Tangent across the w rld
For those of you who don’t understand Welsh, I’ll try again in English. Hello, Dai here. Welcome to my home town; Llandudno , the jewel of North Wales. For the first time in many years, 41 Club and Tangent arrive here for your conference in 2013.
Tangent Denmark/Ex Tablers Denmark NAGM 2012 A 6am start saw Ralph and me on the start of our journey to Skaelskor for the First ever joint national conference weekend organised by Tangent Denmark and the Ex Tablers of Denmark. On arrival at Copenhagen airport we were met by two friendly faces, June and Ken Boden to be joined a while later by Jan and Bill Dowling. Together we continued our journey by train arriving in Skaelskor around 5pm to a warm welcome by members of Tangent Denmark. We were quickly made to understand that the quiet coach was in fact a silent coach and the thought of not speaking for the next hour and a half quickly caused further disruption as we moved suitcases and tried to find seats on a very busy Friday afternoon train. A quick change into our glad rags and on to the Gala Dinner where we joined in the International banner exchange and National President Jan gave greetings from Tangent GB. The event was well supported by Round Table family members from Finland, Germany and Sweden as well as members of Round Table and Ladies Circle Denmark. Saturday morning and Jan, June and I joined Tangent Denmark for their AGM and the gentlemen joined the Ex Tablers for their AGM. It is interesting to see that although the format for AGMs may differ we all have one thing in common and that is to do our best for our Associations. Visitors included Tangents GB, Sweden and Germany and Gitte Hoyer, LC Denmark and LCI left to right - Pia Spange - National Treasurer Vice President took a lead role in the proceedings. Susanne Norager - National President, IRO 2010-2012 Our Tangent Denmark friends kindly provided us with English copies of important paperwork Jeanett Korch - National President 2012-2013 relating to the AGM and also gave each of us a Helle Midtgaard - Vice President 2012-2013 ‘buddy’ to translate should we have any questions. During the AGM I was fortunate enough to take greetings from Tangent GB and also to invite Tangent Denmark and Tangent Sweden to join us in signing the Memorandum of Understanding. After the AGM the seventh member of our party felt rested enough after the long journey to Skaelskor to join us. Polly the Parrot played an important part in the evening fun as we became jolly pirates for the Fancy dress final party. After breakfast on Sunday we said our farewells to old friends and new with many promising to come to Wales in 2013. It wasn’t long before we taken after the signing of the memorandum of would see some members of Tangent Denmark Photo Understanding between GB, Denmark and Sweden. who two weeks later would be joining us in left to right Jersey. After such a successful weekend I can Susanne Norager - IPP and IRO 2012-2013 report that both AGMs voted in favour of Jeanett Korch - National President 2012-2013 repeating the joint conference weekend and Lotta Fritz - National Board member Tangent Sweden next year it will be April 20th. Jan Dowling - National president 2011-2012 Gill Preston IPP, IRO, Membership 2011-2012 Congratulations to Tangent Denmark who will be celebrating the 30th year in October 2012. Gill Preston
WEIDEN Fortunately there was a little bit of “down time” on our trip to Deutschland LC and Tangent Conference 4 – 6 May which allowed my travelling companion Ruth Curry (LC Administrator) and I to see a little bit of this lovely area and I know that we both plan to return to explore more. It was a very easy journey in our hire car from Nuremberg airport to Weiden. Autostrasse most of the way through fresh green countryside and when we arrived at our hostess’s home we were able to relax in the sun with tea in her pretty garden before getting ready for registration and the welcome party. This was our first trip into the town and what a welcome – the old town is magnificent.
I’ve been told by the Chairman, Mike, that you can expect a superb conference packed with fun and entertainment…. And don’t forget the fellowship bit. All the regular features you expect will appear with all the beautiful sights of North Wales, but this time you get me as well!!! Go to Facebook and “like” 41Club and Tangent Llandudno Conference to keep up to date with all my adventures. You can find details of the hotels here or go to www.41clubconference.co.uk where you can also book on-line. Find my own film on YouTube – just search for Dai the Dragon!
Tangent Germany AGM My year as your International Officer certainly got off to a “flying” start”. I flew home from Jersey on Wednesday 2 May and flew to Germany on Friday 4! Their Conference is joint with Ladies Circle, social events shared (welcome party, gala dinner and farewell brunch) but the actual NAGMs were separate. With 29 clubs the Tangent meeting was obviously a lot smaller than ours, though there are 8 new clubs in formation, a continuing trend as Circle membership boomed during 1990 – 2000 and this bulge is now coming through to Tangent. President Brigitte welcomed all, Aims and Objects were read out, the candle of friendship was lit and 1 minutes silence observed for past members. I was very pleased to be able to take greetings from our President Sue – “Tangent President Brigitte, Executive members and Tangent ladies, It is my privilege and pleasure as National President of Tangent GB & I, to extend to you and all your members the warmest of greetings on this the occasion of your Annual General Meeting. I am sure Brigitte, you will have had an exceptional year meeting many old friends and making many new ones while continuing to support and advance the ideals for which our organisation stands. I am sorry that I cannot be with you on this occasion but I wish you all a very successful conference. I feel sure that the friendship evoked by Tangent membership worldwide has been strengthened by your leadership and will continue to be felt by all. As members we all recognise the importance of maintaining the links between our various countries through our international Tangent connections. May I also extend these wishes to Veronika and her exec for the coming year. Board members presented their reports, including the accounts. Their capitation is 35 euros ,( I was told later that members do not complain because LC capitation is much more!) Big increases were proposed in allowances for their President and Board members, an increase of 500 euros for NP, VP 250, IPP 200, Secretary 150. I understand that they may also claim expenses too. This was all possible with no increase in capitation for 2 years and would be funded by the increase in membership. Other items on the Agenda were prompt financial support for LC in setting up future conferences, pins for PNOs and designs for a new banner which both promoted much discussion and it was eventually agreed to discontinue the pins and to seek further design suggestions for the banner. We then joined Ladies Circle for Lunch. All vacant posts on the Board had willing candidates who seemed to speak very confidently and were duly elected. A presentation of their service project was shown “Clean water for all” with some of their innovative fundraising. New President Veronika then made her address and welcomed her new officers. Regalia was not exchanged until the Gala dinner. The meeting finished with a glass of champagne (buck’s fizz or orange were also on offer). It was certainly worth the journey and I am so glad I made the effort to get there as it was a very interesting experience and I was made so welcome.
