2009

PROBUS CLUB OF EWELL

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – WEDNESDAY, 4^th MARCH 2009.

NOMINATIONS FOR OFFICE AND/OR MEMBERSHIP OF COMMITTEE

The Members listed below were elected for 2009 to 2010:-

President Ken Amess being welcomed by the Past President John Mills

 

Below are extracts from the 2009 AGM minutes

President  Report

Looking back at Presidents reports at the last few AGM`s there has been a distinct similarity and I do not think my report is going to be to original !

It has been a privilege and I must say also with great deal of pleasure to serve as President of our Probus Club of Ewell. I have thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship at each of our lunch meetings and it is rather sad to see that our average attendance is down to 45 members.

Our speakers have been varied, some more interesting than others but that will always be the case. The speakers or should I say entertainers for both of the Ladies lunches were excellent. Lee Ault with her tremendous collection of fashion from the twenties, they seemed never to stop coming out of the bag. And then Alan & Vera Baker who provided us with music and visuals on the History of the British Music Hall.

I would like to thank Eric Hussey and his wife Pam for organising our very successful Ladies lunches and of course Frank Rae for arranging the speakers. The transition from Ken Robinson to Frank as speaker secretary has been as smooth as silk.

Pat Hunt has headed up our elite social committee of Ken Robinson, myself with Ken Amess sitting in to make sure we do not forget anything. I think you will all agree we have had a good and varied range of visits, so well done Pat.

Our committee meet regularly at the Epsom Club to discuss the affairs of our club and I must say I would like to give a particular big vote of thanks to Cliff Douthwaite who, as our webmaster keeps all of us who have broadband up to date with the activities of the club, Ken Amess as secretary who deals with the smooth running of the club and Malcolm Davis who looks after our finances.

A new and vital addition to our communications has been the introduction of a Newsletter which is edited by Peter Anning. Apart from being circulated to all members it is mainly aimed at those members who do not have computers, thank you Peter.

With our dwindling funds and you will here more later from Malcolm it was necessary to reduce our rental costs so we halved the area we used to occupy. Until we find more members we will not be able to revert to the larger area.

My charity for the year is St. Raphael's Hospice, and I am delighted to say at the two Ladies lunches a total of £350.00 was raised, thank you to all and to Brian Cannell for organising the collections.

Finally, thank you for allowing me to be your President and I wish Ken Amess a successful 2009/ 2010.

John Mills

Hon. Secretary  Report

I stand to be corrected but believe that February 2009 was the first time the Club has been forced to cancel a meeting. All are aware this was due to usually heavy snow- Epsom and its surrounds were reported to have had around 12 to 14 inches. Our booked speaker was to travel from Buckinghamshire also it was uncertain whether there would have been any catering. However, the Committee’s main concern was the safety and well being of the members.

Here the value of e-mail was a great benefit. We were able to advise all members with same of the decision. Others were telephoned by the Committee. Similarly e-mail was used to serve Notice of the AGM and to circulate Nomination Forms. Those without e-mail were informed by post. Furthermore all this information was posted on the Club's website. In the normal course of events these formalities would have taken place at the February meeting.

I think this goes to prove the value of having a website. As a matter of interest during the year I receive various calls from other Probus Clubs and organisations throughout the UK and sometimes abroad on various matters. There is a high degree of praise for the website. This is entirely down to Cliff Douthwaite. Our thanks to you Cliff for all your work.

 

Membership numbers have remained static and stand at 70. As always this includes Hon. Member Ernie Palmer. During the year Roger Tyler, a good Club supporter, moved to the West Country but has remained in contact and wishes to be remembered to all. We were pleased to welcome two new members into the Club. Deric Tonge, who moved to the area from Oxfordshire where he was a past Chairman of the Wallingford Probus Club also Peter Shepherd.

If you feel you know anyone who is looking for something to fill their retirement, other than child minding etc, then bring them along. We need to increase the membership numbers. Past member Eric Ellerton died and the Club was represented at his funeral in May. A minutes silence was held in his memory.

There were two Ladies Lunches and a number of Social events during the year. January saw the launch of our first News Letter. This was produced by Peter Anning. It will be of great benefit to those unable to attend meeting and do not have access to our website. Thank you Peter.

