Page 4 - March April 2009

President's Car...
By the time you read this, Easter will almost be on us, so, on behalf of the BOD I wish all of you a Happy Easter. I think most of us had our fair share of snow earlier on in the year, so let's hope we don't experience a further period of wintry weather.
The Winter Meet at Benson was enjoyable as ever, and the very frosty weather made the journey somewhat interesting! I hope those who attended found it entertaining and had the opportunity to meet up with old friends. Well done to Michael Ingham and the Team! Due to circumstances beyond the control of the organisers, the Spring Meet has now been moved to Weston-on-Trent, Derbyshire, on 10 May, and this too will hopefully be a good show.
My time is now being spent helping to organise the Convention at Swindon in October, and I am sure things will start dropping into place as the date approaches. One point I must mention here is that Iain Rice has confirmed he will attend the Convention, and will give two different clinics on subjects yet to be finalised. For those of you who attended the Convention in 2005, and couldn't get into the room to hear lain's clinic, you will be pleased to hear that the clinic room will seat more than 100 people this year, so there should therefore be plenty of room for everyone.
While on the subject of Conventions, I hope you have all completed and returned the questionnaire on page 9 of the February Roundhouse. The organisers of the 2010 75th anniversary Convention are trying to make it different and more entertaining. Without your valued views, they will find it difficult to judge what extras to include and what to leave out. Please take the time to complete it and return it to the team, if you have not already done so.
As I write this article, the BOD have not receivedtany bids for the 2011 Convention, so I am now asking for official bids for this event to be presented to the BOD before the start of the Swindon Convention.
Unfortunately, due to emergency work commitments, I was unable to attend the officers' meet at Kegworth on Saturday 21 February.
Following Nobby's recent attendance at the National half yearly Board Meeting, I understand that the issue of the $20.00 increase in dues that National wanted to levy on the UK and the Australians has been dropped, and the National BOD has decided not increase the dues this year. Good news for all of us, especially in the current climate when we are all having to tighten our belts.
My time as President comes to an end in October and all being well I will be handing over to Mike Arnold at the AGM. This will leave the post of Vice President open and we will need nominations for the post, as
Rai Fenton will report elsewhere in this issue. I can think of many of you out there who have the qualities to hold this post, so get out there and find your sponsors, and as President John F Kennedy once said, "Ask not what the NMRA does for me — Ask what can I do for the NMRA"; well, nearly!
Well, due to the pressures of work, I am running short of time, and I can hear Martin shouting, so I'll cut this page short, and say "see you next time".
Call for Nominations for all 1IP OD posts New Vice President e uLred
Nominations are being sought now for the 2009-2010 term for all five British Region BOD posts of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Membership Director. This is the usual annual call for nominations, mandated by our Constitution, irrespective of whether the incumbents intend to continue in their posts or not. However, at the AGM this Autumn, Tim Ridge our President will be stepping down at the end of his term and Mike Arnold, our Vice President, is expected to take over this vacated post. Therefore a new Vice President is required.
Nominations should indicate the name of the nominee and the position nominated for, and should be signed by the nominee, the proposer and seconder. All three persons should be current members of the NMRA and British Region. Nominations should be received by the Ballot Chairman Rai Fenton at 43 Essex Road, Chingford, London E4 6DG, by August 1st. If more than one nomination is received for a post then a postal ballot will be held in October of all Region members.
Any queries, or to obtain nomination forms, please contact Rai on 020 8529 7307 or via E-mail at ballotchair@ nmrabr.org.uk.
4 ROUNDHOUSE
Tim Rudge
Have Fun!