IBM Retirees Club (Midlands)
(www.retireesmidclub.org.uk)
February 2010 Newsletter
Editorial
We had a full complement for our meal at the Chinese Restaurant in Leamington. Our thanks to Dave Compton for a very pleasant evening.
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There is quite a lot of event activity at the moment. You will note that some events are already booked up so the moral is obvious - if you want to go, get your booking form to the organiser.
I have included in the list a trip to Belgium run by Mike Cashmore of the IBM Birmingham Club. Mike's trips are always good value and enjoyable so get in touch with Mike if you are interested.
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Many of you will be aware of the problem of notifying members of such items as the availability of the Newsletter using the Yahoogroup facility. We have been threatening to fix this for some time and the solution decided on is to move to Google groups. As Alan Palmer says in his note, the trial has been successful so far and has encouraged us to proceed to putting all members that wish to on the Google list. Please let Alan, Tony or myself know if you have any comments - constructive only, please!
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Brian Wilson, Newsletter Editor. Telephone: 01926-777710 e-mail: brian_h_wilson@msn.com
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Status of 2010 Events
15th March - Stratford Races Still places available. Details in January Newsletter.
22nd March - AGM Please see updated information later in this Newsletter.
11-15 April - Trip to Scotland This trip is now fully booked and there is a wait list.
23-26 April - Trip to Gent for the Floralies This an IBM Club Birmingham event based on Ostend.
17-20 May - Trip to Isle of Purbeck This trip is now fully booked and there is a wait list.
11 July - Narrowboat Meal Announcement and Booking form in this Newsletter.
6-9 August - Constable Country Announcement and Booking Form in this Newsletter.
15th September Royal Day Out This trip is now fully booked and there is a wait list.
I have not put the proposed Highgrove trip on the above list as we are not quite sure of the date. There is also a meeting of the PC Group on 26th March - click the link at the end of this Newsletter for further details.
Please check the 2010 Diary for dates of other planned events, details of which will be announced when known.
Brian Wilson
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NEW GOOGLE GROUP CONTACT MECHANISM
Our Yahoo Group set up, through which we send out availability notices for our Newsletters etc., is creaking at the seams and we cannot any longer update the lists of retirees' email ids. We are therefore changing to a Google based system. This has been trialled with 50 or so retirees who have recently become members or whose email ids have changed. Thus far it has worked.
We are about to embark on converting the 350 or so still "on Yahoo". To do this we have to invite you to join the group. So, within the next month or so, you will get an email from the Google Group
Accept the invitation by clicking on the link as suggested in the email
Click sign in and apply for membership
You must accept the invitation otherwise you will not receive future prompts about Newsletter availability etc. Use your normal email id (the one the Newsletter prompts are sent to currently). If you have a google account for that id, just sign in, otherwise click "create an account" and fill in as requested using your normal id ( john.smith@btconnect.com for example ) To make it clear, you do NOT need a new googlemail id, your own is the one to use.
In “edit my membership” please ensure the “email approximately one email per day” radio button is ON (we will not send many emails!)
BINGO
If your email id changes in future, please notify ibmmidretmem@googlemail.com of the old and new ids.
Alan Palmer
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Annual General Meeting - Monday 22nd March 2010
Our AGM is booked for Monday 22nd March at The Royal British Legion [Knowle] Club. - 1611 Warwick Road, Knowle, Solihull, West Midlands B93 9LF - 10.30 for 11.00 start.
Please let me know if you are planning to join us [carole.robertson@talktalk.net or 0121 704 9677] so we can give the venue the numbers for the buffet.
We would, of course, welcome any member who would like to join our committee - new faces always bring with them fresh ideas and add that extra dimension to our jolly group working to create interesting events for our membership.
Agenda
10.30 refreshments
11.00 Welcome by Chairman
Review and approve 2009 minutes
Treasurer's report
Chairman's report
Matters arising
Election of Committee members
AOB
Buffet and refreshments
The 2009 AGM minutes are available on-line otherwise hard copies are available from me.
Carole Robertson, Club Secretary, IBM Retirees Club Midlands.
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Two years ago Jonathan Ferrar, IBM UK HR Director, requested that the IBM Retiree Clubs should develop a common Constitution. After much discussion bewteen all the UK Retiree Clubs a form of words was agreed for a Generic IBM Retiree Club Constitution. This was then approved by the UK HR Department.
Your Committee has reviewed the document, amended it with local bye-laws, and now wishes to recommend it to all members for adoption at our forthcoming 2010 AGM.
Please read the Proposed New Constitution before attending the AGM. If you are unable to attend the meeting, please will you send your Proxy vote to Carole Robertson (carole.robertson@talktalk.net) indicating whether to wish to approve or reject the proposed Constitution of the Midlands IBM Retiree Club.
