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Chairman's Letter to Members of Walton and Weybridge Film
Society
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| Summer 2017 Newsletter to
Members |
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| Dear Member |
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I would have preferred this letter
to have concentrated on matters other than financial but, as I
mentioned during my address at the AGM, our resources are
rapidly diminishing. If you would refer to the latest accounts
(via our website at:
www.wawfs.com) you will see that expenses have exceeded
income over the last two years to such an extent that our
reserves have virtually halved. If this situation continued, we
would not be able to continue beyond the next two seasons. This
would be a humbling end to one of the oldest film societies in
the country.
The base cause is the significant drop in membership in our
2016/17 season – practically one-third down on the preceding
season. There have been no signs of dissatisfaction from members
regarding our venue or selection of films shown – reaction slips
normally reveal enthusiasm in more than 70% of completed slips
for our presentations. Our subscription rate appears to present
no problem – in fact it has been suggested [by a member!] that
it is far too low! Our first step to stem future losses will be,
therefore, to make the single membership fee for 2017/18 £55 and
the double £95, with the usual discounts for early application.
Guest tickets will remain at £5. We are also proposing to run
more raffles – one at the opening film, one at Christmas and one
at the AGM just before the end of the season.
We are hoping that we may be able to take advantage of Film
Society licence rates for films we show, which could result in a
significant cost saving, but the crying need is for restoration
of the membership level to at least the 2015/16 level and,
hopefully, to secure an even higher membership. We are widening
our publicity efforts but word-of mouth by existing members is
heartily recommended – if each current member or couple could
encourage just one person to join, added to the actions
mentioned above, our deficit would disappear!
Our aim as a film society has always been to exhibit the best of
international cinema, and the programme we are presenting for
our 2017/18 season continues that tradition. There is a rich
selection of dramas but not forgetting comedies, with several of
our choices having won prestigious awards at film festivals
around the world. Be there – and bring a friend!
Kenneth Wilson
Chairman
01932 226386 |
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