Minutes of the meeting of Coleraine Probus Club
Held in Portstewart Golf Club on Tuesday 9th April 2013

Attendance: 41 members were present.

Apologies: Don Bell, Leo Dolan, Jack Henderson, Hammy Houston, Des Johnston, Ian Murray, James Nesbitt, Ernest Preece and Tony Smyth (9)

Club President Graham Kane welcomed guest Jim Dinsmore and club members to the meeting. The President then introduced our initial speaker for the morning, club member Ken Parkes. Ken then chose an imaginative method to illustrate the mornings talk about amateur radio communications, by radioing another member of the speaking team, John McCullough, and guiding him to the meeting. A brief summary of this interesting talk and practical demonstration, is available on the ‘Probus Speakers' page for readers interest. A vote of thanks was proposed by Joe Alcorn and was passed on by the President. The members showed their appreciation.

Minutes: The minutes of the meeting on 19th March 2013 read, agreed and signed.

Matters arising: None not covered by the agenda

Correspondence: None

Probus Rally 2014: The President said that after much discussion, the council were offering support for the club to host the 2014 All Ireland Probus Rally, and asked Jim Gordon to outline the club's current position. Jim said that the help offered by the council was enough to make it a practical proposition. The club had been in contact with Mary Sinnamon, Probus co-ordinator for Ireland, who had been pressing for conformation due to the proximity of the 2013 Rally. Five club members and partners would be attending the Athlone Rally, and would be making a presentation for the event to be held on 28th and 29th May next year, thus avoiding the NW200. The club committee would be meeting soon to prepare for this presentation and further discussions with the members would take place.

Social: Jim Gordon reported on the club lunch held 26th March and thought the attendance was a little disappointing. Jim reminded members that there would be no lunch in April, but there would be a lunch on May 14th after the 'end of term' quiz, before the 'summer break'.

Welfare: Cecil Spotten reported that Ernest Preece was doing quite well, but confined to the house with a chest infection. Leo Dolan was suffering from a recurrence of a severe back problem and remained in bed.

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

A O B: 1: Volunteer helpers were requested for the music / dance event being held in Coleraine, starting on 9th April
2: John McHenry gave notice that he would be formally proposing Len Black for membership at a future meeting.
3: Reggie Patterson said that the final 'Counterpoint' concert he would be organising, would be held on Saturday 27th April at St. Patrick's, and that attendance was obligatory!

Next Speakers Meeting: Would be on 16th April, with a talk by Mr. Norman Thorpe on the history of aviation in Ireland.

Meeting closed at 12.10pm

SIGNED: Graham Kane
DATE: 16th April 2013