Really Terrible rules

Moves to make the RTO a co-operative – whereby all members become equally responsible – have not really worked out. Instead of more democracy in the orchestra, it has been agreed that there will be less, and all important decisions from now on will be taken by the Chairman. This is not to say that the ordinary musicians, who are the band’s very life blood, will not be involved in the day to day running of the RTO – far from it! In fact, Pippa, the Chairman, has asked for as many RTOers as possible to volunteer as informal helpers (see below) and would especially like to hear from those who have not helped for a while, or who have never helped in any way at all.
To clarify the new management style of the orchestra, the following rules – let’s call them guidelines - have been made:

1. There will be no written constitution. After consulting constitutional experts within the RTO, Pippa took a unanimous decision to not write anything down, but rather to keep a few ideas in her head about how the RTO should be run.
2. There will be a culture of contribution. This enables anyone from any section to have their input, and even to vote when there are contentious issues – for example, whether or not to retain the RTO Christmas card.
3. The Chairman will have the power to veto any contributions she does not consider appropriate, although this should in no way deter potential contributors from making their contributions.
4. There will be three decision making processes: a ballot of members (with the final result being decided by Pippa); Pippa canvassing opinions informally and then reaching her decision; Pippa just making a decision by herself.
5. Informal helpers. Because the Chairman’s workload has increased, informal helpers will be recruited to do various bits and pieces. These can range from handing out music, arranging chairs and stacking music stands at rehearsals, to organising a major RTO event, such as a concert or an overseas tour.

Although there is not much left to discuss, the focus groups, or informal chats, at Pippa’s will continue because they allow people to feel they are contributing. Members who have not yet attended an informal chat can rest assured that they are on the list and their turn will come! Slightly more formal chats may be held in the New Year.
* Sir Richard’s throwaway remark to percussion last week, that they were not playing ‘wrong notes, just different notes’ should not be taken too literally by other players. While freedom of expression is to be encouraged, it is feared that too much deviation from the music will lead the RTO astray. Written notes, unlike written constitutions, do have their place in the orchestra.
**Great news! The New York DVD is now in the final editing stages and should be ready in time for Christmas 2010. Watch this space for further developments.
***Look out for future blogs, including ‘Has anyone seen Zandra?’, ‘Seconds Out!’, and ‘The Grade Eight Fake’.