 

Lunch attendances have ranged between 47 and a very disappointing low of 32 and 30 in August and September. I hope the forthcoming year will see an improvement.

The foregoing was just one the reasons your Committee took the decision to downside the area of our monthly meetings. Mindful of the current economic climate we would be incurring increased Hall Hire charges as well as various other related costs. The transition I think all agree has worked well.

Whilst the Committee generally meet three times a year, please be sure this does not mean they are otherwise inactive. Regular discussions take place concerning any matters that may arise. As always behind the scenes work is not reported but assists in the Club's running.

 

Today my fellow colleague David Smart steps down from the Committee. David was President 2005/06. I would just mention it  due David that Kenneth Wharfe MVO, formerly Royal Protection Officer to the late Diana, Princess of Wales and other members of the Royal family was our May 2005 Ladies Lunch Speaker. Thank you David for all your work and efforts on the Club's behalf.

The website aside the Club's existence is made known in various other ways.

As always I would like to thank the members and my fellow Committee Officers for their support during past 12 months.

Finally, to our President, John Mills who final meeting this is in that capacity on behalf of us all

thank you for your leadership over the past year.

 

Ken Amess

 

Treasurers Report

The Financial situation is restricted to Club members only and not open on the Internet, minutes are circulated as is our normal custom. But thanks are due to Malcolm for his control, diligence and management of our financial affairs.

 

 

Also thanks are more than due to John Garlick our Hon. Independent Examiner of Accounts (Auditor) whose eagle eyes ensure we are kept within the law and our financial administrations are correct, so again thank you John.
 

Speakers Secretary Report

Throughout the period under review we have had a wide variety of speakers.

In April 2008 we were fortunate to have David Williams give us an exciting presentation on the Crimean War. This was followed in May with Lee Ault keeping Club Members enraptured with a talk on Ladies Costumes in the 1920's. The next two months we took to the air with the Concorde Story and Paddy Fields and Jumbo Jets in China. In August we cooled down with a visit to the Antarctic. This was followed by a hiatus in September when our speaker failed to perform. The subject was "How to Survive 23 years on Death Row" Now, I couldn't possibly comment as to whether the speaker Nick Yarns, managed to survive his 24th year on Death Row. In any event the fairer sex came to my rescue once again. Susan Purcell gave us a wonderful insight into the History of Dictionaries. We followed this with Riding it Out and Surrey Rivers in October and November. At the Ladies Luncheon in December we were made to sing for our supper as it was part variety, part historical. Alan Baker gave a most interesting talk on the History of the British Music Hall, which was interspersed with musical renditions.
In January 2009 we went across Canada by train and February-

Well in February Mother Nature showed her aggressive side and 12 inches of snow was considered too good an opportunity to miss. The great outdoors and snowball fights with the grandchildren took precedence over the monthly meeting which had to be cancelled.
In giving this review I feel the honeymoon period is over and reality begins in earnest for me as the new Speakers Secretary. Ken Robinson has decided to take a well-earned rest with 2008/09 being his swan song. His term of office extended some 10 years or so, a huge commitment and one, which the Club and its members much appreciate.

 

Frank Rae

 

Social Secretary Report

It is amazing to think that it is only 12 months ago that I was elected Social Secretary for the Club. It seems that we have covered a lot of ground in that short time.

In March we visited Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, the highlights being of course HMS Victory and the Mary Rose, followed in April by a trip to the New Victoria Theatre in Woking to see the Rat Pack. In June we came back from Brooklands feeling that another visit was needed to really do it justice. July was the turn of a soggy Waddesden Manor in Buckinghamshire former home of the Rothschild banking dynasty. We didn’t ignore our stomachs either with lunch at the Stepping Stones in Westhumble near Dorking in August, the World’s Greatest Coffee Morning at Dorling Drive in September and, thanks to Doug Clarke, lunch at the Bridge House Restaurant at Reigate. Then it was a return to the arts with a trip to Wimbledon Theatre in October to see West Side Story and a backstage tour of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in November. Finally, 29 members and guests enjoyed lunch at the Rubbing House on Epsom Downs only 2 weeks ago.

