Minutes of the Meeting of the Queensland Champion of Champions of Country Music
held at Kedron Wavell Services Club on Thursday, 16.2.06

PRESENT: Vice President, Dell Lowien (Garden City/Dalby/Bundaberg), Barbara Chester (Casino Richmond/Townsville), Gabby Johnston (Garden City), Noelle Wardle (Northern Suburbs), Ian Crook (West Moreton), Paul Wilson (ROAAS), Bill Kernoczy (Champs Web Designer), Paul Spencer (Northern Suburbs), Alan Salmon (Assoc Member), Walter, Lucy & Lance Coassin (Redlands), Sue MacLaren (Guest), Bob McMahon (Ellaways), Kylie Adams (Redcliffe), Sonic Edwards (Guest)

APOLOGIES: President, John Dillon, Joyce Green, Don Chester
Alan moved the apologies be accepted, seconded Paul Spencer.                                        CARRIED

MINUTES: Barb moved the minutes as circularized be accepted as a true and correct record, seconded Alan Salmon.                                                                                                                                               CARRIED

BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES: All business to be left to General Business.

CORRESPONDENCE:
IN:        Annual Return from the Office of Fair Trading
            Grant rejection from Brisbane City Council
            Memo – Ellaways
            Sound Factory
            Stephen Graham – Singer/songwriter
OUT:   Letter to all Clubs re nominations from AGM and details of AGM

Barb moved the Inward be accepted and the Outward adopted, seconded Gabby.             CARRIED

TREASURER’S REPORT – None available – technically because of this the meeting should be considered a discussion rather than a meeting.

GENERAL BUSINESS:
Paul Wilson – Paul introduced Bill Kernoczy as the new Champs Web Designer
                        Paul introduced Bob McMahon from Ellaways
Bob from Ellaways was here to mention a new event Champs is prepared to support for Champs – the Country Rock Challenge – to be used as a way of recruiting new people for clubs and promoting band work in Clubs. Proposed format is that Clubs are to nominate Country Rock Bands to compete for their clubs against each others for prizes – 2 categories – established bands and new bands – definitions for each category to be decided – anticipated prizes – Maton Guitar and amp as Club prize – Final to be held on Friday night before Champs – money after expenses to go to Champs
Barb thought that the Friday night was not available – however a temporary booking downstairs in the Community Room would be made – sound gear would be needed for downstairs – however it would be needed for the weekend anyway so therefore no drama – Champs to supply the volunteers for the night and would get door takings less expenses.
Heats to be held on a day to be decided at Brothers Leagues Club, Albion.

Songwriters Camp – 25 takers – any surplus would be donated to Champs

Possibility of a Stage Presentation Workshop with Deniese Morrison later in the year.

Tamworth – Our Champion Ryan made it into the Final 10 of Starmaker, also won the Senior Jazzer Comp with Juvenile Champion, Kiara taking out the Junior Jazzer Comp and also won the CMAA against adults.
Telstra Road to Tamworth – 5 out of the 8 finalists were previous winners at Champs
Former Junior Champion and 2005 Starmaker – Samantha McClymont – won Golden Guitar Best New Talent.
Joan Douglas spoke to Paul regarding a National Champs to be held in Tamworth possibly in conjunction with Hats Off to Tamworth in July – aiming to give $5000 cash prize.
Entrants would need to qualify at events similar to Qld Champs in other States to be able to compete – NT would be the winner from Adelaide River – Promo 2006 and real event would start 2007.
Question: Will a committee be formed and will the money go back to the industry and not to some business person.
Queensland is being considered the leader as far as this type of competition is concerned.

Sponsorship Document: Paul presented to the meeting a sponsorship document to be used to approach larger companies in the view to obtaining sponsorship.
Letter of support to be included from Ellaways Music as well as copy of the DVD produced from 2005 Champs Finals – would be seeking sponsorship for various aspects of the event – 3 levels of sponsorship – approx $4 to produce.

Change of Date – 2006 – Venue not available on the second weekend in November as this coincide with Remembrance Day so therefore date has been moved forward a week to 4 & 5 November – the same would apply in 2007 – could not be moved to a later weekend as it would create a problem with the Starmaker nominee being able to get the nomination ready in time. This may cause a problem with Kingaroy and Mareeba as their festivals are two weeks prior to this date and that would be the deadline for the programme – need to make these Clubs aware now that this will be happening.

Fundraising – some concerted effort needs to be made to raise money for the event.

Concerts – Sue MacLaren runs events at the Souths – West End and Souths – Acacia Ridge – artists normally donated their time – suggestion was that 2 events a year are run and the money be split with Champs – using outside artists and some past champions – need to be careful that no-one who is actively competing on the circuit is used as an entertainer. Anytime after June/July would be convenient for Sue.
Paul moved, seconded by Barb that we accept Sue’s offer.                                                 CARRIED
Ipswich Concert is on again this year, 2nd Thursday in April (13th).

Promotion – Breanna Gerritsen (Juv Rep) and Bart Thrupp – both appeared on Channel 10’s Toasted TV and Breanna in particular promoted the festival circuit and Champs – congratulations to both children.

Weekend Warriors – possible they may become affiliated. Bands from this source may be able to be used as backing for the concerts that are being proposed.
Diverse range of music could be used for these events. Discussion followed re including Clubs as guests as well – Sue mentioned that she had tried inviting Clubs and allowing walk-ups but it had not worked.

Ian Crook – Concerned that Clubs are not following the new age groups as suggested last year – need to promote this in what ever manner we have available – unfortunately not all clubs are on electronic mail so it may be necessary to do some form of newsletter – was in the Champs Rule Book also.

Noelle – Tread carefully with the National Champs.

Paul Spencer – Presented meeting with invoice for the Photos taken of the champions.

Annual General Meeting – Thursday 16th March – nomination before hand or on the day of the meeting.
Dell & Gabby both notified the meeting that they would not be present as it is 2 days out from their festival.

Bob McMahon & Sue MacLaren both left the meeting at 8.55 p.m.

Discussion followed regarding issues that were raised by various people concerning Champs – participation in other events (Tamworth, Gympie) do we get a return for what we put out – promotion, establishing a niche in the industry, without exposure promotion doesn’t happen, ways to make Champs more spectacular, ways of changing sections around to keep people later in the night or need for a strategic plan to approach sponsors for assistance – Bill offered to look at our sponsorship proposal to see how we can change what we are doing to make us more attractive to sponsors.

Backing Band – need to keep the backing band – Hillybilly Deluxe – regardless – they are the best in the industry and without them it would lack polish.

Kylie – suggested that something that could be included on the website could be things like – handy hints for Chord Charts.

Meeting closed at 9.25 p.m.

NEXT MEETING

© Qld Champion of Champions Inc 2004