LOUGHBOROUGH TWINNING ASSOCIATION
From Hazel Meredith (secretary)
334 Beacon Road, Loughborough, LE11 2RD   Tel: 01509 212008
E-mail: creedmeredith@beeb.net    Web: www.loughboroughtwinnning.eu

Minutes of a meeting of the Executive Committee held at Southfields on October 3rd

Present:   Raymond Mason (chairman) Hazel Meredith (Secretary), David Hogg (treasurer) Richard Meredith, Mavis Mason. David Walker, Ken & Maureen Pacey, Colin Salsbury, Jewell Miah, Betty James, Jenny Carter, David Wolfe, Phill Symonds, Pauline Hallam

1. Apologies   had been received from The Mayor, Peter Legg, Sue Hunt

2  Welcome.
The Chairman welcomed those new to the Executive this year and spoke of his involvement since the AGM with all of our twin towns except Bhavnagar and expressed his pleasure that the Mayor is to visit Gembloux, and Schwäbisch Hall as well as Epinal when he is there for Saint Nicolas

3. Previous meeting  The Minutes of the meeting held on March 12th  2007 were approved.   

4  Matters arising
a) Memorandum of understanding between Charnwood BC and LTA with reference in particular to applications for EU funding and encouragement of local firms and organisations to offer short-term work experience. David Walker explained that a meeting had been held with David Blackburn who had now left BC. David Dalby has replaced him. Ken Pacey offered to speak to him and the new leader of Charnwood BC about twinning. David Walker will send Ken the proposed memorandum. Raymond promised his full support and willingness to be involved
Action: Ken Pacey and David Walker
(Secretary's Note: a preliminary and encouraging meeting with David Dalby took place on October 11

b) Display boards. Jim Matthew's display of Loughborough for the Epinal braderie was shown and praised. David Walker will prepare for local use a display featuring our twin towns. Plans for its use to be on the January agenda. Raymond stressed that no plan can be made until we have both a display and a leaflet
Action: David Walker

c) Website. Ken Pacey's son is willing to help. Meanwhile David has set up a straightforward site  (www.loughboroughtwinnning.eu) and will update it as required. He asks everyone to look at it and make suggestions
Action ALL

d) Membership.Richard reported that the new membership list contains 81 family names. Group interests are Epinal 46, Gembloux 40, Bhavnagar 17, Zamośū 46, Schwäbisch Hall 54 of which 36 are paid-up members of the Family Link scheme

e) Publicity leaflet. This format and text are nearly ready. David Walker plans to pursue with Peter Legg

5 Treasurer's Report.
David Hogg reported that he has received £1588 from the EU for travel expenses of those who went to Epinal 2006. He had sent cheques to all concerned. One had returned the cheque as a donation to the LTA. He said that, though hosting the group from SH had not been as expensive as previously, the visit had been voted a great success. He has applied for the form for the grant application from Charnwood BC

6 Proposed Schedule and dates of visits in 2008
    Loughborough to SH                 July to include the Jakobi Markt July 25-28
    Gembloux to Loughborough     Gembloux has been offered Easter (March 23 is Easter Day) or May 1-5
    Zamosc to Loughborough         August 14-21
The Anstey Royale Chalfont Dance group is willing to invite the Pinaudr's as part of a visit from Epinal. It was agreed that to host three groups in one year would be a burden and that this invitation should be for 2009

7 Group Reports
Schwäbisch Hall. Pauline Hallam reported that the end of July visit was excellent with visits and excellent meals. There is to be a social evening later this year and Pauline now has a few of the current leaflets about SH

Epinal  Jenny Carter reported on the enjoyable July 14 garden party she hosted and commended the singing of the Marseillaise. Raymond reported on the successful sale of marmalade at the braderie and the help received from the Spinaliens to man the stall. When remaining pots have been sold the profit should be about £160 towards hosting a future Epinal visit. Raymond had met and was impressed by Bernard Visse who has replaced Laurence Georgeon in the international relations department at the Mairie.

Gembloux Phill expressed gratitude for the excellent hospitality and visits arranged for the group visiting Gembloux at the end of May. Transport was by individual cars

Zamosc  David Walker spoke of the excellent August visit to Zamosc, Slovakia and Cracow. The weather was very hot and the coach journeys long but the renewal of friendships, the making of new ones and the visits made the trip outstanding. He paid tribute to Bob Holownia for his skills in negotiating and interpreting. He thanked Sue Hunt for her sterling work as Secretary, which has now been taken over by a team led by Jancis Barlow. The team is already planning the 2008 visit from Zamosc

Bhavnagar  There was no report available

8 AGM feedback 
David Walker was warmly thanked for his presentation which had made a real impression. Thinking ahead it was suggested that every effort should be made to attract interest in twinning from the 35 to 45 age group. This was agreed as an ideal but difficult to achieve

9 Loughborough and Rutland Twinning Partnership.
Hazel reported that she had heard nothing from the secretary for some time. Moreover there had been no response to David Walker's research into ways of reducing the insurance premium. Ken Pacey asked whether the partnership might be able to facilitate joint coach journeys to twin towns not too far apart e.g. Gembloux and Rixensart. Hazel was asked to write to the secretary of the Partnership to enquire what is happening.
Action Hazel

10 AOB
Hazel mentioned 2 requests from Epinal
a) Full board for 15 canoeists on a course in Nottingham from October 31 to November 6
b) 46 10/11 year olds + 7 teachers for a week in 2008
It was agreed that for a) notice is too short and the request demanding and that for b) a school would be unlikely to take this on and that it would be best to contact Quorn Hall, Beaumanor and the international department of the LCC
Note: this has been done. Helen Trilling at LCC is excellent and she and the Epinal schools are now in contact via the Mairie and  with a view to a visit in May/June and  links with Loughborough schools.

11 2008 dates  (PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGES FROM THOSE ON THE AGENDA)
Wednesday January 23
Wednesday March 5
Wednesday May 21 (AGM)
Wednesday October 1