IBM Retirees Club (Midlands)
(www.retireesmidclub.org.uk)
April 2008 Newsletter
Editorial
47 members and guests attended the Annual General Meeting. First off was a presentation by Jonathan Ferrar - Director of IBM HR - which was received with great interest, Jonathan giving us the low-down on how IBM as a company is performing these days and also some points about the planned re-organisation of the IBM Clubs. After the formal business we adjourned to the Falcon for an excellent buffet lunch. Our thanks to Ken Hope for arranging Jonathan's visit and to Carole Robertson for the AGM arrangements. If you would like to read the minutes, click on the AGM Minutes link at the end of this newsletter and you will find included a summary of Jonathan Ferrar's presentation and Ken Hope's Chairman's report.
The following week saw a party of members and guests visiting the Guide Dogs for the Blind in Leamington after lunch at the Moorings just round the corner. The Moorings had laid on an excellent buffet lunch so we were well fortified for a most interesting afternoon. Quite a number of dogs to be seen, from cute little puppies to working dogs with which some of our members (blind-folded) were able to check out round the obstacle course. The visit left us with a much greater appreciation of what it is to be partially sighted or blind and our thanks to Heskett Dawson for arranging the visit.
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The day out to Cirencester and Rodmarton has proved very popular but there may still be space, particularly if you can go in your own car - ring Alan Palmer for latest information. Alan tells me that the coach company have managed to find a few more rooms in the hotel in Norwich for our Norfolk trip - see note later in this Newsletter.
Something for you opera buffs - see Barry's note. However, for those who are not into opera, we have tickets for the Upton Jazz festival at the end of June; for various reasons (one being the recent flooding in that part of the world), we are not able to have lunch in the White Lion so it will be a DIY lunch.
Finally, but by no means least, we have details of the visit to Blenheim Palace. This is likely to be very popular so get your booking forms to Carole as soon as possible.
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As a result of the changes to the Committee, I have updated the Committee Contact List. The list of members is up-to-date but you will notice one or two gaps - these will be filled when the information is to hand.
Finally, I was hoping to include a couple of paragraphs about the email distribution list but I willl have to hold this over to the May Newsletter. The basis of what I will be saying is that you are responsible for your email address being correctly entered on Yahoogroups - this means that you have to have a userid and password on Yahoo and if you already have this it should be no problem to change your email. More next month.
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Brian Wilson, Newsletter Editor. Telephone: 01926-777710 e-mail: brian_h_wilson@msn.com
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IBM Retirees PC and Technology Group Friday 16th May 2008
The next meeting of the PC&T Group will be at IBM Warwick on the above date from 11:00am - 1:00pm.
Agenda:-
Broadband and ISPs
Wireless connection & networks
Features & facilities of Photoshop Elements 5.0
RAW image processing
All members will be most welcome. If you have not been to one of these meeting previously, please report to Reception on arrival.
Alan Bridgman Email:- abri@waitrose.com
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A Box at the Opera ?
As some may know we now have a "local" opera house. Longborough Festival Opera is a slimmed down version of Glyndbourne with all that that implies ( high prices, dressing up, picnics). The season runs during June and July with performances at the weekend and mid week. The operas this year are:
La Traviata
Cunning Little Vixen
Das Rheingold
Prices are from £50 up for the weekend performances. There will be a club subsidy of around 30% . The box office has some availablity for all operas but to simplify things I propose a choice between:
La Traviata on Friday 13 June - Box seats at around £60 (after subsidy)
Das Rheingold on Tuesday 15 July - Stalls seats at around £40 (after subsidy)
Please email me or phone to confirm your interest and preferences. I will need a firm committment before booking tickets.
You might like to visit the Longborough website at www.lfo.org.uk to get a flavour of what is on offer
Please respond quickly if you might be interested in this event
Barry Wiggins
Email:- bwiggins@southbank.freeserve.co.uk Telephone:- 01926-854580
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Upton Jazz Festival - Saturday 28th June (organiser David Williams)
Whatever your taste in jazz, you are likely to find what you are looking for at the Oliver Cromwell Jazz Festival on the banks of the River Severn at Upton-upon-Severn, between Worcester and Tewkesbury. From Trad to Modern, Dixieland to Big Band, the range is vast and of very high quality. If you have been with us in the past, you can repeat a great experience, if you are new to such festivals it really is a great place to start with a wonderful atmosphere. Further information can be found at www.uptonjazz.co.uk .
Your Jazz Day Ticket for the Saturday will allow you to park free and to attend any event at any venue.
There are usually four marquees on Fish Meadow, and in the town there'll be at least four smaller venues. So whatever your preferred jazz style - big band, traditional band, modern jazz, gypsy jazz, etc - you'll find some to please you.
The music starts at 10.00am. At 11:30am there is a Grand Parade of musicians and dancers starting from the church and processing through the centre of Upton to the riverside. For those with the stamina, the programme of jazz concerts continues until 11:30pm.
Both on Fish Meadow, and in the town, there'll be a wide range of stalls for shopping and sustenance.
The cost this year for members and first guests is £15 for a Jazz Day Ticket, the cost for further guests will be £25. Great value for a great day out!!
Booking deadline: Monday 9th June. Don't forget to enclose a SAE with your cheque and booking form so that the organiser can send you your tickets and other information.
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Blenheim Palace - Wednesday 9th July 2008 (organiser Carole Robertson)
Our planned trip to Blenheim Palace will unfortunately not now include a formal luncheon due to problems encountered with accommodation offered. However, we have planned a superb day out at this wonderful Palace to include a themed talk and tour of the Palace entitled "Ladies of Blenheim". Refreshment includes bacon bap with coffee/tea on arrival with a voucher for lunch at £12 per person in the refurbished cafeteria.
The gardens should be beautiful in July and are included in your entry ticket. If the weather is kind to us you may choose to have your lunch on the patio with the fountains and gardens in view. Included in the price of £20.00 per person will be refreshments on arrival, themed talk, guided tour of palace and thereafter gardens at your own pace. Voucher for lunch and a coach from Johnsons' Garage in Henley. [Those not wishing to use the coach cost is £15.00 per person].
An example of the cafeteria menu is as follows:
Honey roast ham and mature cheddar cheese on a bed of salad. With Blenheim's pickled onions, real ale chutney, roll/ butter. Duo of luxury ice cream.
Cannelloni with roasted Mediterranean vegetables. Served with rustic garlic and herb bread and mixed leaves. Tiramisu.
Salmon steak on a bed of rocket and salsa. Giant quenelles of chocolate mousse.
Chef's choice of soup. Roast of your choice, beef, pork chicken. Roasted potatoes and seasonal vegetables. Individual bread and butter pudding
Carole Robertson
Tele: 0121 704 9677 - Email: carole.robertson@talktalk.net
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Norwich with Sandringham, Wroxham & Cromer 15-18 August
Details of this trip appeared in the March Newsletter and we are pleased to say that the coach is nearly full. However, since the cut-off date, the company we are using has been told that a few more hotel rooms are available so if you would like to go on what should be a most interesting weekend, please contact the organiser as soon as possible.
Cost per person £175 or £199.50 for second guests (single supplement £45 extra) plus £8.80 travel insurance unless you have sufficient cover on your own policy.
Places will be confirmed by email or by post if you include an SAE please.
Alan Palmer Email aandapalmer@tiscali.co.uk Telephone 01789 741908
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Click on the links below for specific information. Links to booking forms are from the event announcement.
2008 Diary Committee Contact List PC and Technology Group
General Notes About Events AGM Minutes
Membership Information Newsletter Archives Newsletter Production
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