Manawatu Savage Club

                           President Don’s Newsletter August 2020

“Hello Folks!”  -  As Spike Milligan used to say.   Well here we are in another state of mild confusion, as we all wonder where the current episode of Convid is taking us. I guess all I can say just now is “keep calm and carry on”.  Meantime, we have some things coming up which are a bit in limbo at the moment.

1.  September concert on the 14^th 

2.  Olive tree concert on the 30^th August.    Message to performers please remain on standby.

3.  Levin raid on September 12^th 

As it is quite possible that we will drop back to level 1 fairly soon, I think it is too soon to pull the plug on any of these yet. We can always cancel at short notice if needed. So look out for updates as needed.

This also means that bands etc. can still rehearse, although with social distancing please.

  The concert this month was also a good one. The orchestra opened with a bright and breezy 

“No Business like Show Business” with an intro from Brian O’Flaherty to get the audience singing, and he also continued the patter to cover the MC who was sitting in the saxophone section. Then Murray

Leonard-Jones raised the roof without the need for a microphone, with two numbers popularized by Mario Lanza. We had quite a keyboard feast also with items from Gail Price, and Senga Imprie on piano, and Mike Ronowicz combining digital dexterity and electronic wizardry on his keyboard, which seems to increase in size every time we see it. We also had Janet Williams doing her best to be a female Ronnie Ronalde (remember him) and Alan Parlane with some nifty Jazz guitar with vocals, and Bruce Chandler and his accordion with a couple of bright numbers.  The Campbell Street Boys made up for the technical

glitch which prevented them playing last month, by doing three numbers, and then backing Steve Allan with two more polished efforts.

  The highlight of the evening, it would be fair to say was from our guests, “The Manawatu Overtones” with three really great a-capella numbers. These ladies really make harmony singing sound so effortless, which is a true reflection of the amount of practice they must do. At supper, I tried to put some suggestions into their ears, that by joining the club, they could also perform as soloists or small group, and extend their repertoire.  One or two seemed quite taken with the idea, so we shall see!

One positive thing is that we have been granted a rebate on the club rates of 50% which amounts to a reasonable amount of money. Peter Elliott made the submission, which has borne fruit.

We are replacing the old Savage Club logo on the front of the building with some vinyl lettering

With “ON STAGE” Manawatu in keeping with our ideas of modernisation.

Just a reminder that we will be having a short Special General Meeting preceding the October concert.

The meeting will start at 7.p.m, with the concert hopefully at 7.30.p.m. This is so we can ratify     changes to our constitution to fit in with our dispensing with much of the outdated formality etc.                  of the club.

Finally just a note that the President’s Christmas Dinner will be at the Masonic Hotel On Saturday 5^th December. Some entertainment has been arranged, and we look forward to a good attendance,                   and fun night out.   This will be a prelude to the December concert which is planned to be cabaret         style with tables and BYO.

Meantime, make the most of things as they are, Remember, lots of people around the world are having    it a lot tougher than we are, so let’s count the blessings we have.

Don Fulton     (President)

MANAWATU SAVAGE CLUB ANNUAL PRESIDENTS REPORT. 2020

This year has been another relatively successful year for the club, although as with most clubs, the difficulty in finding new members, as well as the increasing age of current members continues to be of concern.

Our current membership is 62 financial members. We have had a recent drop off with some members moving away, and others resigning.

However the year went well with monthly concerts from Monday nights to Sunday afternoons, which the older and less mobile members found helpful.

We had an outward raid to Masterton, which was well received, and we welcomed an inward raid from Hastings Orphans club, which was very enjoyable.

The swing band gave 2 concerts – the first was the annual February outdoor concert

At Summerhill Retirement village. Then early in August the swing band were the guest performers at the Manawatu Jazz Club monthly concert. On both occasions they got good reviews.

Our annual Public Concert was held at the Globe theatre in October, which featured our young Performer Award winner vocalist Jake Bader, from St Peter’s College.

As the concert was not as successful this year with a down turn in numbers attending, it has been decided not to have one this year.

We have been invited to put 2 mini concerts at Olive Tree Retirement Village on Sunday 29^th and Sunday 30^th August, starting at 2.p.m. As we have a captive audience 

this will also contribute to our club funds.

The club also has a group of performers that regularly go around the retirement homes giving short concerts as a means of fundraising for the club. Thank you Gael Donoghue and your great band of merry makers. It is truly appreciated from the club.

As you know, we have become relatively informal at meetings and concerts over the last couple of years. It has become increasingly obvious that much of the old formal protocols are a big turn-off for potential young members. We are also in the process of considering a name change to something like “The Manawatu Entertainment Club.

This will be discussed at our A.G.M in February.                                                                        To all the council , my thanks for their contribution in keeping the club running smoothly.

 We have lost 3 members who died 2019. Cliff Jaques in February after being a member for 38 years, Shirley Crawford in Jun(9 years), and Puti Tipene in December.

Don Fulton:   Chairman Manawatu Savage Club.