CHAIRMAN’S REPORT OCTOBER 2009.

Val and I are back on the island after what seems an age away from Cyprus and apart from a golf weekend in the North and a 72 hour trip to a wedding we will be here until Christmas. The wedding trip partly explains the different way in which male and female minds work. I booked the flights with EasyJet saving money by having hand luggage only. Not with a woman needing at least 3 outfits for the trip!!!!

For the first time whilst away we had house –sitters and it worked really well on all fronts but especially for the cats. It is nice to know your house is in good hands and any emergencies dealt with quickly.

There have clearly been issues whilst I have been away which hopefully through the correspondence you will have recently had and full discussion at the October Open Forum will have been largely resolved. It seems strange talking about issues since the Club goes from strength to strength. As I write this note it is Friday September 18^th and tomorrow night we will be attending one of the Social Committee’s revitalised events. A complete sell out for Steve Richards with the most expensive ticket 10 euros and including a main course meal!! Between now and Christmas there are a wide range of social activities at recession busting prices all of which are on the notice board and published in the In Touch newsletter. My thanks go to all those involved in the new programme – your hard work will result in many nights of enjoyment for our members. Whilst writing about social events an enormous amount of hard work is going into preparing for the Club hosting a pantomime for the first time. Some 32 members are involved in the production in one guise or other and tickets will be on sale from the Autumn Fayre onwards.

The Club now has more than 1700 members which in the current climate augurs well for the future. This is despite the fact that there is a steady but perceptibly increasing trend of members leaving the island and returning to the UK. I heard, though this is not substantiated that there is a waiting list now for containers to return to the UK of 3 months.

For the last 18 months we have absorbed all cost increases e.g. bar prices have remained static but one cost we can defer no longer is a small increase in restaurant prices. All of us are aware of the rapid rise in the cost of living on the island and Betty should be congratulated in holding out so long but she needs to make a living!!

The redoubtable building team has completed the roof in order to meet planning conditions and at the request of a good number of the library users the entrance door has been moved to the front. Mike Slade continues to press the landlord to obtain the appropriate permits but as we all know officialdom on the island has a timeframe of its own.

There is much going on in the Club and as many members return from the UK or from further afield we look forward to providing you with much to do and a warm environment in which to do it.

David.