Of course, I didn’t do all this on my own and I don’t expect to be able to cover all of the trips myself. My thanks go to the other members of the Social Sub Committee Ken Robinson and John Mills also to Ken Amess who is the first point of contact for the Club and who, as well as keeping us supplied with a fairly constant supply of suggestions for outings, joined us for most of our meetings. Assuming that they are willing to carry on as sub committee members, I will be pleased to continue working with them over the next 12 months. I must also mention Cliff Douthwaite who not only publicises the trips on the Club’s website but also adds a write up including photographs following each event, something that I know can be very time consuming.

 

Brooklands Visit photo with thanks to Sue Hunt

Coming up, in 2 weeks we have the tour of Polesden Lacey House (which I understand is fully subscribed), a tour of the BBC Television Centre at Wood Lane in April and a boat trip on the Thames in June 2009.

Two events were cancelled through lack of support, Leonardslee Gardens in Sussex last September, which was probably the wrong time of year, and the coach trip to Bruges in June which had been suggested by 1 or 2 members.

If anyone has not yet come on any of the trips I would certainly recommend them. Its fine spending an hour or so every month chatting to members over lunch but it is not until you socialise with people that you get to know them (and their other halves) a little better and, as I have found, get so much more out of being a member of Ewell Probus. We try to arrange outings that will suit most people but at the same time realising that some members are unable to walk far whilst others do not like to sit for too long. If there is somewhere that you would like us to include in our 2009 programme as a possible venue please let either Ken, John or myself know and we will do our best to include it.

Pat Hunt
 

Ladies Lunches Report

Two Ladies Lunches were held during 2008. The first was held on 7th May at Bourne Hall. 59 Members and Guests attended. Our Guest Speaker was Lee Ault who gave a talk and display on Ladies Costumes in the 1920's.

Our Christmas Luncheon was held on 3rd December at Bourne Hall. 77 Members and Guests attended. Our Guest Speakers were Alan & Vera Baker who gave a presentation of The History of the British Music Hall.

I think the quality of our Speakers were excellent. My thanks to Ken Robinson for a fitting farewell to the years of service he has given to the Club as Speaker's Secretary.

I would like to thank those Members who attended these functions for their support. To Brian Cannell, Ken Humphreys and Ken Robinson for taking the collections for the President's Charity, St. Raphael's Hospice. The sum raised from these two events amounted to £325.80p. I must also thank those Members and Guests who donated prizes for the Ladies Prize Draw.

May I draw your attention to he forms at your table placing for the Ladies Luncheon to be held at the Kingswood Golf & Country Club on 6th May.

May I look forward to your continued support.

Eric Hussey

Webmaster Report AGM March 2009

Since I last reported at our 2008 AGM we have had just over 2,000 more visitors to the site, or in realistic terms that means just over 5 per day, which is good going, as we have about 40 members on the Internet and with 12 reports of meeting and about 5 activities this accounts for possibly 700 club visits, hence I think our site is looked and reviewed by many outside of our club.

We get many requests from those who wish after reading the reports to get hold of the past speakers and between Frank Rae and myself we are in general able to help, also Probus members from abroad approach us for possible visits and we expect this year to welcome a member from Auckland in New Zealand. I think in the last year we have only had one new member, Deric Tonge coming via the Internet.

The e-mail system of informing and reminding members of upcoming meetings or activities has been more in operation this last year, whether this has improved the attendance at meetings or activities remains to be seen, as mentioned above at my last count we have approximately 40 members on the Internet and hence e-mail, if we could get all members on e-mail that would be great, but perhaps an elusive target. The e-mail system came into its own when the February meeting was cancelled at short notice due to the heavy snow fall.

Since last year the photo gallery has been enhanced with the potential of printing on a couple of sheets the snapshots of those members happy to be included, so far only 3 members have declined having their mug shots published and that is the prerogative of any member. The positive value is it allows one to remind ourselves of who is who, especially if name badges are rather small to read!

We have of course 30 members without Internet access, although Computer/Internet availability is open to all here at Bourne Hall and other libraries, also I am happy to offer coffee and a free demonstration at my home, so the offer is there.

For the Ladies lunch and most Club visits or activities are shown with photographs plus the reports these of course can be copied and printed by any Internet users if so desired, thanks are due to Sue Hunt who has supplied many extra pictures.

Brooklands Visit photo with thanks to Sue Hunt

 

For your general interest the web site costs are about £62 per year inclusive of VAT, I trust you feel this is money well spent?

Cliff Douthwaite

 

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