Message from outgoing LAG Chair

A note from Mark Peskett about his time as Chair

Dear Members,
This will be the last blog/newsletter I write as Chair of your Committee. Joy and I have set an official handover date of 7 July, from then on she will assume the chairmanship and I know she will do a great job for you. I may or may not take a role in the new Committee; that is a decision for Joy.
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I took over chairmanship of the LAG Committee from Paul Fisher in March 2020, when the first wave of COVID was reaching a critical phase. Shortly after, COVID infection mitigations were imposed. These included restrictions on gatherings of people, which meant our Thursday evening meetings were suspended. During the lockdowns, the heartbeat of LAG was kept going by Zoom meetings. It was not easy to keep the impetus up, but I do feel that having that weekly video call gave those who wanted it a chance to talk to other members, not always about art, often everything except art! I really enjoyed some of those calls! So if you did participate regularly …. THANK YOU.

Where we are today
​After several false starts due to ever-changing COVID rules, we are now back at our regular meetings. Natural and healthy attrition has allowed the intake of new members. Our Thursday evenings are now well attended and a real sense of dynamism pervades the hall. I really appreciate the enthusiasm. So here’s a special nod to new members!
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Moving forward, as confidence grows, I am sure we can get back to life drawing, more socialising and generally getting back to the ‘new normal’ – not sure I ever fit into that place!

Setting priorities
​When I took over from Paul, who did a fantastic job, it was very unclear in my mind what our membership really wanted, with several events not being very well attended. Therefore, we sent out a questionnaire to all members to seek their views. The response was clear; members valued Thursday meetings, demonstrations and exhibitions. 

We therefore took the decision to focus on those priorities and spend less time on peripheral items. Your responses to the questionnaire naturally led to where your Committee should focus their time and resources. Several Committee changes were implemented in the interim, strengthening certain functions. In summary, your Committee has:

• Updated banking mandates
• Set up online banking
• Implemented quarterly financial updates
• Implemented an annual forecast (work in progress)
• Repainted the exhibition boards
• Represented LAG on the Lacock Village Hall Committee to resolve issues with Hall standards, notably: the ladies toilets, and Hall lighting.
• Replaced our website platform
• Set up a summer social event (work in progress, may be too late for this year)
• Created a LAG news subscription database

Special thanks to:

• Elspeth, for her tireless work on the new website.
• Joy, for her unstinting tenacity to get the bank mandates sorted!
• Ken, for dealing with the board re-painting. Don’t mention the colour!
• Linda Ridler, for transporting the boards from the hall to Ken’s garage.
• Elspeth’s partner, Alistair, for arranging a van to bring them back.

Website
A specific comment on our website. I am very pleased to say that following its launch in November last year the LAG website looks fresh, modern and is fit for purpose. I am very grateful to Elspeth for what was practically a full time job for a lot of 2021! However, as with any website it is a continual work in progress and requires members to submit paintings for their gallery pages on a regular basis. Remember, this is YOUR website for you, so please do use it to its full advantage.

I am certain with the arrival of our new members and the ‘new normal’ that the priorities will evolve and change. That’s completely normal. I look forward to remaining a member of the LAG family under its new chair, whom I have committed to offering my support throughout the handover period.
I firmly believe that for the Chair Thursday evening attendance is very important, leading from the front, so to speak. By stepping down I am looking forward to allowing myself more freedom to spend time with loved ones and with family, who seem to be producing offspring at an alarming rate!
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Many thanks to you all for your support throughout my time as Chair of LAG – it has been a pleasure.
Mark