Minutes of the Royal British Legion
Chiang Mai Sub-Branch General Meeting held at Branch
Headquarters,
The Olde Bell Pub, Chiang Mai,
on 6 January, 2010.
Committee Members in attendance:
Mr Glenn Croston - Chairman
Mr Stewart Wilson - Secretary
Act of Remembrance.
The Chairman read the Act of Rembrance and the Kohima Epitaph. There then followed a minute’s silence. The meeting was opened at 7.05pm by the Chairman, following the Act of Remembrance.
Present: Mr Glenn Croston Mr Stewart Wilson
Mr Scott Churchill Mr Bob Machin
Mr Charles Gross Mr John Burnett
Mr Rob Kelly Mr David Hardcastle
Mr Denis Thompson
Apologies: Mr Steve Pragnell Mr Victor Hayes
Mr Steve Graham Mr Chris Ashton
Mr Josef Laschunja Mr Rex Baggaley
Mr Pedr Fawkes Mrs Ros Croston
Mrs Anong Pragnell Mr James Johnstone-Hall
Guests: Mrs Patricia Gross Mr Charles Cherrington
Mr Russell Barnes
Opening remarks by the Chairman.
The Chairman welcomed all to the meeting, especially guests and prospective members and mentioned that the sub-branch has already grown since the inaugural meeting in October to 42 members. He welcomed those members present to the first General Meeting of 2010, and the first following the inauguration of the Chiang Mai sub-branch.
Minutes of the previous meeting.
There being no matters arising from the members regarding the previous minutes, it was agreed these be taken as read.
Proposer: Mr Rob Kelly
Seconder: Mr David Hardcastle
Matters arising from the previous meeting.
The Chairman and Secretary outlined the following events programme for early 2010, where such dates and events have already been decided by the Sub-branch Committee or Chonburi Thailand branch:
20 January – Pub Games Night
3 February – Lucky Dip Bingo Night
17 February – Social Evening
3 March – Social Evening
17 March – St. Patrick’s Day
24 March – Pool Tournament
31 March – Combined Social Evening & Pedr Fawke’s 50th Birthday Celebration
7 April – GM/Social Evening
21 April – Dinner to celebrate the 84th birthday of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II
24–26 April – Visit to Kanchanaburi for ANZAC Day Remembrance Services
Payment in full for the hotel accommodation for this trip (800 baht per night B&B per room) must be paid to the Treasurer by FRIDAY, 5 FEBRUARY, so that the accommodation can be booked by the Secretary of the Chonburi Thailand branch. This is non-refundable! With regard to the transport for Chiang Mai members to get down to Kanchanaburi to join up with the Chonburi party, the Chairman is presently looking into the costing for the various modes of transport available to find the most cost-effective and will shortly be able to advise.
10 - 17 June - Visit to Malaysia.
Price approximately 15,000 baht per person, includes flights, transfers, hotels and free “Troops Night”.
Depart Bangkok Wednesday, 9 June and spend one night in Penang. Thursday, 10 June: travel to Ipoh, stopping at the Taiping War Cemetery if possible. Three nights in Ipoh attending 4 services, returning to Penang on Sunday, 13 June followed by 3 nights in Penang before returning to Bangkok on Wednesday, 16 June. Contact Bert, the Secretary of the Chonburi Thailand branch for more details.
26 June - TRBL Chiang Mai 2010 Poppy Appeal fund-raising event at The Empress Hotel.
The chairman outlined his idea for what would be the major Chiang Mai
TRBL event for 2010, from which it is hoped to raise at least 100,000 baht. The hotel has offered us very generous discounts on food, and special low room rates are offered for those members wishing to stay overnight.
Donations are being sought from local companies and trade and business organisations, and the British Consulate in Chiang Mai will be asked to help promote the event. It will also be publicised via several leading fund- raisers/local business people with contacts in the business community and the media.
He explained that he is also in discussion with The British Club Bangkok Pipe Band, who played for the RBL guests at the British Embassy after the 2009 Remembrance Day reception, and have since indicated their interest in coming up to Chiang Mai to entertain the guests subject to them confirming their travel and accommodation costs. There will be a Grand Draw on-going during the course of the evening, with draw tickets also available for a period in the run-up to the event.
Ticket prices for this event are expected to be in the region of THB700-800 which will cover the cost of the international buffet, soft drinks, entertainment, entry to the Grand Draw and a donation directly to the 2010 Chiang Mai Poppy Appeal. In due course, a sub-committee will be formed to organise this event. Mr Rob Kelly kindly offered his services as and when the organising sub-committee is set up.
12–18 August - Visit to Myanmar
Price approximately 22,000 Baht per person, includes flights, hotels, breakfast, tours and guide.
We hope to make our first TRBL visit to Burma on 12 August. The itinerary to be along the following lines;
12 August - 2010 arrive in Rangoon and settle in hotel (flight details to be advised)
13 August - tour Rangoon visiting War Cemetery and war museum, Shwedagon Pagoda, Strand Hotel, Down Town Yangon. O/N Yangon
14 August - travel to Maulmein via Bago. Brief sightseeing in Bago ( Bago Palace/ Shwemawdaw Pagoda). Settle in hotel at Maulmein.
15 August – (V.J. Day), visit Thanbyuzayat war cemetery, Setse beach, Kyaikkhamee Pagoda. Overnight stay in Maulmein.
16 August - return to Rangoon. O/N Yangon
17August - free day in Rangoon
18 August - transfer to Yangon airport for your return flight to Thailand
All the above dates and times will be confirmed but the first thing I need is names!!! Please contact the Chairman if you would like to attend any of the above trips; you may think it’s early but if we all wish to be together again at the River Kwai, for instance, Bert needs to book now. So names please along with the trip you would like to attend. We will then contact you with further details.
