IMPORTANT NEWS -
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2010
This has been organised for Saturday 10th April starting at 3 pm
at The Triangle Centre, Poulton Close, Coombe Valley, Dover.
In response to the poor turn-out at last year's AGM (see details below) and some feedback from members saying
that there are difficulties for some members getting to St Paul's social club hall during an evening, the Committee
has decided to hold the Annual General Meeting on a Saturday afternoon at The Triangle Centre in Dover.
This will be part of a whole afternoon's event where we hope members and guests will join us for an afternoon
of Scottish culture and entertainment.
Exact details have yet to be finalised but we are hoping to have musical entertainment, photographic displays
and a display of archived material where you can see records dating back to 1888 !
Refreshments will be provided and we are hoping that some members will be able to assist with the provision
of things like shortbread, tablet and does anyone know the recipe for Coulter's Candy ?
The actual business of the Society will be kept short - though there will be proposed rule changes to debate
and agree and Committee to elect - so that the event will be more of a social gathering. The committee will
be on hand to discuss the various activities we have been involved in and information on the various charities
we support. In particular, our Society was very much involved in Homecoming 2009 and we will be able
to discuss what we were involved in and show some photographs of various activities, such as our Lochs and Glens
Tattoo trip, the Edinburgh Conference, BurnsLight in Dumfries etc.
So come along and enjoy some Blether.
The Committee has decided that any members requiring assistance with transport should advise us as soon
as possible so that we may attempt to arrange some suitable transport, either Taxis, wheelchair minibus
helpers etc. The Triangle Centre, for those who have never been there, is perfectly accessible to wheelchairs
and has lots of free parking.
GET THE DATE IN YOUR DIARY
Saturday 10th April 2010, 3pm.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING :
The A.G.M of the Society took place at St Paul's Church social hall on Wednesday 29th April 2009.
It was poorly attended with only 17 members in attendance. This is disappointing, especially in Homecoming Year when all the Committee have been making extra effort to make this a special year. President Neil Farquhar refelected on an eventful year with the two main events going down very well, St Andrew's and Burns' Nights with a large contingent from Pfizers at Burns Supper at the Town Hall. Special Mention was given to Graham, the Secretary who had worked extra hard being Secretary, Editor of the excellent WeeBletherer and maintaing this website. He also praised Veronica, his wife, who had been excellent as Treasurer in keeping the Society solvent. Neil finished by adding that he hoped the DEKSS would continue to prosper with more members attending events.
Veronica could not attend the AGM and Graham submitted the Treasurer's report together with Balance Sheet and Statement of Account. Graham reported that the Society was in a healthy financial position and that we had made charitable donations to
CHAS, Scottish War Blind, Help the Heroes, Jean Armour Homes, Dover Lifeboat, St Micahel's Church (Dumfries), St Paul's Church,
Kent Walking Bus/ Lord Mayor's Charity.
After all expenses were taken into account, the Society made a small operating profit of £114.77 which, when you consider we ran two big events at the Town hall, 3 Ceilidhs and a Cruise a la Carte, shows how well the Committee ran and budgeted the events calendar.
Graham gave his Secretary's report, stating that he was pleased with his first year as Secretary. Membership had actually increased and thsu subscriptions collected had increased. He added that at the last AGM the Committee, in addition to normal functions had wanted to run a trip to The Emperor's New Kilt at the Marlowe Theatre - which we did - organise a Tattoo Trip - which we have, with 11 members going, - have a summer event - we attended the Hog Roast at Fox Inn - we also appeared live on BBC Radio Kent and have been mentioned all over the World - Mexico, Tokyo, Toronto, Melbourne, California, Dubai, Dumfries and Bradford, plus many more and for a small Society we should be proud. The Website was going well and he was also proud of the WeeBletherer. He hoped the Society would thrive but we must keep attracting new members. In finishing he reminded members that he had booked Scotch Mist for St Andrew's - so we must all work hard to make this special.
Harry Hutchison submitted his report for The World Burns' Federation stating that as a small Society we had two representatives on the Executive Committee - Harry covered London and South East and John Paterson covered South West. Harry reported that there were currently 312 Society/Clubs as members, 106 families and 397 Individuals. Harry reported with sadness the death of hard working conference convenor Harry McGuffog. Harry also outlined the hardworking committees and in particular the Schools competitions which are thriving. Both Harry and son Graham will be attending the Annual Conference in Edinburgh in September this year.
RULE CHANGE :
There was one Rule Change - basically, Life Membership will increase from £10 to £20 with effect from 2010/2011 so if you qualify for Life membership - apply now. ( as a reminder, if you have paid ten years consecutive full membership, you can have Life Membership for a further one payment of £10 - but next year would be £20 )
REMEMBER - THIS IS YOUR SOCIETY - PLEASE ATTEND AGM's.
THE COMMITTEE AND OFFICER BEARERS VOTED IN APPEAR ON COMMITTEE PAGE :
COMMITTEE MEETINGS :
Your hardworking Committee has already had eight meetings 10th June and 15th July, 9th September and 15th October,12th November and 3rd December 2009. 14th January 2010, 4th February 2010 Next one at usual venue on Thursday 4th March 2010.
EDINBURGH TATTOO TRIP - members of our Society have been on this Lochs and Glens Coach Holliday as organised by our group organiser - vice-president Iain Fairweather. Please see separate page for details of this enjoyable event.
CRUISE A LA CARTE - Friday 11th September 2009 15:15 Sailing
Champagne Reception and 3 course dinner in Langans Restaurant.
Some 32 Members and guests attended this Cruise - weather was kind to us and despite a slight delay due to Technical difficulties, the trip went ahead without a hitch though we had to disembark the Port Bus at the French immigration point and then at AMSA where my sporran set off the alarms - but the nice Port Security Lady did not think my Sporran was either alive or dangerous !!!
The meal was of it's usual excellent quality and we all had a great time and we also were able to undertake some retail therapy and whisky tasting.
If anyone has photographs or stories for this website or the WeeBletherer please let me know as I deliberatley did not take my camera on this occasion, so I will be relaint on members and guests to provide some snaps of the event. many thanks - Graham.
WORLD BURNS' FEDERATION - ANNUAL CONFERENCE EDINBURGH
Our Society's Harry and Graham Hutchison attended this important conference in Edinburgh 4th - 6th September 2009 representing the Society - see separate page later :
News & Event
