The IBM Retired Employee Club (South Hants)
www.shrets.co.uk

The IBM Retired Employee Club
(South Hants) Newsletter

February 2011

In order to improve the format of the newsletter we need your feedback on the current content, or other topics that you would like to see covered.

In addition to providing information on forthcoming trips and theatre visits, the newsletter will cover feedback on previous trips, So please join us to help guide the planning of future events by sending in your feedback to com4@shrets.co.uk on events you have participated in.

At the end of the current year (at the AGM) at least one of the current committee members will be resigning.
We have been actively seeking members who may be interested in joining the committee but to date have had little success.
If you feel you might like to devote a few hours each month to the Club please contact Barbara Clark for further details (023 9259 7027)

We are trying to make the Annual General Meeting of the Club more of an event this year. We have changed the venue and it will be held on Tuesday 8th March at New Place and will include the provision of lunch for those that would like it and a speaker prior to the AGM itself. Directions on how to get to New Place, please click the following link Directions
A three course carvery lunch will be served at 12:00 noon at a cost of £7:50p per head. The menu will include soup, a carvery of turkey and pork, and sticky toffee pudding with custard (although a lighter option may be available for those concerned with their waistlines). Drinks will be at your own expense
Following lunch at 2:00pm Brian Kidd, the well know Portsmouth News gardening expert will speak and will also take questions from the audience.
Then the AGM itself will commence at 3:30pm with the Chairman’s Report, The Treasurer’s Report, acceptance of the accounts, election of committee, etc., etc.
If anybody would like to raise a question at the AGM it would be appreciated if they would let the Secretary know 14 days beforehand either by phone or e-mail.
Finally as we need to know the numbers for lunch you will find a booking form attached to this newsletter for the AGM lunch. You only need to complete this if you want to take lunch, and then return it in the same way as for other events.
If you just want to come to listen to the speaker and / or attend the AGM you only need to turn up at either 2 or 3pm as appropriate.

Please note that you will also find the Club Constitution attached to this newsletter. This will be proposed for adoption at the forthcoming AGM.

Forthcoming trips

Bletchley Park

Seeing one of the Enigma Machines, including the rare 'Abwehr G312', is undoubtedly a highlight of a busy day out at Bletchley Park, but there is much more than machines in a visit to this historic site. Check out the tales of spies and strategic deception. You may even be the one to discover the map to genius mathematician Alan Turing's silver, supposedly buried in or near Bletchley Park.
There are more than enough different activities and exhibitions to occupy most people for a whole day, from wartime toys to working computers. There's a wartime mini cinema and an outstanding Churchill collection. Lively exciting events are held on special days throughout the year. Have a look inside the ornate Victorian Mansion that was headquarters to intelligence staff during the War. Wander by the Lake, relax and observe the wildlife. And there's much much more .

Hampstead - A London Village Tour

Note: This is a City & Village guided tour and includes morning coffee and lunch.
The tour commences after morning coffee with a drive to see Hampstead Garden Suburb which was an experiment in building for the whole community regardless of age, class, or income. Bishop’s Avenue by contrast claims no such idealism. Once an embassy district, today the Avenue is a millionaires row and one time home to Billy Butlin, Gracie Fields, and the unfortunately named Rolf Schild, once kidnapped in error by a hapless gang who mistook him for a Rothschild.
At Whitestone Pond, the highest point in London, there will be a gentle stroll down through the lanes of old Hampstead (the Montmartre of London). High above the smog of London it was a healthy and cheaper choice for the artistic community. Today Hampstead has more millionaires than any other area of the UK. Lunch comes next with a choice of fish and chips or roast of the day and you may order any extras such as drinks, pudding etc., which are at your own expense. The afternoon centres on a guided tour of Kenwood, the superb country house gifted to the nation by the Guinness family. There are wonderful views across London and an excellent café in the former coach house where you can purchase refreshments before the journey home.

