IBM RETIREES CLUB (Midlands)
(www.retireesmidclub.org.uk)
Links to Booking Forms by individual events
Click here to see 2004 Diary
Click here for Committee Contact List
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February 2004 Newsletter
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Editorial
A very enthusiastic group of members gathered at The Butchers Arms in Mickleton to play skittles in their nine-pin alley - perhaps with more enthusiasm than skill in some cases! However, a good time was had by all with our membership secretary proving to be quite a sharpshooter.
This month sees us at the Hotel du Vin for what promises to be an excellent lunch, after which we will be entertained and informed by our speaker on Heraldry. If you have not already booked, it may be possible to fit you in - contact Rick Paslawski on 0121-705 7719 for details. Meet at the restaurant at 1:00 for 1:30.
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We are always happy to publicise events run by other IBM Clubs - you will see under the information about the AGM later in this Newsletter that we will have a talk by Andy Smith of the IBM Warwick Club about what they do. Also in this Newsletter you will see details of two events run by the IBM Club Birmingham; they do have quite a range of other activities, so if you are interested please contact Mike Cashmore on 0121-745 9693
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The Committee have had some discussion about use of our group e-mail facility and our policy on advertisements in the Newsletter. The e-mail facility is only to be used by the Newsletter Editor to announce the availability of the Newsletter on our web site and to highlight any of the content. I am a member of several groups run by yahoo and have seen how easy it is to clog up e-mail inboxes with unwanted messages. However, the Committee are happy to allow any reasonable advertisements to be published in the Newsletter. Please contact me in the first instance.
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Please contact Gordon Jones at gordon_jones@lineone.net or telephone 01455-556192, for all membership changes such as address, telephone number, e-mail address.
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Brian Wilson, Editor. Telephone: 01926-777710 e-mail: brian_h_wilson@msn.com
Chinese Banquet - Wednesday 17th March 2004 (organiser - Rick Paslawski)
The location for this evening event is the Emperor's Restaurant, Bath Place, Leamington Spa, CV31 3DP. Those who have access to a web site such as www.multimap.com willl find it with no trouble. If you do not have such access, directions are as follows:-
Go down the Parade in Leamington, past the Pump Rooms on your right, over the river bridge and the road then narrows at the junction of Avenue Road and continues into Bath Street which is one-way - you will see the bridge over the railway at the end of the street. Once into Bath Street, look for a turning almost immediately on your right. This is Bath Place. Follow the road round and you will see the restaurant on your left; if you continue, you will meet the main road which passes Leamington Station, so if you should travel by train, turn left outside the station and take the second turning on your left which is almost directly under the railway bridge.
There are a few places left for this event so please complete and return the booking form as soon as possible. Any queries to Rick at 0121-705 7719 or e-mail rickpaslawski@tesco.net
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Annual General Meeting - Thursday 18th March 2004 (Carole Robertson)
The Annual General Meeting of the IBM Retirees Club (Midlands) will take place at 11:30 on Thursday 18th March at IBM Warwick. The Kenilworth Room has been booked and refreshments will be available from 11:00. Everyone is welcome and we look forward to seeing as many of our members as possible.
Lunch will be available in the IBM canteen from 13:00, i.e. after the mad rush of IBMers. So that arrangements can be made for canteen luncheon vouchers please let Carole Robertson know if you will need these. Carole can be reached via Email on cal@qrob.fsnet.co.uk or 27 Austcliff Drive Solihull B91 3XT.
The AGM is the annual forum for making your views known to the Committee so don't neglect the opportunity as we DO listen to what you say. We will also have Andy Smith from the IBM Warwick Club to tell us about what they are doing these days - they have several sub-sections which will be of interest to Retirees.
Agenda for AGM on 18th March as follows:
Welcome by Chairman
Review and approval of last years minutes
Matters Arising
Chairmans Report
Treasurers Report
Election of Officers
Andy Smith - Warwick Club Secretary
"Organisation and Activities - level of funding"
AOB
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2004 Overseas Coach Tour to Ireland 22-26 April 2004 Organiser - John Smith 01384-860882
The balance for this holiday, £165 per member or 1st guest is now due. In addition the Coach company require everyone to have travel insurance for the holiday. Please complete the booking form as soon as possible and return to the organiser.