Secretary’s Report.
The Secretary advised members that he had received only two items of correspondence, both from Mr David Hardcastle:
1) He asks if the TRBL in London could consider some sort of distribution deal between the author Mr Geoff Simpson and his publishers regarding his latest book titled “A dictionary of the Battle of Britain”. Mr Simpson is a leading authority on the Battle of Britain.
The Chairman suggested that the matter be referred direct to the TRBL in the UK, but asked if Mr Hardcastle could see if copies of the book could be made available for sale in Thailand to members and at what price.
2) Mr Hardcastle also proposed a formal vote of thanks be passed for the efforts of the Chairman, on behalf of the Chiang Mail TRBL sub-branch, for assisting with arrangements for the recent funeral of former naval aviator Mr Abe Libby, including supplying the Union Flag as a drape for the coffin, providing suitable music for use during the service, liaising with the British Consulate, and purchasing a wreath from the sub-branch Social Fund. Mr Hardcastle gave some pertinent details of Mr Libby’s life and career up until his death last month in McKean Rehabilitation Center.
Proposer: Mr Rob Kelly
Seconder: Mr David Hardcastle
Treasurer’s Report.
It had been expected that the Treasurer would be presenting his Financial Report and Statement of Accounts to members, but he was unable to pass on this information to the other committee members prior to his departure on a much needed family holiday following a very hectic festive season at the Olde Bell. However, this will be rectified immediately on his return and the financial report forwarded on to members by the Secretary. In the meantime, the Secretary was able to advise members that the social fund account currently has around 20,000 baht in it, and that some small disbursements had been made since the inaugural meeting, including the sum of 600 baht for Abe Libby’s wreath, another 1,200 baht for a poppy wreath to lay at the Chiang Mai Remembrance Day service, plus the subsidy towards the sub-branch Christmas Dinner. There is no TRBL money in the sub-branch account. The Treasurer has yet to open a bank account for the sub-branch, but will do so on his return from holiday.
Mr Rob Kelly asked that at future GM’s, the accounts be kept on display on the Committee’s table, available for viewing by the members if they so wish. This was agreed to by the Chairman.
Welfare Officer’s Report.
The Chairman, in his role as Welfare Officer for the Chonburi Thailand branch, re-iterated his involvement in Mr Abe Libby’s funeral. The Secretary made the point that this is exactly what the Legion is all about, and that this is why we intend to maintain sufficient funds in our branch account to provide much needed financial, administrative and caring help for its members.
Committee Report.
2009 Remembrance Day & Poppy Appeal.
The Remembrance Day service at the Foreigners Cemetery was extremely well attended, as was the reception held afterwards at the Chiang Mai Gymkhana Club. We were delighted to also welcome the new Honorary British Consul, as well as a contingent of senior students from the Lana International School. For the 2010 Poppy Appeal and Remembrance Day, we will be looking at ways to extend our reach into the Chiang Mai schools via presentations to students, and also the distribution of school packs, posters and leaflets. In addition we intend to extend coverage of appropriate locations in the city, including pubs and other “expat hang-outs”, and once again target the various consulates. We have once again been assured of support from the British Consulate in this respect. The 2009 Appeal raised the sum of 10,384 baht, a big increase on the final 2008 Appeal total. So well done to all those involved.
We plan to significantly increase this figure in 2010, and will shortly be applying via Chonburi Thailand branch for additional poppy appeal collection boxes. The Chairman informed us that the TRBL Standard will not be available for the 2010 Chiang Mai Remembrance Day service, as it will be required for the Chonburi Thailand branch Golf Tournament that forms the key fund-raising element of their own 2010 Poppy Appeal.
2009 Christmas Dinner.
The Secretary reported that our first branch Christmas Dinner was a resounding success - we were sold out, and even had to find space for additional guests! 45 tickets were sold, and said he is sure that those who attended would agree that it was a most enjoyable evening. Our thanks must go to Pedr and Beer and their hard working staff on the night for the superb traditional menu that was provided – no easy feat with so many guests. The beer and wine certainly flowed well into the night! A special thanks must go to the evening’s sponsors, MBMG, and their President, Graham Macdonald, for their much valued and generous support.
Football Cards.
The Secretary noted that, as always, these had proved very popular way to raise funds, Subject to confirmation by the Treasurer in his Financial Report, it is understood that the 5 cards so far completed have raised 5,750 baht to date for our sub-branch Social Fund. A sixth card has yet to be completed, so members present were encouraged to contribute to this to help kick off our 2010 fund-raising efforts.
Propositions received from the membership.
No propositions were received from the membership before the meeting.
Any other business.
The Empress Hotel fund-raising event on Saturday, 26 June: The Chairman provided further details of his proposed Poppy Appeal fund-raising dinner at The Empress Hotel, and pointed out that it also coincided with Veterans Day, which falls on Sunday, 27 June. The beverages side will be handled entirely by branch members Trevor Dobson of Wineways, and Pedr Fawkes of The Olde Bell. With a target of 100,000 baht to be raised on the day, it is anticipated that ticket prices for the event will be around 750 baht per head. Mr Paul Thompson has kindly agreed to provide the music and video entertainment during the evening, at no cost to the branch.
Proposer: Mr Glenn Croston
Seconder: Mr Rob Kelly
Date, time and place of the next General Meeting.
The next General Meeting will be held on Wednesday, 7 April, at 7pm at The Olde Bell Pub.
Closure of the meeting.
There being no further business, the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 7.55pm