Book your Tangent Day lunch on the main booking form. You can book this on its own, but why notgo to one or more of the other events as well? Dai the Dragon has a Discounted Deal! Early Bird rate 2 day package (President’s Ball and Saturday night party) £135 if booked before 31st October and paid by standing order or in full.
After the farewell brunch on Sunday morning Ruth and I had the time to explore the old town a little more. It was originally a walled town with the old wall intact in several places. The shops close on a Sunday so town was quiet but ideal for sight seeing although it was a bit damp. Beautiful churches, one with an interesting inter-denominational history, colourful buildings, installation art and gardens all well kept and maintained. I was sad to leave but we had families to return too and we both look forward to returning with our families to share the delights of Weiden – it is well worth a visit.
Come Dine with Me
BROMLEY TANGENT 801 Bromley Tangent and their partners had a wonderful evening at the Royal College of Physicians on Thursday 29 March to celebrate their 20th Anniversary.
Whitchurch Tangent Club 439 is in the fortunate situation of having increasing membership, up to 38 members. We have a Ladies Circle and most of their retiring members have been joining us and a few friends of members have joined us as Discretionary members. But as a result some members felt they did not know all the members well.
The event got off to a great start as the weather held, believed to be the only warm and sunny day thus far in 2012, this beautiful evening meant we were able to enjoy our pre-dinner champagne and nibbles in the College’s unique medicinal garden. The meal, served in the Censors Room, was divine, the service superb, the wine choices wonderful - but more importantly, the talk, laughter, fun, toasting and real friendship around the table was something to be truly grateful for. Chairman (2011/12), Sue Glazebrook, made the following observations from 20 years ago: • • • • • • • • •
Jan Dowling
Saturday morning was a complete contrast as the meetings were held in a very modern municipal building with excellent facilities surrounded by well kept gardens with plenty of seats. After the meetings there was time for a little fresh air before returning in our finery for the Gala Dinner so I took this opportunity to go for a walk and explore the countryside around our hostess’s home a little. Within a few metres of Maya’s home I turned right on to a cinder track, which lead past a play area and some allotments before opening out into woods and grassy glades which seemed to go on forever and I wished I had borrowed a bike to allow me to go further.
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“Helo, Dai yma. Croeso I fy nhref enedigol; Llandudno y gem Gogledd Cymru”
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Petrol was 40 pence a litre. The Summer Olympics were held in Barcelona. The Maastricht Treaty was signed. White South Africa voted to end apartheid. In the USA Bill Clinton was elected and in the UK the Conservatives were re-elected for a fourth term under John Major, despite an economic recession. Betty Boothroyd, who was the guest speaker at Ladies Circle’s 60th Lunch, was elected Speaker of the House of Commons. It was the Queen’s Annus Horibilis - a fire caused over £50 million of damage at Windsor Castle. Another Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody, was in the charts for five weeks. However, that was topped by Whitney Houston’s “I will always love you”. In all that time, some Bromley Tangent members have left us, others we have welcomed, all helping to ensure Tangent’s motto of “Continued Friendship” remains at our core.
And then it was time to leave, the evening had flown by - a sign of a good one of course, and will be remembered by us all for a very long time.
What to do? Mixing folk up during dinner meetings was not a popular concept so we tried Come Dine with Me. A variation on the TV programme where names were drawn out of a hat at the January meeting and put into groups of 5 or 6 members. First out of the hat was group leader, to ensure it happened. Each group arranged a date for their dinner and then decided whether to eat at home or at a pub/restaurant. Those eating at a group member’s home decided who would provide what. My group enjoyed a smoked mackerel starter, avocado for the vegetarian lady, provided by Anna. I served the main course of Moroccan Vegetable Tagine, Couscous/Rice and Greek Salad. A boozy lemon dessert from Marian, cheese from Katie and wine and chocolates from Barbara and Sylvia. Fortunately husbands took members home, feeling they all knew each other better. Our group had included two members of over 25 years, one of around 10 years, two discretionary members and two ladies who joined from Circle a couple of years ago. Everyone had an evening of fun and fellowship and knew each other better. Most of the other groups have already dined and all agree it has been a great success and it is already on the programme again next year for different groups.
MACCLESFIELD TANGENT GUEST LUNCH Macclesfield Tangent held a Guest Lunch at Adlington Hall near Macclesfield on Monday 19th March. The event was attended by Tangent members from surrounding clubs, National Editor Sue and other guests, and an excellent lunch was enjoyed by all. Chairman Marion Saint welcomed the guests and the Candle of Friendship was lit by Linda Garrity. The speaker was Alan Hopkin who spoke about music in education.
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