IBM Retirees Club (Midlands)  

                                  (www.retireesmidclub.org.uk)

 

April 2007 Newsletter 

 

Editorial 

51 members attended the Annual General Meeting and enjoyed lunch afterwards at the Falcon Inn.   We did not have as good a response as we hoped to our appeal for new Committee members but are pleased to say "Welcome" to Ken Hope and Alan Palmer who have joined us and look forward to their contribution.  Ken will be acting as Chairman of the Committee.  We have also had several members who have offerd their assistance with specific activities and we thank them for these offers.  And not to forget the contribrution of those Committee members not seeking re-election this time - a big "thank you" is due to them.  For those of you who were not able to attend the AGM, the minutes and Chairman's address will be found in the link at the end of this Newsletter.

20th April sees a party of members travelling to Kent - hope the weather keeps fine for this as we will be visiting a couple of well-known gardens and I know several members are looking for ideas.

In this issue you will find the announcements and booking forms for our Summer Lunch and for our trip to North Wales so send them to the organisers as soon as possible to secure your places.  Looking further ahead, I have updated the 2007 Diary - please see later in this Newsletter for details.

I have included an item from Colin Johnson about the main IBM Warwick Club; I'm sure that most people know it exists but are unaware of the full extent of its activities.  Now's your chance to find out.     

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Brian Wilson, Newsletter Editor. Telephone: 01926-777710 e-mail: brian_h_wilson@msn.com    

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Summer Lunch at The Gate Hangs High, Hook Norton, Oxfordshire - Wednesday 20 June 2007

Organisers

12:00 for 12:30pm

Last year, a party of members took part in a successful visit to the Hook Norton Brewery, followed by an equally successful lunch at the Gate Hangs High public house/restaurant just outside the village.  When the Committee were thinking about a venue for this year's Summer Lunch, several people suggested that we return for 2007.  Obviously, if you want to visit the brewery as well, please do so but this is not part of our event.

This year, the meal will comprise:-

A Welcoming Punch or non-alcoholic alternative, followed by:-

Starters:

Main Course:

Sweets:

Accompanied by:

And not only that - we have an after-lunch speaker!!!!!!!!

Please indicate your menu choices on the booking form.

- Go to Booking Form                            - Go to Directions

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Visit to Ffestiniog Railway and Area - 10th to 13th August 2007

Organiser:-    Simon Barratt               01608 661996       07837 051 289   

The planned itinerary is as follows:-

Friday 10 August

Saturday 11 August

Sunday 12 August

An all-day excursion to visit Betws-y-Coed for the Swallow Falls, Fairy Glen, lunch (three restaurants), and Snowdon Railway in the afternoon (allow three hours). Return to the hotel for dinner.

Monday 13 August

A leisurely drive back to Warwick, lunch in Llangollen.

The weekend includes half-board hotel accommodation, all excursions and entrance tickets, as detailed above, which are included in the cost.   All this for £180 per person (members and first guest), based on two sharing, plus £8.80 each person for insurance, if own insurance is not available.

Deposit £30 per person by 2 June 2007, balance of £150 per person by 4 July 2007.

Contact Simon Barratt for any further information.

- Go to Booking Form

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End-to-End '07

One of our members, Rosemary Lewis, now lives on the edges of our territory, i.e. the coast of Norfolk.  Her husband, John, is undertaking a sponsored motor cycle trip round the UK between 14th and 20th  May on the modern version of the old Royal Enfield 500cc in aid of the charity 'Break'.

If you would like to know more about the work of the charity and about John's 920 mile ride around the Uk (without touching a motorway) please click here and to see a map of the route, click here.

Brian Wilson

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IBM Club Warwick

Members of the Retirees Club are reminded that they are also members of the IBM Club Warwick and are entitled to go on any of their events. If you are not on the distribution list and would like to be, then just send an email to Andy Smith (andy_smith@uk.ibm.com) with your old IBM personnel number. You'll soon get emails inviting you to attend a wide range of events.  You will also hear about the events organised by the IBM Club Birmingham which you're also entitled to go to.

You can also join any of the sub-sections of IBM Club Warwick, including Theatre Plus.  Membership costs £12 per year which you can expect to recover in the discount for the first event you go on. Theatre Plus typically organises 50+ outings a year to plays, musicals and classical concerts in Stratford, Birmingham, Warwick etc.  For further information on any of these please contact retiree Colin Johnson who is on their committees (colinjohnson@ourweb.demon.co.uk or 01789 204112).

These clubs welcome retiree participation, and sometimes your attendance means they get to the minimum number required for a group discount from the venue which helps everyone!

Colin Johnson

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We have been asked by the Retiree Administrator to include the following item in our Newsletter.  I am happy to do this although it does not seem to be too user friendly; perhaps in time this may improve - use it or lose it is perhaps a phrase worth bearing in mind.

 Brian Wilson.

Retiree Club Update - Small ads

We've had a request from a retiree who wished to utilise the small ads facility in IBM - an update to the original notice boards that were and still are in use in some areas.

This system has now been revamped to allow an individual to advertise wanted or for sale items at all the UK locations for a period of 2 weeks.

The only downside is that the system is unable to accept non-ibm internet addresses so all requests have to be posted by myself and you are unable to view the other items for sale.

Many of you have already have access to this system via family or friends who are current employees, however if not and you have an item to sell or are trying to purchase please send the details either by post or email and I'll get it advertised.

After I've placed the ad it will be approved by the system administrator and advertised for a period of 2 weeks, I can then send the retiree a screenshot of this by email or post.

The retiree who raised this issue thinks many retirees may take up this opportunity, can you let your membership know of this opportunity and we'll monitor the take up rate.

Thanks

Lorna A McDaid, UKISA Business Services, IBM UK Retiree Administrator

Tel : ( Internal: 525475 / External: +44 (0) 1475 895475

Fax: 525542 / External: +44 (0) 1475 895542     E-mail: mcdaidl@uk.ibm.com

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2007 Events

6th September is the date for our visit to Chatsworth House.  We are planning a tour of the house followed by lunch, with some free time to explore before we leave.  Further details and booking form nearer the time.

There is now a date for the PC and Technology Group trip to Bletchley Park to have a look at (and maybe operate) the famous Enigma machine which was such a key element in World War 2.   A guided tour and lunch are included and you will then be free to explore the other attrations of Bletchley Park, not least the house itself.  18th October is the date for your diary - I will announce details and provide a booking form later.

We are having another look at the proposed Christmas Market trip to Vienna.  The prices have gone up considerably since 2006 and we don't feel it would be a very attractive proposition.  However, John Smith, not to be deterred, is looking at other alternatives and we willl anounce the results as soon as possible.

Brian Wilson  

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Newsletter Links

Click on the links below for specific information.  Links to booking forms are from the event announcement. 

2007 Diary          Committee Contact List       PC and Technology Group   

General Notes About Events           AGM Minutes         

Membership Information       Newsletter Production and Archives          

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