Newsletter December 2008

The Chairman and Committee wish all members a “Joyeux Noël et Meilleur Voeux pour l’année prochaine”

The 2009 visit from our friends in Laon will take place over the weekend of May 1st to 4th 2009.

Now that the date has been agreed planning for the weekend is underway. It is expected that the programme will follow a similar pattern to previous visits with the guests arriving on the Friday evening and leaving on the following Monday morning.

The Committee, assisted by ideas suggested at a discussion held following the AGM, are drawing- up a programme which may include the following events. A “Bring and Share” Barn Dance at the Littleton Hall, a day outing to Chichester and possibly a concert by The Clifton Singers.

Further ideas from members would be most welcome, please pass them to a member of the Committee.

A progress report on the programme will be given at the Fête des Rois evening on January 9th.
 

Our most popular social evening, the "Fête des Rois" will take place on 9th January. Don’t miss it –reserve your place now!

The event will be held at St Lawrence Hall, Colebrook Street, Winchester and commence at 7.30 pm. A substantial hot supper of a main course followed by cheese and galettes will be served, with a vegetarian option if requested.

Wine and soft drinks will accompany the meal.

The cost for members will be £10 each. To reserve your place please return the slip enclosed with your newsletter to Harry Wright before Christmas.

THE 15th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

An edited report of the proceedings follows.

Chairman’s report

What a year - very dramatic and traumatic for me personally with my heart problems in January, but very exciting and busy for the Association.

2008 started with a lovely Fête des Rois supper with the usual silly games and raffle. A fantastic hot dinner was prepared by our twinning cooks - not a good way to start a new year diet! In March we held a Bring and Share spring supper. No student teachers this year but instead we had a quiz - a close competition with just the occasional cheating!

The visit to Laon

May saw us leaving Winchester at four in the morning for our visit to Laon. Despite the early start, it turned out to be a lovely, if food filled, weekend. Full breakfast in Calais, followed by lunch in Arras with a formal dinner for some of us with the Mayors of Winchester and Laon on our first evening. A lovely late breakfast in our host's sunny garden before a day visiting the town (where we bought chocolate) A delicious “Bring and Share” supper after the concert, lunch after the museum visit (mustn't forget the morning coffee), and a superb afternoon tea at the chateau. We could hardly face buying food at the hypermarket on Monday! We also enjoyed visits to the war memorial at Vimy, an educational visit to the Eco museum and of course the outstanding concert from Kate's singers and La Villanelle Choir. Did I mention the crisps at the Mayor's reception after the concert?

A quiet summer

The summer was quiet with just the good news that Winchester City Council had awarded us a grant for £500 towards the cost of coach travel to Laon. September saw our second Littleton picnic where the weather was kind and the company jovial. The food was as always delicious.

Future projects include the student teachers’ visit in March followed by our friends from Laon in May and a Laon secondary school in October. Lots of beds and hosting will be needed in 2009!

As always, a big thank you to the Committee for their support, hard work and enthusiasm.

Thierry De Nitto, Chairman.

Treasurer’s report

I must begin by thanking Mr Stuart Dorward for his work with the Examination and Audit of the Annual Accounts. He has continued to be very helpful throughout the year.

2007-2008 was a good year financially for the Association. The Committee's decision to subsidise the coach fares to Laon was fully justified. Since the start of the new financial year, and thanks to very hard work by Thierry and Celia we have received a City Council grant for £500 towards the cost of the Laon visit.

Subscriptions

Gill Foster continues to be a great help in bringing in the subscriptions, and chasing forgetful members. The decision at last year’s AGM to increase subscriptions slightly will be found to be helpful. I believe that subscriptions should cover the basic admin costs of the Association which were about £320 this year. Increasing use of email will help to keep costs down, and thank you to all who have been happy to be contacted in this way.

Social Events

During the year all our Social Events made a profit and were, on the whole, well supported. A special thank you to all who donated raffle prizes (and those who bought tickets) as well as those who generously helped with food and drink, and provided entertainment.

I thank the Committee for its warm support, Thierry De Nitto for his energetic leadership, enthusiastically supported by Celia, Gill Foster as above, Phil Waterton for his work with the Web, Michael Smith for his invaluable work as Honorary Secretary, and Bodil Cowan for her experience and thoughtful contributions to planning and discussion. As always, we are indebted to the skills of John Poupart as editor of the Newsletter. Thanks too, to Pam for her support and forbearance when I spend a morning number-crunching! We must not forget to thank all the ordinary members who pay their dues promptly and cheerfully and contribute to all the enjoyment there is to be found as members of the Association.

Harry Wright, Honorary Treasurer.

Membership Secretary’s report

Last year the Association had a total of forty nine members. In the current year, since August, subscriptions have been received from twenty eight members.

A number of members of Kate Morgan’s choir joined the Association for the visit to Laon—in order to validate the travel insurance everyone travelling on the coach had to be a member of the Association. This is likely to have increased our membership temporarily.

As in previous years, after Christmas I shall telephone “lapsed” members with a gentle reminder .

It has been really helpful, and saved time and money, to be able to contact members by e-mail.

I would encourage all members to persuade their friends to join the Association.

Gill Foster, Membership Secretary.

Election of Officers and Committee

Members were elected or re-elected as follows: Thierry De Nitto (Chairman), Michael Smith (Secretary), Harry Wright (Treasurer), Gill Foster (Membership Secretary) Celia De Nitto,Bodil Cowan, Pam Wright, Philip Waterton (Cercle Français), Christine Warr.

Following the meeting an informal discussion took place about possible activities for the Association in 2009.

Le Rugby at River Park

This was the return leg, as Winchester had already enjoyed a visit to Laon earlier in the year. New contacts were made and a great time was had by all. It was lovely to see such a sporting event happening between our twin cities.

The return of the French Student Teachers

As we hinted at in the last newsletter this popular annual exchange visit will be reinstated in 2009. The group from the Teacher Training Department of the University of Amiens, which is based in Laon, will arrive on March 10th and depart on the 14th.

During the visit the students spend time at a number of primary schools in the Winchester area to gain some insight into the English primary school system. They will also be keen to practise their English and experience aspects of our culture.

A “Bring and Share” social evening enabling members to meet and welcome the French students will be held on March 13th. More details at the Fête des Rois evening.

Harry Wright will again be acting as “Liaison Officer” arranging accommodation for the visitors. Any member of the Association who is willing to host one or even two students is asked to contact Harry on 01962 854278 as soon as possible.

MEMBERS’ SUBSCRIPTIONS 2008-9

A reminder that there are still subscriptions outstanding for the current year.

Would any member still to renew please forward their cheque (£8 single member, £10 family and £12 corporate) to Gill Foster ,12 West End Terrace, Winchester SO22 5EN.

DATES TO REMEMBER FOR 2009.

Fête des Rois                         January 9th.
Student Teachers visit             March 10th-14th.
“Bring and Share” social           March13th.
Exchange visit from Laon         May 1st-4th.

Newsletter published by the Winchester-Laon Twinning Association. Chairman: Mr T De Nitto, 88 Wavell Way, Stanmore, Winchester SO22 4EG.

Send email to Phil Waterton (phil@waterton.org.uk) with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2008 Winchester-Laon Twinning Association
Last modified :  12 December 2008