the full newsletter!

SKÅL INTERNATIONAL BRIGHTON, SUSSEX
AND THE CHANNEL
President
Eric Etienne
Secretary
Edward Lewis
OCTOBER 2016 Newsletter
Your President writes:
BACK FROM BELFAST TO SKÅL UK’S NEW FUTURE
Getting to Belfast from Paris is not easy. But after a very early departure
Alice, our new Young Skal member, and I arrived in time for a local beer
before lunch.
I will not give you a full report about the 63rd National Assembly, as fellow
delegate Anthony Gay has provided a full report elsewhere, but here are a few
impressions.
The National Executive meeting was held early in the proceedings, and we had
the pleasure of welcoming International President Nigel Pilkington,
International Vice-President Suzanna Saari, and Past National President
Alison Partridge as observers.
The main problems for the meeting to consider were the future of Skål
National UK and – if there was a future – where to hold the 64th National
Assembly .
The NEC decided to reject the proposal to merge UK clubs until there were
just three big clubs, then close down Skål National UK. Instead, it was decided
to launch a recruitment campaign, and set up a small working group to
consider future development. Along with Mark Alexander, our National
Councillor, and Cara Stewart–Clark from London, I will be working in this
group. And instead of seeing the demise of the ailing Scotland and Oxford
clubs, the National President would prefer we find ‘Champions’ to build two
new clubs, with the help of interested local parties.
Cont’d…
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So we still had a future! But we then had to decide where to hold next year’s
National. Scotland had dropped out of the bidding, so the only proposals
were from Brighton, Sussex and the Channel. The idea of Dover was
dismissed, and the NEC decided to accept our invitation to stage the event in
Eastbourne.
It was also decided that for National officers to progress in the ‘succession’
line, candidates should be in full agreement with the National Executive and
support its decisions. This will give a kind of stability to Skål National UK.
The National meeting was held after a short break. We were not numerous,
but had enough participants to be a quorum. Ken Sharp, the National
President, started by announcing the NEC’s decisions, and although some
members were not happy he declared the discussion closed. We now had to
focus on the future, he said, promoting Skål, finding new members, and not
having clubs growing merely by taking over other clubs. I have to say it: I
like this man!
Eastbourne won 100 per cent of the votes for next year’s National. Well…
almost 100 per cent. As you can imagine, modesty prevailed and I did not
vote!
So the good news from Belfast is that Skål UK is not dead, despite the
snipers. We have a future as Skålleagues, but we need to work to find new
members, and be more active in promoting the club. So, with these objects
in mind, it is time to ask yourself: What can I do for Skål ?
Eric Etienne
ANTHONY GAY REPORTS ON THE NATIONAL Skål Brighton, Sussex and the Channel was represented by President Eric and Alice Etienne (Young Skål), Derek Ketteridge and Anthony & Yolaine Gay. Both Eric and Derek are currently members of the National Executive which decided to formally reject the John Watts three mega club (non) proposal on the grounds that it would do nothing to strengthen Skål UK, rather the reverse as it would actually lead to an accelerated demise. In any case, the "proposal" was not official and had not been properly presented through the correct channels. Cont’d… 2
The Executive chose instead to pursue a policy of strengthening the remaining clubs through recruiting new members and creating two new start up clubs, including Oxford (defunct by their own admission), from the ashes of the old. No official successor to Ken Sharp was nominated due to the need for future presidents to declare their support for a forward, growth-­‐led Skål. The Executive also decided that next year's National will take place in Eastbourne and will be organised by our club. The Dover option was seen off. Former National President Alison Partridge was over from Canada (where she is now reorganising Skål in that country) and she was joined by International President Nigel Pilkington who had come specially from New Zealand. Other former International Presidents present included our own Ian McCubbin, Mary Bennett from Ireland and Jan Sunde from Norway. Dieter & Eileen Schlieben represented Southampton and Paul Follows was London. Skål NI, mainly thanks to Mark Alexander and his energetic, young team (a lady President, under thirty!), had created a wonderful National. Events started to unfold at Malone Golf Club on the Thursday evening when it became apparent that Skål NI had beaten Skål Scotland at golf, as is usually the case despite Scotland playing an American cousin over on holiday! The Radisson Blu, an excellent hotel, hosted the National Executive and Committee meetings, and a very interesting B2B session as well as the National President's Gala Evening – where the food was delicious and an extra supply of Bushmills whiskey donated by a local NI Council member ensured that the evening was a huge success. Northern Ireland prides itself on its warm welcome, despite the Troubles, its excellent food and drink, its striking countryside including the stunning Giant's Causeway, and has a very positive attitude towards the future. NI is also a leading film set location for programmes
such as Game of Thrones and the Fall. It was interesting to note that Messrs Robinson and McGuinness opened the new Crumlin Road Gaol tourist attraction together despite having both been in warring prison wings some years previously.
