Minutes of the meeting of Coleraine Probus Club

Attendance: 41 members and Guest Mr Malcolm Hinds.

The Club President called on Reggie Patterson to address the meeting. Reggie said that it was his regrettable duty to report the sudden death of Sandra, the wife of Probus member Sam Boyd. Sam is a neighbour of Reggie and he asked that the sad news be reported to the members.
The Club President, John Graham, welcomed members and guest to the meeting. He then introduced our speaker for the morning, Mr Trevor Topping, the topic of his talk being “Self-Employment: Toil + Trouble.”

Trevor gave an entertaining account of the time he spent in Innishowen, Co Donegall, setting up Government Business Training Courses to encourage the unemployed into self-employment.

A summary of this talk is available in the Speakers’ Record Book, and also on the Club Website.

A vote of thanks proposed by Peter FitzGerald was passed on to Mr. Topping by the President. The members showed their appreciation.

Weekly Business

Apologies: Sam Boyd, Hammy Houston, John Ludlow, Aubrey McElhinney, John McHenry, Nigel Semple and Gordon Ward.

Minutes: The minutes of the 10th March 2015, were taken as read due to time limitations.

Matters arising: None not covered by the agenda.

Correspondence: None.

REPORTS:
Social: Des Johnston confirmed that 14 members have booked in for the Probus Club Lunch on 31st March 2015. Menus are available today for those wishing to book in for the lunch.

Welfare: Cecil Spotten in reporting confirmed that Jim Foote is at home and is making a slow but steady progress. He is still not allowed visitors.

Treasurer: An apology was received from Nigel Semple.

A O B: 1. The President welcomed new member Jim Donaghy and presented him with membership badges and copy of the Coleraine Probus Club Constitution and Rules.
2. Probus All Ireland Rally 2015 - Ennis
The President reminded members that to date 11 members and 11 guests have enlisted for the All Ireland Rally. It has been agreed that a subsidy of £68.00 will be paid to each member going to the Rally; £40.00 registration fee and £28.00 expenses.
Should more members wish to travel to Ennis, the subsidy may have to be revised. The President stressed that registration forms must be with the Secretary not later than Tuesday 24 March 2015. Anyone wishing to travel to the Ennis Rally should immediately contact the Secretary who has all the necessary forms. The deadline for the return of forms to the Ennis Probus Club is 14 April 2015.
3. 31March 2015: Club Lunch and 7 April 2015 : No Club Meeting

Next Speakers Meeting: Will be held on Tuesday 24 March and the speaker will be Mr Richard Russell on ‘Policing in the United Arab Emirates’.

The President thanked the members for attending and hoped that everyone would be at our next meeting on Tuesday 24 March 2015 .

Meeting closed at 12 Noon.

SIGNED: MikeTurner
Date 24 March 2015