President's Letter - 24th August 2010
Dear Skålleagues,
Our dear webmaster is pushing for another Newsletter so I thought I had better sit down and put my fingers to the Keyboard. Well I think we can say good-by to Summer with the weather we have experienced over the last weekend and I bet all you keen gardeners are kicking your heals trying to get into the Garden.
I am glad to read in several of the Newsletters how members have been able to enjoy the summer and have had some very interesting events. I see Neville Grice was up to his usual fiendish tricks with his Treasurer Hunt for the 3 way meeting between Brighton/Oxford/Southampton. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend but believe a great day was had by all. I feel sure that the Webmaster will add a few of his own words about the usual Lake District cruise which I had hoped to attend but I have been asked to go back to work with Wightlink for a few weeks.
Now I am sure you are preparing yourselves for the autumn functions and no doubt some Presidents events and I hope you have a great time. I am looking forward to attending Cambridge and East Anglia in September, Southampton in October and Brighton in November then it will soon be Christmas.
A couple of dates I would like to remind you about and the main one being the next National Council meeting on Thursday 16th September at the Novotel Hotel Birmingham International Airport. This is a very important meeting as we will have to decide on the dues for 2011 so if you are your clubs delegate please get the views of your members so you can vote accordingly once the Treasurer has opened his red box and delivered his Budget.
Secondly Skål will be having a Stand at WTM so please contact Paul Follows if you could help by manning the stand and don’t forget the WTM lunch will be on Tuesday 9th November, a great opportunity of meeting many people from all over the world.
You will see on the agenda for the National meeting we have included an Item on the Task Force. This is just to update you as far as possible and discussion can take place if necessary. I would like to take this opportunity of thanking all clubs and members who have passed on to Paul their thoughts and recommendations which have been sent to the Executive and members of the Task Force. Hopefully, at Birmingham I may be in a position to give you further details of the timescale and what the next moves are. I do know that the Executive met on 1st August but I have yet to find out if anything was discussed. Apart from communicating via emails the Task Force will not meet again until Sydney.
I am pleased to see that so far the 6 UK clubs will be represented by 15 members and 6 partners at the International in Sydney and if anyone else is thinking of travelling down under there are spare places. For all people arriving in Sydney on Wednesday 6th October David Lord from Jersey has arranged an evening at his son’s restaurant an excellent way to start proceedings. Can you please advise David or me if you will be able to join in?
I was very pleased to read that Jersey had been nominated for consideration as Skål Club of the Year and it is a real pity that we are not allowed to vote for a club from our own country so can I suggest you contact all your friend around the world and ask them to vote for Jersey. It would be excellent for Jersey and the UK if David Lord had additional Silverware to bring back! Good Luck Jersey.
There is a great possibility that we could see another UK Club twinning with a club in Europe and if it comes off it is hoped to arrange a trip for all UK Skålleagues in October 2011 to a wonderful destination.
Now is the time for looking for new members as it is normally agreed that any new members passed at the end of October will be allowed to have 14 months membership for the price of 12 months (2011 Rate). Paul Follows has now got copies of the New DVD which has been prepared by International for clubs to use at recruitment evenings. I am looking forward to being in Guernsey on 20th September to try and get some new members. It is hoped that all clubs are looking at ways of getting new members - we certainly need them.
May I remind you all that our National Treasurer has indicated that he will not be seeking re – election next time round so now is the time to find someone so from January they can shadow David and fully understand the books ready to take over. Please help out with this very important position.
Well I think that is all for this time and I hope we will have all clubs represented in Birmingham and I would ask you to let Secretary Sally know that you will be there at 1330hrs Thursday 16th September 2010 Novotel Hotel, Birmingham International Airport.
Yours in Skål
John M Bright
Skål UK National President. Tuesday 24th August 2010