this as quickly as I can, please send me what you got ASAP!!
I love you all.
R-a x
Hi All,
Following on from last night, can anyone who has any kit belonging to
Ravens that is additional to their own usual dancing kit i.e. swords,
tankards, non-standard kit such as neckers, 20 extra skirts or whatever
please let me know?
I'll collate a list and cross check with the other bits that I've been
looking after.
Thanks for the super-speedy responses Fliss and Miriam
Hannah
Hi All,
Please find the agenda for the AGM on 23rd November attached. We have
enough people to be able to hold this, but if you haven't replied yet,
please do so we know who else to expect.
I'll set up a zoom for it closer to the time (unless the Hannorah zoom is
still going then), my current suggestion is that we start the AGM at 8, but
have a bit of a catch up before that while we wait for any late comers.
If you are unable to make the AGM and have any comments, please send those
through to either me or Becky.
In terms of the agenda, we've kept it shorter this year, though if there is
anything that you feel we should discuss let me know and I'll add it in. In
terms of officer reports, again I've suggested we only do three of these,
but if an officer would like to give a report or you would like an update
from one of the roles, again let me know.
The one thing I would like you all to consider is our proposal that
officers remain in place if they are willing to do so, until such time as
we are able to practice again. However, if you are an officer and would
like to step down, please feel free to - and we will elect someone to take
over.
I've also attached the minutes from last year's AGM, if you could read
through those before 23rd as well, that will make the ratifying of the
minutes a little smoother! The action points are below - though not
expecting us to have made progress on a number of these given the fact that
we only had 3 or 4 months of normal stuff after the last one!
Hope that all sounds ok.
Thanks,
Hannah
*Action Points:*
*Carried forward:*
HN to take stock of women's rapper emails
RAS pub federation idea to be developed / tested
HN awaiting westerhope video response, feedback once received - Disk with
dances, and notation received from Phil at Mabel day. To be reviewed
BW to send video and letter to Pearsons of Earsdon stepping
HTD to coordinate DoD /100th crawl idea
HL to return outstanding necker
EH review maximum spending on account
*New:*
Crawl organisers to ensure people leave pub at correct time
KR & BW to work out how Deputy Foreperson role will work (by Christmas)
Nominate Deputy Foreperson before Christmas
EW to investigate new practice location
RAS/EW to create crawl plan for next few months, share with Thrales. To
complete by Christmas
Tour Organisers to let RAS know what areas they can cover
ES to measure her short swords and let BW know
BW to respond to Jimmy Kilner Re: breakages - Done
Clog practice to be split to enable more people to learn - Done
EH arrange Bath Time reimbursement - In progress
HN/SC to coordinate kit requirements, sewing day to be arranged
HL bring in petticoat bought online - under review
HTD share petticoat links
KR to send original shoe place and dance pants links to HN - done
HN to investigate the above, and purchase pants for all - in progress
WA & MC to find new braces
HN to create updated official kit list
MC to organise meeting to discuss DART and fundraising - Done
EW to look up cost of team umbrellase
Hi All,
Very quick one on this. If you want to look more for yourself, the websites
are as follows (Includes things like constitution which will have their
aims and objectives)
https://open-morris.org/https://www.morrisfed.org.uk/
There is also the Morris Ring, but they have a history of not allowing
women (they now do albeit perhaps slightly begrudgingly)
There is also the Sword Dance Union, but they do not offer Public Liability
Insurance, so whilst we could join, they would be an additional rather than
a replacement.
One key thing to note, is that the *Open Morris are waiving membership
renewal fees for 2021, as such I would propose remaining with them for next
year*, given the offer is there*. *I am happy for this to be discussed as
part of AOB, but would suggest postponing any changes of membership until
we are back dancing again.
If you would like to join any of the Morris Federation workshops / talks
etc that Sue kindly drew our attention to, it looks like anyone can
register. The couple I looked at have a chosen charity that you can make a
donation to should you wish. More info here:
https://www.morrisfed.org.uk/events/
So, the comparison:
Open Morris Morris Fed
£35 for team, Individual £7 £35 for team, Individual £22
Newsletter: Dancing On Newsletter: FedEtxra
PLI PLI
Personal Accident Insurance - optional Personal Accident Insurance -
optional
Advice and guidance incl H&S Advice and guidance incl H&S
As part of JMO, standing against blackface As part of JMO, standing against
blackface
Sue Dyke Award/Douglas Pickering Memorial Fund Sponsorship, grants and
bursaries
Access to music/dance notation at privileged rate
Other resources
Events/Workshops etc
Effectively similar offering, but with more additional resources from the
Morris Fed, they also seem to be better organised and have a much better
website. Mostly depends on how much we care about the extra stuff given we
mostly joined for the PLI and generally have not otherwise participated. We
originally joined the Open Morris as some members of Tower Ravens at the
time were already members with another side, I don't think there was any
other reason than that. Most other rapper teams are part of Morris Fed.
Thanks,
Hannah
Hello all,
As you may be aware, the Open Morris will be voting on the issue of blacking up at their AGM in a few weeks.
We're not normally very active in Open Morris, but I know quite a few of us had strong feelings on this and I would propose that we do take part in this vote. I have attached the various motions that they are voting on, the first one is re. blacking up and after that it potentially gets a bit more complex.
Please read the motions and let me know if you have any strong feelings re. voting either way. Personally, I see this as a way of making a very small contribution towards progress, but I would like the team to be happy and am more than happy to discuss it! We will not be the only rapper team to get involved in the issue.
Please respond by Tuesday 24th.
Thanks,
Becky
Greetings my feathered compatriots,
It is my delight to invite you to the first ever virtual Ravens drink
tasting. Please bring a beverage of your choice and be prepared to discuss
it. Some things you might like to comment on:
- The colour
- The smell
- The taste
- The sense of wellbeing it brings you
- Whether you would recommend it
- Whether you would drink it again (not necessarily the same as the
above)
- To what extent the packaging played into your decision to buy it
- All of the above
- None of the above
Using Hannorah's link again because if it ain't broke don't fix it.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88229912812?pwd=S25RcmVrbGpDaldOZ2JBalprN3Mrdz09
Meeting ID: 882 2991 2812
Passcode: 859044
Hi All,
As most of you know, we usually hold our AGM after Thrales Day, though
obviously that won't be happening this year. I think we technically need to
have an AGM of some description - even if the bank might not actually check!
So, what we propose is that we'll hold a mini AGM to give ourselves the
chance to acknowledge that we aren't really functioning as a dance side at
the moment given the situation, but to just provide an opportunity for the
current committee to say that they are happy to continue (or not) doing the
occasional tasks that come up.
Once we are able to start practicing again (whenever that might be) we can
always arrange an EGM to sort out any position changes that anyone wants to
make.
I propose holding it on 23rd November during our usual Zoom - please can
you email me whether you can / cannot make that date please? We will still
need sufficient members there for it to count. A little later than usual,
but we aren't in a rush! This will also give us a chance to adjust any
details if anyone has any feedback on this as a general proposal - if you
do have any feedback / questions etc. please send them my way.
Thanks,
Hannah
Hi All,
Just realised we don't have a zoom set up for this evening. Think the idea
was to play werewolf (or mafia) again now that we know how it works! (If
Tori or someone else that knows how to run it, is up for that...) If there
aren't enough of us, we'll just have a chat and nominate someone for next
week.
Topic: Ravens Zoom
Time: Aug 24, 2020 07:00 PM London
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/78024124390?pwd=dmhpenJ3cEI5TVhlNkwyeDg1MlBwdz09
Meeting ID: 780 2412 4390
Passcode: 7xFPGF
Hannah
