INTRODUCTION

I wish to present the annual report for the 2005/06 year.

MEMBERSHIP

After a couple of years where the Society's membership had decreased, I am happy to announce that membership has increased this year to around 90, a good sign for the future.

This is an increase from the previous year's 80 members. Of that number, around 18% are people who have joined in the last year. Some have joined because of increased publicity for the Society. Unfortunately, more than 20 people decided not to renew their subscriptions after having been members in the previous year. We must find ways to have these people return to the Society.

FINANCE

The Society is still losing money at a great rate. Almost all of our Club Days are taking in less money than it costs to run them. Although the loss is not huge, we cannot continue to reduce our capital. Members need to think of ways to improve attendances and generally help us to retain the money we have.

CLUB DAYS

Thanks to Pete Johns, we have had a good variety of music at the Club Days over the last year. As I said earlier, most of the club days have been financially unsuccessful, because of low attendances, but in most cases, the music provided has been very good. What can we do to increase attendances at the Club Days?

Our continued thanks must go to the Northland Club for allowing us to use their premises. We now also have our Committee meetings at the Club.

Our "Annual" Picnic was held this year for the first time in three years. Thanks To Roseanne and Dave Mandeno for offering the use of their property. The weather and the music were great, and there was more than 80 people there. Why do people come to our picnic and not the Club Days?

JAZZ FESTIVAL

After a one year break, we held a jazz festival in October last year. Thanks to the sub committee of Ava Watson, Silke Groot-Magens, Louise Mason and Pete Johns, a very successful festival was held. Financially, we just broke even, but that was thanks to the very generous musicians who took part in the festival with the notice that they might be paid very little. We plan to hold another festival this year.

THE COMMITTEE

As now seems to be normal, at last year's annual general Meeting, we could not find enough people to volunteer for the Committee. As a result, we again had a smaller committee than our Rules allow. Ava Watson continued as Secretary and Silke Groot-Magens took on the role as Treasurer

All of the people on the committee are very busy with other things in their lives, so we need extra help to keep the organisation running smoothly. I get the distinct feeling that people are just not interested. I am standing down as President, after about 5 years, and some of the committee have indicated they may not be standing again.

Having said all that, I would like to thank the Committee for its work over the last year. I would also like to thank Ian Melville who has continued helping prepare the Newsletter for printing, taking photographs at our Club Days, and maintaining the society's website.

A special mention of Pete Johns who moved to Orewa late last year after many years as a Northern Jazz Society Committee member. He will be missed.

THE FUTURE

If people are not prepared to help keep the society going, does it have a future? That is up to members. However, it seems to me that people are just sitting back and waiting for others to solve the problems the society has. Apathy rules!!!

The Committee will be trying some ideas, but we need your help too. If we continue to lose money at the rate we are, the Society will have no money left in a few years. Is that what you want?

Finally, in my last report as president, I would like to say how much I enjoyed the role, and trust that your new President will continue to have a Society that is growing and exciting.

Maurice Lloyd

President