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Season’s Greetings from the ChairmanMy best wishes to all members and their families for a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I very much look forward to seeing you all at The Fête des Rois and at the February Barn Dance. Thierry De Nitto. Come along to a social evening on Friday January 6th 2006: "Fête des Rois"Our annual mid-winter social will be held at St.Lawrence Parish Hall, Colebrook Street, Winchester. The evening will commence at 7.30 pm. with Harry’s Yuletide Games. A substantial hot supper of main course, followed by cheese and galettes will be served, with a vegetarian option if requested. Wine or soft drinks will accompany the meal. The cost for members will be £10 each. Reserve your place by contacting June by December 30th. Bal de St ValentinYou are invited to a “Bal de St Valentin” in the form of a Barn Dance on Saturday 11th February 2006 at Littleton Memorial Hall. A live band and caller will be on hand to lead the entertainment and the doors will open at 7.30pm. Ticket prices are £7.50 per person or £20.00 for a family of up to four. A glass of wine on arrival is included and soft drinks will be available throughout the evening. For tickets please contact June on 01962 . Cheques should be made out to Winchester-Laon Twinning Association. Please include a SAE for your tickets. Numbers are strictly limited so you are advised to apply as soon as possible. The evening is primarily aimed at local town twinning organisations with E.U. contacts but is open to all who enjoy a fun evening of barn dancing—so bring along all your friends and neighbours. The Annual visit of French Student Teachers.In what has now become an annual event we shall be hosting a party of French student teachers when they visit Winchester from March 6th to 11th 2006. The party of ten together with M. Jean Moral are from the Teacher Training Department of the University of Amiens which is based in Laon. During the visit the students spend time at various primary schools in the local area in order to gain some insight into the English Primary School System. They will also be keen to practise their English and experience some aspects of our culture. Harry Wright is acting as “liaison officer” and arranging accommodation for the visitors. Any member of the Association who would like to host a student should contact Harry on 01962 854278. The 2006 exchange visit to Laon will take place from the 26th to 29th of MayNow that a date has been agreed the Committee are keen to assemble as much information as possible about members’ intentions. This will enable them to arrive at the likely cost of travel etc. In order to assist the planning they would like to know how many members are interested in coming. Have they stayed with a family in the past and would they like to stay with them again? Would they like to travel to Laon by coach or would they prefer to take their own car? For obvious reasons the Committee are keen to emphasise the advantages of travelling by our own coach but it does depend on sufficient numbers using it to make it cost effective. Please convey your interest and preferences to a member of the Committee. Detailed information will be circulated once members’ preferences are known. The 13th Annual General MeetingThe 13th AGM was held on 28th October 2005 and was attended by 10 members. The President the Mayor of Winchester was in the Chair. Chairman's Report: In the absence of the Chairman his report was presented by Harry Wright on his behalf. The report can be accessed by clicking on "Chairman's Address" on the left of this page. Treasurer's Report: The Accounts up to 31st July 2005 were circulated. A healthy balance was reported. No increase in subscriptions was proposed and the Auditor, Eileen Tilby, was re-appointed. June said she would be stepping down as Treasurer/Membership Secretary and from the Committee in July 2006 at the end of the current financial year. Election of Officers & Committee: Members were elected or re-elected to the Committee as follows: Thierry De Nitto (Chairman), June (Treasurer & Membership), Michael Smith (Secretary), Celia De Nitto, Harry Wright, Pam Wright, Bill Kirby, Bodil Cowan, Phil Waterton (Alliance Française). ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONSA reminder to members that annual subscriptions are overdue for renewal. If you have not already done so, please send payment to the Association's Treasurer. Cheques should be made out to Winchester-Laon Twinning Association and please also enclose a SAE for your membership card. Subscriptions for 2005/2006 remain at £6.00 for individual members and £8.00 for a family. Corporate membership is £12.00. Treasurer/Membership Secretary Urgently NeededJune our Treasurer and Membership Secretary announced at the AGM that she would be stepping down from the Committee at the end of July 2006. June’s loyal support for all the Association’s activities from its beginning has been a major factor in its success. She will be a hard act to follow! The Association is now urgently seeking a successor to sit alongside June until the end of the financial year and then take over as Treasurer/Membership Secretary. Any member who feels able to assist the Association in this important role is invited to contact the Chairman Thierry De Nitto on 01962 626962. Vive La France: A taste of France in the heart of London.20-22 January 2006 at London OlympiaVive la France, the show that offers you the opportunity to travel to France without leaving the UK, returns to Olympia in January. For details and tickets ring 0870 380 0144 or online at www.vivelafrance.co.uk DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 2006
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