I must start on a personal note and on behalf of Mary and myself thank everyone for their messages of support/commiseration after having suffered a break in at the house whilst we were out one morning. I had not realised how traumatic something of this sort could be. Far greater than the monetary loss is the loss of personal mementoes which nothing can bring back. It has been a very distressing time.
This is the last time I will have the task of writing something for the Council News as I will be put out to pasture on the 24th March at the AGM. My replacement will be either current Council Vice Chairman Harvey Stephenson or current Gozo Chairman Jay Jones whom, I trust, will have a very close vote for the honour of being Chairman of the Association. This will be the first election for the Chairmanship for 10 years and which I hope will ensure a good turnout. I wish good luck to both contenders.
Harvey Stephenson 
Jay Jones
Whatever the result of the leadership contest we will still be short of 2 members of the Council having had no nominations for Vice Chairman or Membership Secretary. If you think you would like to get more involved in the Association please do consider putting your name forward for co-option. Contact myself or our Hon. Secretary Maureen Toll if you wish to know more.
I am pleased to report that the Groups have now all had their own AGM’s which has produced 6 groups who almost have complete committees. If you know your committee has a vacancy why not volunteer to assist I am sure you would be made very welcome. Once again I was pleased to be able to attend each AGM and thank all of the committees, outgoing and incoming, on behalf of the Council, for the excellent work they do for their members.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the Groups for making Mary and myself so welcome during our attendance at their events over the last 4 years. It has been a great pleasure for us to meet so many lovely people. I would also like to thank my fellow Council members past and present for the support they have given me it has been much appreciated.
It would appear that many members have not realised that the Constitution was amended last year with regards to the final payment date for subscriptions. Unless you pay your subscriptions by 31stMarch, your membership will lapse. This will mean that you will need to reapply for membership and will be required to pay a joining fee as well as the annual subscription. You have a very short window of opportunity to sort this out. Thank you for your cooperation.
Included with this news you will find the notification and a booking form for the Association’s celebration of Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday which this year will be held on 28th May.
I look forward to seeing many of you at the upcoming AGM and following lunch.
Written by Peter Robinson – Chairman
