December 2017 Newsletter

Unlike previous years, we currently have no events planned for next year. With both our current chairman, Alan Bridgman, and treasurer, Phil Dalton, standing down at the end of the year, the first business of the New Year will be to form a new committee; assuming we are successful in this, we should then be in a position to organise events for 2018. The new committee will have to be ratified at the 2018 AGM.

I’m sure that all members would like to join me in thanking both Alan and Phil for all the hard work they have put in on our behalf for many years.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Michael Fabianski, Newsletter Editor. E-mail: ibmmidretnews@gmail.com

Christmas Lunch - 14th December 2017

The Christmas lunch this took place on Thursday 14th December at Wroxall Abbey. This is the 3rd time we have held the lunch at Wroxall Abbey, because almost everyone enjoyed the location, the service and the food. From the comments I received they didn’t disappoint this time either! Paula Venn was the Wroxall staff member who was responsible for the organisation of the lunch facilities, and I introduced Paula to the assembled multitude as part of my speech.

This year we had 77 members and guests booked; there were 4 late cancellations to leave 73 attendees on the day. Gary wooding produced all the name/menu cards which everyone collected when they arrived and put them on the table of their choice. There was a glass of Prosecco when people arrived at 12 noon, and then everyone sat down for lunch at 1:00pm. The lunch finished with the Chairman’s speech at about 3:30pm.

Best wishes for a Happy Christmas to all of you.

Alan Bridgman
Chairman (pro-tem)
IBM Midlands Retirees Club

Sub-Groups of Retirees Club and Employee Club

IBM Retirees Rambling Group

The IBM (Warwick) Rambling Club is now a subsection of the IBM Midlands Retiree Club. Any member of the Midlands Retiree club is welcome to join our subsection. Our subs are £5 per person per year. Our programme consists of a meal in late February, a monthly ramble with a pub lunch using own transport and an AGM in December. We also share a 3-4 day trip using coach transport with retiree sightseers in May.

Any retiree who would like to give us a try, can come along on one of our monthly walks without needing to join. Meal subsidies are available only to members and not for those joining us on a trial basis.

Go to a list of the planned walks for 2017 and other information.

For more information, please contact Terry King, terryaking@hotmail.com.

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IBM Retirees PC and Technology Group (founded by Harry Green)

The IBM Retirees PC and Technology Group meets every alternate month for a lively discussion on PC and technology topics in the digital age. There are usually one or two specific presentations given by members or by outside speakers, which the members of the Group have requested. We try to provide a reasonable balance between PC “techie” topics, new technology, and topics of a more general nature such as digital television, Internet telephony and digital photography. So whether you are a newcomer to the PC or a more experienced user, we hope you will find something of interest. You are very welcome to join us.

Go to meeting dates and other information.

Members’ Notices

We all know Midlands Retirees who are undertaking a range of activities to raise money for good causes. The Committee have therefore decided to offer this space to advertise such initiatives and other events which may be of interest.

Alan Bridgman
Chairman
IBM Midlands Retirees Club