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Chairman’s Address 28th October 2005Chairman’s Report: (Presented by Harry Wright on behalf of the Chairman) First of all, huge apologies for my unavoidable absence at tonight's AGM and thank you Harry for presenting my report. Looking back over the year I realised how busy we have been. As it’s been my second year as Chairman things seem more familiar to me but we have tried to introduce some new ideas. 2005 started with the Fête des Rois and a wonderful meal prepared by the Committee and members. A great way to begin the new year. We were together again in March to welcome the teacher training students from Laon. Host families met at Chris Slattery’s for tea before embarking on a fun week with our “young” people. A change from last year meant that the “bring and share” social evening was at the start of the week rather than on the last evening. This worked well and was a fun evening with lovely food provided by the Committee and members. It was interesting to hear students’ views on the similarities and differences between the English and French education systems. Well done Harry for organising the host families and thank you Dot Nunn for hosting a student for the last time. The next two months were spent preparing for the visit of our friends from Laon in May. We spent a busy but excellent weekend in Portsmouth and Winchester. We picked up on a member’s idea and organised a day trip to the Historic Dockyard. Both Laon and Winchester members seemed to have a great day despite it being the Trafalgar anniversary year! Sunday was a Winchester day with a coffee and speeches meeting with the Mayor at Abbey House in the morning, followed by a tour. In the afternoon Lynne Coburn led a group of visitors on a walking tour around Winchester with French commentary. The evening saw the culmination of a wonderful weekend with a banquet in the Cathedral Refectory. Drinks in the courtyard to start and a rousing rendition of Frère Jacques to end! The summer was quieter with the Association supporting individual links with Laon. In May the Ramblers from Winchester spent an energetic few days in Laon and we were pleased to publicise a car rally that took place in June. We helped to find a host family for a girl whose grandmother is from Laon and a pen pal with a Winchester resident. Thanks to the Shankland family for their hospitality in July. I was able to make contact between our twin cities when a group of fund raising cyclists from the City Council headed by Chief Executive Simon Eden “raced” to Laon and met up with our friend Antoine Le Fèvre the Mayor. During a family visit to Laon in the summer we were taken to the Mayor’s office to see the painting of Cheyney Court presented to the city of Laon by the Association hanging in pride of place in the official office. In the summer, we were sorry to hear of the death of Ena Pick after a long illness. September saw a new venture on our calendar a BBQ! We made use of the BBQ at the King Alfred pub and saw it as a chance to socialise with members. I managed to cook everyone’s lunch after a lengthy struggle to light the fire! Despite a pleasant lunch for the 20 people there, the poor turnout suggests that this is not what most members wish to be involved in. In future, please can you let the Committee know whether or not you are going to attend a social event and if it’s not something that appeals to you what you would like to see being organised on your behalf. I feel that if we are to recruit new members and make the Association a little more than just an exchange group then we should meet socially more than just once a year. Please let the Committee have your ideas. As a footnote to this thought you will see we have organised a barn dance for February 11th at Littleton and will be inviting all our associated friends and other local Twinning Associations. All are welcome and need not be members. A good turnout for what promises to be a fun family evening will help raise funds for the 2006 visit to Laon. As usual we will meet for our Fête des Rois evening on January 6th. Finally, I would like to say a big thank you to all my friends on the Committee for their work this year. There is always a lot of work to do for any event and we always need more people to be involved to share the load and to have new ideas and input. Any volunteers? Once again thank you to Harry for presenting this report on my behalf and I look forward to leading the Association into another exciting year.
Thierry de Nitto |
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