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YOUR COUNCIL DISCUSSED… The Council focussed essentially on the proposal from John Watts to dissolve Skål UK at national level and to create three mega clubs in its place. A large amount of time was devoted to discussing voting rights, how the current for and against situation stacked up, and how to handle the debate in Belfast. It was agreed that Eric would lobby Mark Alexander and others on the National Executive to promote our club's counter proposal and to find out how the National Executive planned to handle the crisis situation. It was agreed that our proposal to hold the 2017 National should revolve around the Lansdowne Hotel and Eastbourne, with excursions (Brighton) as appropriate according to levels of interest from members. Both the immediate and 2017 programmes were discussed with a special focus on the October meeting and the arrangements for Gala Evening in November. It was decided to postpone the visit to the Houses of Parliament on the grounds of current security requirements, not to mention the current problems on Southern and the high total cost of the visit. A new meeting would be arranged for early October. Skål International membership cards (2016 only) are now available from Philip Ayers and arrangements are being made to distribute these. LUCKY WINNERS
FUTURE EVENTS
The lucky winners of the 200 Club draw for
August were:
October: As notified, our October
meeting has been changed to a lunch on
Friday, October 7 at 12.30 for a buffet
meal at Philip and Christine Ayers’
home. The price is £15 pp and you
should let Philip know immediately if
you still have not replied and wish to
attend.
1st: Paul Follows (London Club); 2nd: Brighton
Club; 3rd: Leo Edwards (Oxford Club)
and September’s lucky winners were:
1st: Paul Follows (London Club); 2nd: Ken
Baker (Guernsey Club); 3rd: London Club
November: President Eric’s Gala Night
& Weekend this year will be held at
Edward Lewis’ Lansdowne Hotel on
November 19/20. The President’s Gala
Night is one of the highlights of the year
and all Skålleagues and friends are
welcome. There is a flyer attached with
this Newsletter giving all the details
including accommodation at the hotel.
BIRTHDAY BLACKBOARD
Birthday wishes this month go to:
Jean Lewis; Robin Mead; Derry Seabrook;
Eric Etienne and Valerie Field.
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A VERY JOLLY EVENING
The new owners of the Royal Oak at Barcombe hosted the Skittles
evening this year with a modest 12 participants, writes Graham
Appleby. In spite of the low numbers it was a lively meeting with
plenty of exercise for the muscles and the brain. The former
provided by hurling the “cannon balls” down towards the wooden
skittles (which then had to be replanted each time). The latter was
one of Neville Grice’s testing quizzes undertaken before and during
the meal. A fine level of “amicale” was achieved by having different
teams for the two activities which meant that, unlike the sometimes
staid meal-only meetings, there was plenty of interaction between
the participants!
There were three teams for the skittles and two for the quiz. The quiz
was won by a “No Name” team led by Sylvia Grice with 63.5 points.
Runners-up, the “Young Ones” led by Edward Lewis, scored 57.
A buffet meal of sausage and mash, followed by a nice cheesecake
and coffee, sustained the skittle athletes whose winning team was
Edward and Jean Lewis, and Ron Brooker and his son Paul, who
scored together 116. Ron was the man of the match with 31 out of
36, an outstanding score!
!
Because of the low numbers it was decided not to run the raffle this
time so the donated prizes are in reserve for the next meeting.
EASTBOURNE HOSPITALITY ASSOCIATION
Eastbourne Hospitality Association’s Dinner, held next year on
Saturday, February 25, is a good opportunity to promote Skål and to
recruit new members. This year our club booked a table (10 guests) and
the event prompted Ron Booker to rejoin Skål. Put this date in your
diaries and an enjoyable evening will help with our recruitment drive.