Alan Palmer, Club Chairman
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The Floralies of Gent with IBM Club Birmingham 23-26 April 2010 organiser Mike Cashmore
The Floralies Festival is held every five years. It was established in 1809 and has grown to be a grand exhibition. This trip will be based on the Royal Astor Hotel in Ostend with the weekend itinerary as follows:-
Friday 24th Leave IBM Warwick early (but not too early - time to be confirmed) for the journey to Dover to catch the afternoon ferry with a comfort stop en route. We will arive in Ostend late afternoon. Evening meal is included.
Saturday 25th Full day in Gent at the Floralies Festival of 'Flowers and Plants', returning to Ostend late afternoon. The evening is free to enjoy the epicurian delights of Ostend.
Sunday 26th Coach trip taking in Brugges and Sluis before returning to Ostend. A group meal (fish and chips!) has been arranged if you wish to join in, otherwise you are free to do your own thing.
Monday 27th A not too early start, making our way home via the Hypermarket in Calais.
Included is all coach travel, ferry crossings, evening meal on the first day, three nights bed and breakfast, admission to Floralies and use of the pool at the hotel. Red and white wine will be served on the outward journey.
All this for £215 per member and first guest with insurance at £12 per person if required. A deposit of £40 per person secures and should be sent to the organiser at:- 1 Arnold Road, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands, B90 3JP.
Mike Cashmore 0121 745 9693
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Highgrove
The trip we ran in September 2009 was so very popular I have made plans to do it all over again in July of this year. Because of the short notice I received from Highgrove many people were disappointed last year. So, in an attempt to include those who missed out last year I would like to have my list of interested members "ready to go" when I secure a booking this time. I cannot confirm the exact date until the middle of February but it is likely to be Friday 2nd July.
If you are interested in a trip to the fabulous gardens at Highgrove and would like to be included on my list please email or telephone me.
carole.robertson@talktalk.net or 0121 704 9677
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Narrowboat Evening Meal - Sunday 11th July 2010 (Organiser - Peter Barnes)
For those of you who have not seen the amazing transformation of the Birmingham Canals from rubbish-strewn ditches to the present stunning canalside development, this event is your chance to see it at first hand.
We have booked a beautiful, luxury cruising restaurant (Away2Dine) for a slow, relaxing three-hour cruise that includes the industrial canal heritage of Birmingham as well as the peace and tranquillity of a more rural part of the local canals, all of which can be seen through the large panoramic windows by each table. Diners will join the boat at Brindley Place in central Birmingham, where there is plenty of parking, and enjoy a high-class Sunday 3-course evening meal, whilst cruising the waterways.
The cost is £25 per person and includes a welcome drink on arrival. We shall be able to board at 5:15 pm.
The boat has a total capacity of 24 people, so please book as soon as possible - first come, first served. Because of this limited capacity, we shall have to "waitlist" any second guests until we can see what the interest in the event is going to be. We shall provide more detail of the menu and the availability of car parks and a map of the boarding location nearer the date.
Peter Barnes
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6-9 August - Constable Country (organiser Alan Palmer)
4 days, 3 nights, The Mill at Sudbury. Bed, English Breakfast and Dinner.
Member and first guest £185, second guests £235 (single room supplement £30).
The hotel (see http://www.hotelelizabeththemill.co.uk/ ) is situated in the heart of Suffolk in the centre of Sudbury. Nestled just a short distance from here lies "Constable Country", whilst in the other direction lies one of the most beautiful of Suffolk villages, Lavenham.
The tour will be run by Group Travel Ltd (GTL).
DAY 1 Morning departure having an extended late lunch stop in Cambridge. Continue your journey to arrive at your hotel late afternoon.
DAY 2 Full day to enjoy rural Suffolk at its best, first free time in Sudbury, set on the River Stour and birthplace of the famous painter Thomas Gainsborough. Then to lovely East Bergholt, Constable was born here in 1776, before going on to one of the most attractive villages in the area, Dedham, half-timber framed houses are so prominent in the main street.
DAY 3 Relaxed day tour to include the old market town of Bury St.Edmunds before continuing to one of the prettiest villages you are likely to see, Lavenham.
DAY 4 Depart after breakfast for the short journey to the Ely, famed for its cathedral and house of Oliver Cromwell. Continue home late afternoon onwards.
Please send bookings, using the form, as soon as possible but in any event so that Alan Palmer has them by 29th March. Second guest places will be allocated once all member and first guest requests have been satisfied up to the maximum of places available. If you are asking for 2nd and subsequent guest places and you want to go even if they do not get places please send two cheques. The balance will be due 31st May.
Alan Palmer
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Click on the links below for specific information. Links to booking forms are from the event announcement.
2010 Diary General Notes about Events Photographs from Past Events
Committee Contacts AGM Minutes
Newsletter Archives Newsletter Production
PC and Technology Group (Founded by Harry Green)
IBM Pensions Trust IBM Alumni Programme
IBM Rewards Programme IBM Employee Purchase Programme