MDG AGM Voting Form 26 May 2020 Question Title * 1. Please select from the name(s) below who you would like to vote for as Treasurer Carol HennessyI have been a member of the Guild for over 20 years and have spent long periods on the Committee, both as Secretary and Chair. Having recently stepped back from full time working (I refuse to say ‘retired’), I feel able once again to offer some time to MDG.I am an ex-merchant banker (and am married to an ex-MDG Treasurer), I feel I have the necessary skills for the role. I do not wish to vote in this category Question Title * 2. Please select From the name(s) below who you would like to vote for as Chair Samantha PartridgeThe past year has been a steep learning curve for me in the role of MDG Chairman. We have had a number of challenges to overcome financially and then more recently how to keep our members engaged and active through a difficult period in time.If voted to remain in post I will be continuing the work, with the committee, to strengthen our financial position to enable us to have a bigger annual portfolio. I will continue working with our local community - supporting local charities and getting involved in local community events.We will also need to start thinking differently about how MDG can perform through the current challenging climate we have. At the moment we are uncertain of when we can get back to the stage, so it's time for us to think creatively about how we can entertain audiences in different ways and keep providing opportunities for our membership to be creative. I think I have the right skills to be able to support the group through this process - to use technology and different medias to keep us performing.Through our online script reading sessions we already have a catalogue of plays and directors ready to go as soon as Theatre life gets back to normal! I do not wish to vote in this category Question Title * 3. Please select from the name(s) below who you would like to vote for as Artistic Director - Please make only 1 selection from the below nominees Beth Monroe & Hayley SmithWe have been working on a limited budget but have seen a very successful panto which has given us the opportunity to plan for 2 festival plays, as well as a summer production in a new venue. Moving forward we have 2 years’ worth of programming in the pipeline which we are very eager to see through. We have a summer/spring production for 2021 and 2022 should the current climate allow for us to do this. While planning these, we have built a relationship with The Old Court Theatre in Windsor which we plan to re-visit for at least one of these productions. We also have two keen pantomime directors ready and waiting to be given the green light which is a position we have never been in before. We’d like to re-visit Re-Acts which are such a good opportunity for new directors to showcase their talents, and Waldeck House is the perfect space for us to explore this. Despite the challenges we are currently facing we are excited to explore other mediums and adapt to the changes facing the amateur theatre community at this time.One of our priorities at the moment is finding an appropriate time and venue for our festival pieces to be performed so that the casts and crews have a chance to show their hard work should they wish to.At a time when so many groups will be struggling, we’d be keen to explore more collaboration with other local groups to broaden opportunities for our members and theirs. We’ve held this position for nearly 2 years and through this time we have seen MDG struggle through financial uncertainty and have done our best to mould the ambitions of the group to work within our means whilst still striving for perfection.The Artistic Director is a challenging and exciting role, one that we are grateful we took on together as this allows us to give each project the time and dedication it needs by sharingduties and ideas. It is a role we are certain we can continue to develop and grow in, and we have a lot more to give to the role now that MDG is moving towards more stability financially, and with the forward programme we have put in place we will have time to focus on smaller projects providing opportunities for our wider membership.As we have said before, we are keen to make MDG a collaborative environment and produce shows that are popular with members and audiences alike. Melanie ShortWith my Publicity hat on, in the last year I have forged links with radio stations, local theatres and the Windsor fringe and tried to get the MDG 'brand' out there so we loved having almost sell out performances for our 2019 shows.What could I bring to the AD role?I have contacts in other amateur theatres, near and far. The current crisis is affecting theatres small and large across the country so at this time we need to help each other in the best way(s) we can.I would love to grow MDG back and be able to produce a 'season' so we all have things to look forward to. I realise that this may take time. Finances ain't what they used to be! But, like trying to find flour and loo roll, sometimes we have to look outside the box. I was really looking forward to a new venture into Windsor this summer. It will happen, just a waiting game.Ideas I have so far include a