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A SPICY HOLIDAY FOR PHILIP AND CHRISTINE Well. Mauritius was as interesting and as welcoming as previously, writes Christine Ayers. Arrival at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolan international airport (sensibly reduced to The SSR) at 8-­‐ish in the morning and not much happening. This is the Mauritius winter, i.e. low season, and it was very quiet. Huge expanses of marble and polished concrete and staff looking bored. Hit immediately by the smell of the island – warm and spicy. Whizzed out via duty free – well we had to stock up on the gin and local rum for the duration! Met at arrivals by a very expansive, chatty Skål member, Clement of 'Beach Destinations', and his assistant. All well organised and off we went in two cars, one for people and one for luggage. Having bagged the best of the four bedrooms and unpacked we were in the (chilly) outdoor pool before lunch. Imported a cold and felt below par for a few days but Philip had long chats with Joan Bechard, the secretary to the Asian Area Committee. Despite Joan's best endeavours to arrange joining in a local Skål meeting it came to nothing. Similar laissez faire attitude has been noted in the UK on occasions. But we had a lovely relaxing holiday again exploring an island of which we are very fond. The weather was kind, the villa was well appointed, on a beach although too far from the town of Tamarin for a comfortable walk for a meal of an evening. BBQs to the fore! As owners of self-­‐catering accommodation ourselves we felt the villas – about ten in total on a private estate (Villa Filiao – Google it) lacked a little thought for guests travelling thousands of miles. Clement personally provided a very welcome box of food – contents of which we had dictated – but we had to go out shopping for soap, loo paper, tea towels etc (which we provide in ours) and no one had told us that it was a public holiday on the Monday. Nothing was open except a small Italian restaurant for an evening meal. It was interesting to look at the south west coast below La Morne. It has gone from somewhat empty and devoid of habitation to several exclusive, very expensive hotels with massive security – and the coastal road all tidy and manicured. Rumour has it that the holidaying Russians have moved in. So if you want a warm, welcoming, child friendly holiday, a quickly developing Mauritius still has it in spades. If you want to go to a Skål meeting there you may need to be more dogged! 6
PROGRAMME OF EVENTS
2016
October – Friday 7
Lunch at the Ayers, The Old Rectory, Litlington, Polegate,
East Sussex BN26 5RB. Time: 12.30.
Cost: £15.
October – 29-Nov 2
Skål World Congress, Monaco.
November – 7-9
WTM London + Skål Lunch.
November – Saturday 19
President’s Gala Night, Lansdowne Hotel, King Edward
Parade, Eastbourne, E Sussex BN21 4EE. Tel: 01323 725174.
Time: 19.00. Cost: £39.95 pp. Overnight stay £90 (£50
single). Weekend rates available. Book direct with hotel.
December – Saturday 10
Christmas Lunch at Cooden Beach Hotel, Cooden Beach,
Bexhill, East Sussex TN39 4TT. Tel: 01424 842281. Time:
12.00 for 12.30. Cost: TBA.
Overnight stay: £55 per person. Book direct with hotel
quoting Skål.
2017
January 22.
AGM and Burns Lunch, Lansdowne Hotel, King Edward
Parade, Eastbourne, E Sussex BN21 4EE. Tel: 01323 725174.
Cost and Time TBA.
February – Saturday 25
Eastbourne Hospitality Association Dinner, Hydro Hotel,
Eastbourne, East Sussex. Time: TBA. Cost: TBA.
February – Sunday 26
Presidential Handover lunch in Alfriston. Cost and Time TBA
March 17
St Patrick’s evening meal, Lansdowne Hotel, King Edward
Parade, Eastbourne, E Sussex BN21 4EE. Tel: 01323 725174.
Cost and Time TBA.
April 28
International Day evening meal at Old Tollgate Hotel,
Bramber BN44 3WE. Tel: 01903 879494. Cost and Time
TBA.
May 20
Day trip to France.
June 15
Lunch in Tunbridge Wells.
July 16
President’s Garden Party.
August
Tripartite Meeting.
September
October
Skittles
November – Saturday 11
President’s Gala
7 Night
December – Thursday 7
Christmas Lunch or Party.
To: Philip Ayers, The Old Rectory, Litlington, Polegate, East Sussex BN26 5RB
I will/will not be attending the Buffet Luncheon at The Old Rectory, Litlington,
Polegate, East Sussex BN26 5RB. Time:12.30. Cost: £15.00.
My guest/s is/are ................................................................................... My cheque for
£…….. is enclosed being £15.00 per person. (Cheques should be made payable to Skål
International Brighton)
OR
Internet Transfer to Club Account:
Account Name: Skal International Brighton
Account No: 55420518
Sort Code: 72-06-00 (Santander)
NAME: ...................................................................................................... I will/will not
bring a raffle prize. Replies to Philip immediately, The Old Rectory, Litlington,
Polegate, East Sussex BN26 5RB please.
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