Minutes of the meeting of Coleraine Probus Club

Attendance: 36 members were in attendance.

Apologies: Jim Archer, Jim Donaghy, John Graham, Graham Kane, Malcolm Hinds, Danny Kennedy, Cecil Leitch, John McKegney, Reggie Patterson and John Tan (10)

Club Vice President Mike Turner welcomed club members to the meeting. He then introduced our speaker for the morning, Mrs Joan Christie, reminding her that she last visited the Club on Tue. 3rd April 2012, almost four years ago. Joan then treated members to an interesting, informative and amusing talk describing her duties as Lord Lieutenant of Co. Antrim. How for the G8 Conference she welcomed Presidents Obama, Hollande and Putin, where the BBC commentator Noel Thompson mistook her for Mary Peters.

She went on to describe encounters with Princes Andrew and Edward and how she admires Princess Ann’s ability to communicate with young people. Joan maintains a close relationship with H.M. Armed Services including the UDR and the RUC, George Cross-Ballymena. For five years she has also acted as Colonel of the local Army Cadets, an organisation which can provide worthwhile and fulfilling challenges for young people.

Another duty undertaken on a regular basis in conjunction with the Home Office is the swearing in of new citizens wishing to live in N. Ireland. People so necessary for the success of the Health Service.

Finally Joan related how Prince Charles, for the Queens Diamond Jubilee, organised a Reception at St. James Palace to reward Inspirational citizens. She along with ten representatives and celebrity Gloria Hunniford from N. Ireland attended the function.

A brief summary of this talk is available in the Speakers Record Book and here on the Club website. A vote of thanks proposed by Eric Fulton was passed on to Mrs Christie by the Vice President. The members showed their appreciation.

Weekly Business:

Minutes: Because of time constraints it was agreed that the minutes of 9th February 2016 be taken as read. These were then signed by the Vice President.

Matters arising: None not covered by the agenda

Correspondence:
1.A letter was received from Denis and Jill Wilson acknowledging the donation of £236:00 for “Helping Hands Healing Hearts”.
2. Also an email from the Alzheimer’s Society publicising their Care and Support Programme. A copy of this email is available at the signing in table.

Reports:
Social: Joe Alcorn said that menus are now available for the Club Lunch on 23rd February 2016. Thursday 17th Feb. is the deadline for the return of menu choices.

Welfare: Cecil Spotten said he had nothing new to report this week.

Treasurer: Nigel Semple said he was currently collecting members’ subs. which are now due. The annual subscription remains at £25:00.

A O B:
1. Membership cards for 2016/17 are now available from the Secretary.
2. In reply to Ken Parkes, it was confirmed that 15 copies of the Probus District Directory - 2016 have been ordered from Mary Sinnamon who is temporarily still the Northern Liaison Officer.

Next Speakers Meeting: Will be on 1st March, when the guest speaker will be Revd. Robert Simpson the topic of his talk being “Recent Experiences in Nigeria”

The Vice President thanked everyone for attending, and hoped to see them at our next meeting.
Meeting closed at 12:04pm.

SIGNED: Jim Archer
President.
DATE: 1st March 2016