IBM RETIREES CLUB

IBM RETIREES CLUB – MIDLANDS

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 22^ND MARCH 2010

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION CLUB

KNOWLE

Present: Alan Palmer [Chair]

Phil Dalton [Treasurer]

Tony Mancell [Membership]

Brian Wilson [Editor]

Dave Compton

Alan Bridgman

Barry Wiggins

Carole Robertson [Sec]

Apologies: Simon and Sheila Barratt

Ann and Ken Hope

Peter and Margaret Barnes

Roy Bancroft

Dick Smith

Sandra Holme

Brian Chilver

Ron and Judy Barber

Richard and Marie Williams

Alan P opened the meeting and thanked everyone [40] for attending. It was particularly pleasing to see new members joining us today.

Review and approve last years minutes – Alan Bridgman proposed acceptance and Barry Wiggins seconded. A copy will be emailed to Pensions.

Treasurer’s Report

Phil Dalton presented the audited accounts for 2009 and a copy of Phil’s report is attached to these minutes. Dave Dagley proposed acceptance and Mike Fabianski seconded.

AP made reference to the effort put in by Alan Bridgman on the new Constitution. The new Constitution involved many meetings with HR to secure agreement and other Club Chairpersons, our thanks to Alan B for all his hard work on our behalf.

AP also made reference to the ongoing discussions over the last twelve months with a number of HR personnel plus Chair of the Warwick Employee Club. More than not these discussions leave us frustrated and often angry as a result. Attendance as a guest at the annual NCC meetings did little to calm the situation. R and Comments from the floor were typically "why swap your affiliation to any club when you can attend any club’s events anyway – Mike Fabianaksi - Disappointing numbers of retirees attending events - Joan Suckling

AP’s Chairman’s report was part slide show – giving a flavour of some of the events organised in 2009. The narrative part of this report attached to these minutes for info.

AP requested a vote on the acceptance of the new constitution. 21 plus 10 proxy votes FOR ACCEPTANCE WERE RECORDED. Joan Suckling abstained until she has had chance to read the new constitution.

The existing committee sought re-election for another term and were voted for unanimously by those present. Dave Dagley was invited to join us - Carole Robertson proposed and Brian Wilson seconded.

The meeting closed at 12.05 which allowed us to retire to the bar area and enjoy the company and a buffet luncheon.

Committee for 2010

Alan Palmer [Chair]

Phil Dalton [Treasurer]

Tony Mancell [Membership]

Alan Bridgman

Brian Wilson [Editor]

Simon Barratt

Dave Compton

Peter Barnes

Dave Dagley

Barry Wiggins

Carole Robertson [Sec]

Attached to these minutes Chairman’s Report, Treasurer’s Report, Attendee listing

2010 ATTENDEE LIST

IBM RETIREES CLUB MIDLANDS

Name	Personnel No.	Signature
Brian Wilson
Margaret Wilson
Carole Robertson
Clive Raybould
Terry King
Paula King	No show
Ray Yule
Ann Yule
Dave Dagley
Molly Dagley
John Hurst
Joan Suckling
John Calladene
Mike Davies
Meryl Davies
Alan Palmer
Ann Palmer
Alan Bridgman
Robert L Dean
Tony Mancell
Kathy Mancell
Dave Compton
Barry Wiggins
Rosie Wiggins	No show
Phil Dalton
Rosemary Dalton
Fred Noble
Pat Noble
Mike Fabianski
Pamela Fabianski	No show
RonTaylor
Janet Taylor
John Smith
Beatrice Smith
Gary Wooding
Sheila Wooding
Derek Gregory	No show
Avril Cowley
Gordon Watterson
Marlise Cohen
Rick Paslaswski	No show
Adrian Mills
Jan Mills
David Williams
Gillian Williams
Apologies Received from: Simon and Sheila Barratt Ann and Ken Hope Peter and Margaret Barnes Roy Bancroft Dick Smith Sandra Holme Brian Chilver Ron and Judy Barber Paula King Rosie Wiggins Richard and Marie Williams

CHAIRMAN’s REPORT 2009 - -2010

Introduction

Thanking the committee members for their tremendous efforts and success in yet again running a wide range of events might appear just formulaic; but it is actually heartfelt.

There are two important parts to a good club – active participatory members and equally, or ideally more than equally, active committee members. We are lucky to have both in the Midlands Retiree Club.