series of themed 'mini seasons' of online rehearsed play readings (such as local playwrights, thrillers, comedies etc), rehearsed play readings, an annual Re-Act fixture, forging links with libraries (many have spaces for putting on small productions), developing links with theatres both near and far to expand upon our resources and vice versa. We need to up our game. More so now than ever I do not wish to vote in this category Question Title * 4. Please select from the name(s) below who you would like to vote for as Production Manager Kristina PerkinsMoving over from Facilities to Production sees a different challenge and one that I would like to embrace. In this role I foresee that this would principally be tackling issues to maintain professionalism and diligence, from auditions to stage, to facilitate a smooth path for all our productions. Although this position has been vacant for a while, I would enjoy the journey of creating my own footprints, combining traditional production management with improvements of our creative spaces, and making sure all our properties are catalogued and housed. If elected I would look forward to working with our team, to also make sure that budgets are kept to, and promotion of new skills encouraged, giving our members new opportunities to grow in different areas. I do not wish to vote in this category Question Title * 5. Please select from the name(s) below who you would like to vote for as Facilities Director Bob Bottletook over the role of Facilities Director in January. I have done some set building and facilities management for MDG previously and wanted to return to doing this. It was an ideal time as it allowed Kristina Perkins to devote more time to the Production Director role.My proposal for continuing in this role is to continue with the reorganisation of Waldeck House, along with our members, and to liaise with RBWM (along with Kristina) to ensure the continuation of the lease.I would like to ensure that our facilities are safe for our members and that everyone understands how to stay safe while enjoying their time here.I would also like to involve as many of our members as possible in the construction of high quality sets, with an eye to the budget, and to improve our facilities so we continue to grow as an inclusive group which enjoys what we do. I do not wish to vote in this category Question Title * 6. Please select from the name(s) below who you would like to vote for as Secretary Maggi JinksI stood in when this post became vacant due to the resignation of the previous post holder in mid term and would like to continue.I have had a lot of involvement with the committee during my time with MDG in various roles, sometimes at short notice. It is always a challenging but rewarding thing to do.I believe that the role of Secretary requires accuracy, tact and diplomacy, along with the ability to supply support to committee and members alike. Along with this I hope that my previous experience will contribute to the growth of MDG through good times and bad. I do not wish to vote in this category Question Title * 7. Please select from the name(s) below who you would like to vote for as Publicity and Sales Director Lukas JamesMedia has always been a passion of mine, and I studied it at both GCSE and A Level. Alongside this, I’ve always had an interest in Marketing and although my spell as a Digital Marketing Apprentice was cut short, it became apparent that this was something that I enjoyed. I am planning on completing a CIM Marketing Qualification which will focus on the fundamentals of Digital Marketing.I’m a keen photographer and have knowledge on the Adobe Suite software such as Photoshop and Premiere Pro. I hope one day to create my own content and post it to my personal YouTube channel. I’d love the opportunity to use these skills in a way that benefits the MDG. I do not wish to vote in this category Question Title * 8. Please select from the name(s) below who you would like to vote for as Skills Development Director Julia AshtonI have thoroughly enjoyed this year 2019/2020 , as Skills Development Officer for MDG. I thank all members for giving me this opportunity, those members who have shared their skills with us and those who have participated in the various Skills evenings.In 2019/2020, our evenings included:Lighting & sound workshops led by Chris Mower Introduction to sewing skills led by Jenny Evans Introduction to props making led by Kristina Graham American accents led by Louise Punter Improvisation workshop led by Julia Ashton Directoral skills led by Julia AshtonMy main premise this year has been to offer an insight into the various skills intrinsic to the group, always with the opportunity to explore a particular skill further. Feedback is welcome & encouraged in order to devise appropriate activities, offering everyone an opportunity to explore.I also aim to create a fun environment, where members are able to contribute & share in a mutually supportive way. The aim is to help members discover a new , enjoyable skill, which they may wish to use in productions and thus offer support to the growth of MDG.I would be delighted to continue as Skills Development Officer for the forthcoming year. I do not wish to vote in this category Done