PGA Championships at Wentworth

Every spring the European golf’s flagship event, The BMW PGA Championship is held on Wentworth’s West Course.
Many of European golf’s major champions have triumphed in this event; the likes of Jacklin, Ballesteros, Faldo, Langer, Woosnam and Olazabal, as well as eight-time Order of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie. It remains high on every player’s victory wish list.
With the European Tour having expanded to new international horizons, the schedule is such that the BMW PGA Championship now signals the arrival every year of championship golf in mainland Britain. Also, the Wentworth Estate in the spring is indeed a splendid place to see.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is a world renowned event that needs no introduction to the petrol-heads amongst you. It can justifiably be described as the largest motoring garden party in the world – a unique summer weekend that brings together an impossibly heady mix of cars, stars and motor sport ‘royalty’ to create the largest car culture event in the world. Held in the immaculate grounds of Goodwood House, this annual hill-climb event is a true celebration of motor sport and all things automotive.
From current Formula 1 racers and 200mph supercars to steam-powered carriages of the 19th Century, and from 3000bhp top fuel dragsters to classic rally cars, the Festival of Speed attracts the heroic and the evocative from every era in an exuberant display of style, sound, smell and colour. All cars and motorcycles are painstakingly selected and to ensure their authenticity and provenance, all competing vehicles are presented in their original condition and livery.
This event is advertised earlier than usual due to the high cost of entry – we will purchase tickets only for applications received by the closing date.
Recognising that this is a local event and members may not wish to drive to North Harbour, simply to travel by coach to Goodwood, we are offering a ticket only option to anyone who requires it (but not at a reduced price!). If you wish to take advantage of this, please annotate your application to reflect this and enclose 2 stamped self addressed envelopes so I can forward your tickets when available.

The Constitution of IBM Retired Employees Club (South Hants)

The South Hants Club for IBM Retired Employees is an autonomous Club. It receives funding directly from IBM (UK) Ltd, hereinafter referred to as ‘IBM’, and takes functional guidance from the Director of HR. The Club is a non-profit making organisation. Any surpluses will be used to improve the Clubs’ activities and facilities.

1. Title
   The title of the Club shall be “IBM Retired Employees Club (South Hants)”, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Club’.
   
2. Objective
   The objective of the Club is to organise recreational, educational and social activities for its members and their guests.
   
3. Membership
   IBM employees and past employees may join the Club. The criteria for membership are defined by IBM and may be amended at IBM’s discretion. Anyone wishing to clarify their membership eligibility must contact IBM HR, the appropriate contact may be obtained from any Committee member.
   
4. Management
   The Club will be managed by an elected Committee consisting of a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and at least three other members. Five members including one Officer will form a quorum. A member may only be on the main Committee of one Club. The Club Committee may co-opt additional persons at its discretion. The Committee will meet at least three times each year and the Secretary will ensure formal minutes are taken and approved for each meeting. The committee will make available its Constitution and any associated local rules. Members may attend events of other IBM Clubs. Cross funding issues shall be resolved with other IBM Clubs as necessary. Unresolved disputes and disagreements will be referred to the IBM HR Director or a nominated representative.
   
5. Election of Committee
   Officers and members of the Committee will be elected at the Annual General Meeting (see below). They will hold office for one year and may stand for re-election in subsequent years.
   
6. Responsibilities of Officers
   The Chairman will chair all Club Committee meetings, may attend National Meetings as necessary or alternatively appoint a representative on behalf of all the Retiree Clubs, and be the primary interface with IBM. In the Chairman’s absence, the Club Committee shall elect a member to preside, attend or act in his stead.
   
   The Secretary will convene all meetings and ensure that formal minutes are prepared and approved.
   
   The Treasurer will keep the Club’s accounts and prepare an annual statement of accounts for the year ending 31st December and ensure that the accounts are audited by a competent person who is independent of the Committee. The Treasurer will ensure that a copy of the Club’s audited accounts is sent to IBM.
   