The net result is that we have weathered the "storms" IBM seems bent on throwing our way, had a good take up for most of the 2009/10 programme of events and have a pile of events to take us through 2010/11.

Hopefully, many of you will have taken a look at our Photo site. It has two roles, firstly serve as a good memory jogger for those who participated and secondly to encourage other to join our club on retirement and to come and join in the programme.

I’m going to use that site to reminisce a bit about 2009/10. Assuming I can cope with the technology that is. So here we go…

This hardcopy version misses out the photos of course.
Events

In late April 2009, Simon Barratt for ran a superb trip to Holland for the Flower Festival. A riot of colour both at the parade and later at Keukenhof, plus a superb reistafel, was enjoyed by all XX participants.

Early in May Gordon Jones took a party of 11 retirees and 25 ramblers to Torquay for a joint Main Club Rambling section and Retiree Club walking and sight seeing event. Brian Dunston, Barry Wiggins and Terry King assisted by setting out numerous walking options. There was so much choice; the trip could have been twice as long.

June was a busy month with three events to run. The Jazz Festival, kindly run for us by David Williams, in Upton upon Severn had 15 attendees and as ever was an enjoyable day out. Our trip to Northumberland was a great success in spite of the weather with a very full programme. The hotel at Kelso was excellent and again Group Travel, represented by their driver Dave, was very professional. Our thanks to Tony Mancell for his hard work in putting this trip together. Also, 15 members and guests enjoyed their trip to Duxford for the Air Show this month; Phil Dalton whose events are often a bit different and always appreciated ran this day.

The Summer luncheon held at The Oak, Hockley Heath in July was a great success with many many compliments on the food and location from our 52 attendees. One retiree visiting us from South Africa together with another retired Birmingham Manager looking up old friends travelling from Beaconsfield, Bucks. Another of Carole Roberston’s successes.

The August trip to the Houses of Parliament and the War Rooms, run by Alan Palmer, was another good day out for history fans – we did however, make a note not to use Bakers Coaches again for a journey of any length. Some members were disappointed at not being able to join this group; so another visit has been requested.

In September, Barry Wiggins led a party of 18 to the Shrewsbury Flower show. The show is superb and a must for the amateur gardener. Those who went were grateful to Barry and couldn’t help wondering why more people hadn’t booked for such a pleasant outing.

Our visit to Highgrove did not disappoint and we could have taken so many more members. However, because of the short notice given, the time allowed to organise this trip was only two weeks and the maximum group size was 25. Carole Roberston put the Club back on the wait list again and we now have another visit lined up (and full at time of going to press).

Our trip with 18 members and guests to Northern Ireland was a great success – many congratulations to Alan Bridgman and Dave Compton for their hard work in arriving at such a full programme. Bushmills Distillary was just one of several varied visits. The Giant’s Causeway and the Belfast graffiti were totally unlike any other sights

In October, Peter Barnes produced a really good "maiden" event – a skittles evening at Snitterfield. The 20 participants not only enjoyed knocking skittles down (YES some did!) but also an excellent meal. A great cheap night out in good company.

In November, another 20 or so, tackled a Lebanese meal in Warwick. Dave Compton’s ethnic meals started well last year but he still managed to go one better this time.

In December, 113 dined at the Honiley Court for our traditional meal organised by Alan Palmer (with help from Alan Bridgman at the wine checking stage).

On the 20th January, we kicked off the 2010 programme in style with a Chinese feast in Leamington Spa, organised for 20 of us by Dave Compton. It really was a meal of gargantuan proportions.

Brian Wilson ran the 2010 Spring Lunch at Ryton Organic Gardens; a venue that was well rated after the previous event held there. It lived up to its reputation and the 26 or so participants thoroughly enjoyed the speaker from the Warwickshire Police helicopter team.

For his second event this year, Barry Wiggins organised a (hopefully not too expensive in terms of lost bets) trip to the March races in Stratford-upon-Avon. It was a small party, but a dedicated one.

Conclusion

Thank you all again for your interest in the IBM Retiree Club Midlands and your participation in the events.

Your feedback is always noted even when it hurts. So keep it up and especially so with regard to proposing events for the next cycle.

Have a good year.

Alan Palmer Chairman IBM Retiree Club Midlands