Region News

Regional Chairman's Report 2009

I hope everyone enjoyed the Regional Rally at Ballymena Showgrounds.

Regional Council had anticipated an attendance of approximately 70 units so I was extremely pleased when the total reached 100! The high numbers resulted in some problems – e.g. Renee Gibson had to hastily arrange for additional supplies of burgers, sausages, etc. for the barbecue. But as I have said since, I will take those kinds of problems every time. A big, big thank you to everyone who supported the Region on this occasion.

I hope everyone managed to speak to the National Chairman, Keith Jackson, during the weekend. I have since met Keith’s wife Janet who once again sends her apologies to all members in N.I. for her absence and assures me that she will make every effort to come across at the first available opportunity.

As a result of the rally and the attendance of David Wilkes, Chairman of the National Youth Committee, it now looks very likely that NIDA will soon have a Youth Leader in place and we also have high hopes for Bangor DA in this regard. This is great news for the Region as it will greatly increase the future prospects of the Club in Northern Ireland if we once again have Youth Leaders in all three DAs. I know that Brian Willis, Regional Youth Liaison Officer, is also very pleased at the prospect. During the first weekend in July Brian will accompany several youth members to the national Youth Rally near Manchester.

As we approach the holiday season may I wish everyone safe travelling wherever you are heading and an enjoyable break away from your normal way of life. Here’s hoping for good weather for the two Holiday Sites at Portora and Portrush – perhaps I will meet some of you in Portrush, and beyond that I am looking forward to visiting Blenheim Palace for the NFOL in August.

Have a great holiday wherever you plan to go.

Mervyn

Regional Council 2009

The elections which took place at the Council meeting after the close of the AGM resulted in the following :-


The two appointments made by the outgoing Council were :-

Mervyn Best was appointed Representative to National Council with Elma Kilpatrick as Deputy.


Message from the New Regional Chairman

As I said at Omagh I never envisaged being Regional Chairman when I first joined the Club almost exactly 30 years ago. In those days it was just a means of meeting with like-minded people and having the advantage of not having to book a site every time I felt like caravanning for the weekend. However, I soon came to realise that, as with anything in life, you always get more out of something if you are prepared to put something in.
So it was that I found myself assisting with an anniversary rally in the Club’s 80^th anniversary year – a rally known ever since as the “pancake rally” (but that’s another story). The rest as they say is history and I feel very privileged to have joined the ranks of those who have filled the position of Chairman in the Northern Ireland Region over the last 30/31 years. I just hope that I am found fit to follow in their footsteps.

Over the last 7 years under Chris’ Chairmanship the Regional Council has functioned extremely well as a team and my first priority will be to ensure that the teamwork is maintained – I see no reason why it shouldn’t. In this regard I am delighted that Chris is still serving as a Councillor, having been elected with myself to serve for the next three years – I know I will be using his experience of the job from time to time.

I trust everyone enjoyed the Regional Rally at Omagh – we were certainly blessed with good weather for the weekend and it was lovely to have Club Chairman Nev Ramsbottom and his wife Cath camping with us throughout the rally.

No doubt we are all watching apprehensively as the cost of fuel climbs on almost a daily basis. Be assured that Regional Council and the D.A. Sites Officers will take this into consideration when planning for next year comes round – our difficulty is of course that we cannot foretell what fuel costs will do between the planning period and next season’s camping.

I’m sure I speak for all the Councillors and your D.A. Committees when I thank you the members for your support and when I encourage you to bring your comments – be they good or bad - to the attention of any member of Council or Committee.

And remember – the Club in Northern Ireland is only as good as the members – the Regional Council is purely an Administrative body or a link in the chain between the members, the District Associations and Club Headquarters.

Looking forward to meeting you all on a camp site somewhere over the next few months.

Mervyn Best