7. Finances
   The Club will receive an annual grant directly from IBM paid in January and June. The amount will be at the discretion of IBM. All monies received by the Club will be applied for the benefits of their members. Members and their guests may be required to make payments towards the cost of events and activities that are organised by the Club.
   
8. Annual General Meetings (AGM)
   An Annual General Meeting will be held annually within 15 months of the previous AGM and will be publicised to all members at least one month in advance. The AGM will include a Chairman’s report and a Treasurer’s report, will formally accept the accounts, and will (re-) elect the Officers and Committee members for the coming year. Additional resolutions or questions may be submitted by members at least three weeks in advance. Only members are allowed to vote.
   
9. Extraordinary General Meetings (EGM)
   An Extraordinary General Meeting will be convened at the request of either the Committee or on receipt of a written request from at least 5% of the membership. A reason for such a meeting must be specified and any such meeting will address that subject only.
   
10. Trustees
    Two IBM Trustees of the Club shall be the IBM HR Director and his nominated HR representative.
    
11. Constitution Changes and Local Bye-laws
    This Constitution may be changed by resolution at the Annual General Meeting and the changes must be confirmed by the IBM Trustees. The Club Committee may make, repeal or amend local rules or Bye-laws consistent with the Constitution.
    
12. Responsibilities of Club Members
    Members are required to conform to this Constitution and the local rules specified in the annex to this document when participating in Club events and activities. The Committee may suspend or withdraw membership of the Club from any member whose conduct in its opinion is prejudicial to the interests of the Club; such a decision must be ratified by the Club Trustees.
    
13. Liability
    Members and their guests attend or participate at their own risk in all meetings and activities organised by the Club.
    
14. Membership Data
    Names and addresses of Club members will be held by the IBM HR/Pensions departments and distributed to the Committee of the Club to which they belong. This data will remain confidential to the Club Committee.
    
15. Dissolution of the Club
    The Club may be dissolved at a General Meeting of the Club by resolution supported by 75 percent of those present, or by the Club Trustees in the event that the Club has been inactive for at least 6 months. In either case, the Trustees shall immediately acquire title to the assets and financial affairs of the Club

January 2011

• Each member may bring one guest to club activities. Guests must be aged 18 years or more and may not participate unless accompanied by the member.
  
• Smoking and the consumption of hot food or alcohol is not permitted on the coaches that are hired for club events.
  Members must book their participation on all events using the published booking form, which must be accompanied by a cheque in payment. Cheques must be drawn on the members account and be signed by the member.
  
• The Committee reserves the right to cancel trips and other activities or to modify the calendar and / or timetable should unforeseen circumstances require such action. In the event that the Club has to cancel an event a full refund will be given. However refunds will not be given where cancellations are due to circumstances beyond our control e.g. weather, and where we are unable to obtain a refund on ticket and / or coach costs. In these cases any refunds that we do manage to obtain from our suppliers will be distributed to members on a pro rata basis.
  
• In the event that a member has to cancel his / her participation in an event their cheque will not be cashed if notice is given prior to bookings close date. After bookings close date a refund will only be made if the cost of the event exceeds £15 per person and if the place can be sold on to another member (a £5 administration charge will apply in these cases), otherwise no refund will be made.
  
• During coach journeys members should communicate any request to the appointed coach marshal. In the interests of safety they should not speak to the driver. Members should also note that it is a legal requirement to use the seat belts provided.
  
• Where a coach journey is involved the coaches will depart at the published times. Anyone missing the coach will forfeit their payment for the outing or will have to make their own way home.
  
• Members take part in events at their own risk and must make sure that their guests understand this situation. It is recommended that members take out suitable travel insurance as necessary e.g. for any international events or trips which may involve an overnight stay.
  
• Members are requested to contact committee members when necessary by telephone, but not to leave messages on telephone answer machines as committee members may be away and the message may not be received in time to take appropriate action. All committee members are able to deal with any points that a member may wish to raise. For the same reason members are requested not to contact committee members via e-mail.

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