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Rambling Weekend - May 28th to 31st May 2004 (Organiser - Gordon Jones 01455-556192)
This event is now fully booked.
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Advance Notice for Summer Lunch, Wednesday 9th June 2004
The Summer Luncheon will be held at the Old School House, Weeford, near Lichfield. A mouth watering menu will appear in the March Newsletter, together with a booking form. Please note the change of date from that previously advertised.
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Visit to RIAT, Fairford Air Display, Sunday July 18th 2004 (Organiser - Gordon Jones 01455-556192)
If we have the numbers we hope to run a coach from Warwick to the Fairford Air Display on Sunday 18th July 2004. We would like to obtain advance tickets for the display while they are on offer at a fairly reasonable price. The offer period finishes at the end of February and we would like to order as many tickets as possible at the reduced rate. Given this aim we would ask those interested to send a £10 per person deposit to Gordon Jones by Monday 23rd February.
The ticket prices are as follows:
Tickets bought prior to end of February: £24.95
Tickets bought after end of February: £29.95 + possible £3 handling
Tickets bought on the day: £35
Looking at quotes for coaches I would expect a charge of about £8 to £10 pp for the coach fare, again depending on numbers. There would be a club subsidy, yet to be decided, but relative to going it alone on the day this would be a good deal.
For anyone wishing to go in their own transport the subsidy will be applied to the ticket price.
The opportunity to join the trip at a later date will be there if places are left but the higher ticket price will be passed on.
Cheques payable to IBM Retirees' Club (Midlands) should be sent to:
T.G.Jones, 34 MacAulay Road, Lutterworth, Leics. LE17 4XB
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Eden Project & Lost Gardens of Helligan - 1st to 3rd October 2004 (Organiser - Iain Hewitt)
This event is rapidly filling up so if you want to go, please contact the organiser on 01295-670316 or e-mail iain.hewitt@tiscali.co.uk as soon as possible before filling in the booking form.
The cost per person is expected to be £100-120 (depending on numbers and the amount of subsidy available) for members and first guests to include executive coach travel to and from IBM Warwick, 2 nights half board at the 3 star Cliff Head Hotel, and admission charges to the Eden Project and Lost Gardens of Heligan. The cost for second guests will be £145 per head.
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IBM Club Birmingham
The following two events may be of interest to members. Contact Mike Cashmore on 0121-745 9693; his address is 1 Arnold Road, Shirley, SOLIHULL, West Midlands, B90 3JP.
Scotland - Friday 14th May to Monday 17th May 2004
This trip is based on Stirling and we will be based at The Golden Lion which has been a hotel since 1786 and has recently been refurbished. The Bowen's Executive Coach will leave from Warwick and the itineray will include a day out in Edinburgh with a tour of the Royal Yacht 'Britannia', a day out to Glasgow which includes visits to various places of interest and a whiskey tasting and a stop off at Gretna Green on the way back to Warwick. There will also be time to look round Stirling itself.
The cost for three nights bed and breakfast, evening meal on Friday, all coach travel and tours and insurance is £165 per person, cheques payable to "IBM Club Birmingham". Please ring Mike to check that there are still places available - if so, he will then ask for £35 deposit.
Germany, St. Goarhausen - Friday 15th to Monday 18th October 2004
The coach will leave Warwick for the Dover to Calais ferry crossing, arriving at the Pohl's Rhein Hotel for an evening meal. The hotel has a solarium, swimming pool, well-stocked bar and a restaurant and is very close to Rudesheim and 2 km from the Loreley rock. On Saturday, there will be a tour along the Rhine to include a visit to Rudesheim and a wine tasting before returning to the hotel. There will be a tour along the Moselle valley on Sunday with perhaps a wine tasting and perhaps a Sunday market. There are various options for the evenings, depending on how people feel.
The cost for three nights bed and breakfast, evening meal on Friday, all coach travel and tours and insurance is £165 per person, cheques payable to "IBM Club Birmingham". Please ring Mike to check that there are still places available - if so, he will then ask for £35 deposit.
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