Minutes of the meeting of Coleraine Probus Club
Held in Portstewart Golf Club on Tuesday 16th April 2013

Attendance: 38 members were present.

Apologies: Jim Archer, Noel Finlay, Ivan Gough, Ronnie Gray, Dermot Jennings, John McHenry, Garath Parry, Reggie Patterson, Nigel Semple and Cecil Spotten, (10)

Club President Graham Kane welcomed club members to the meeting and then introduced our speaker for the morning John McFarland, who was assisted by Norman Beverland. Both our speakers were from the local Shackleton and Aviation Museum, and gave a talk on the history of the former RAF Base at Ballykelly. A summary of this talk is available on the ‘Probus Speakers' page for readers interest. A vote of thanks was proposed by Ian Scott and was passed on by the President. The members showed their appreciation.

Minutes: The minutes of the meeting on 9th April 2013 read, agreed and signed.

Matters arising: None not covered by the agenda

Correspondence: None

Social: Jim Gordon reminded members that there was no lunch in April, but there would be a lunch after the final meeting of the Spring session on 14th May. Jim had given out Menus for this and asked that meal choices were returned as soon as possible. Jim said that he wouldn't be able to attend the meeting on 23rd April, but Jim Foote would be able to collect any forms in his absence. The 14th May meeting would be in the form of a Quiz, and coffee would be served from 10.30, before the Quiz started at 11.00. The lunch would follow at around 12.30.

Welfare: Tony Smyth said there was nothing new to report this week. Mervyn Patterson said that he had visited Leo Dolan and Teresa had asked if members could visit in the afternoons only.

Treasurer: Nigel Semple being absent, there was no treasurers report.

A O B: 2014 Rally: Mervyn Patterson asked if there were any other local Probus clubs involved in the preparations for the rally. The President said that at the moment there wasn't, it was a bit too early for that. However, the committee would be contacting other clubs later, once the 2013 Rally had confirmed the following rally would be hosted in Coleraine. Mervyn then asked about the funding of the rally and would it be from our clubs account. The President said that rally finance would be held in a separate account from our own. Norman Maxwell asked what the current position was with sponsors for the 2014 Rally. The President said that at this stage, it was only necessary to ensure the support of the Coleraine Council (as reported the previous week). The committee would be working on ideas for further sponsorship during the summer recess. Both Norman and Mervyn were concerned that there would be guidance for the club in hosting the event. The President said that Mary Sinnamon (Probus Ireland central co-ordinator) and the council's tourist office would be working closely with the committee.

Next Speakers Meeting: Would be on 23rd April, with a talk by Mr. Edward Montgomery of the Honourable the Irish Society.

Meeting closed at 12.20pm

SIGNED: Graham Kane DATE: 23rd April 2013