DUNGANNON Ladies Probus Club held their Annual General Meeting on 20th January in Dungannon Golf Club where the meeting was opened by Special Guest Billy Dixon, whose mantra is "challenge, change and be different".
Billy entertained the ladies with a very informative talk and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the guest speaker.
Lady President Thelma Redpath gave an account of all the activities the club has engaged in during the last year.
In January '09 the club was graced with the presence of Mr Tom Givans the then Rotary Club President. Tom met all the incoming officers and then all enjoyed an emotive talk from Maria Garvey from the L'Arch community in Belfast. She brought with her some of the adults she works alongside and she was a truly inspirational speaker. Ladies from the club then headed to the Europa in Belfast for a meal and then went to see "Buddy" in the Opera House.
In February the Club had a demonstration from Eleanor Ewart, "the pampered chef".
March took the ladies to Sperrinview Special Care School. The principal Paula Jordan was a super hostess and everyone enjoyed seeing first hand the sensory room funded by The Dungannon Rotary Club and the sensory gardens. The Club also had Claire from Boots Dungannon. Claire is the Rep from Clarins and she gave a makeup demonstration after which the ladies all enjoyed Irish stew in the Golf Club.
The members are interested in different cultures and in April a member brought along a Japanese Kimono for them to appreciate .The Club and held a quiz in The Rugby Club and raised £400 for the Sunshine Romania Foundation. The Club had a thoroughly entertaining talk from Mary McGinley one of the members who had undertaken a tour of "walking the world".
Rae McIntyre visited the Club in May and brought with her samples from her award winning garden. Frank Rodgers also visited the club and gave a talk on the way of St James El Camino De Santiago. A group of ladies also visited the Oakridge Special Education Centre.
June found all of the ladies in Stormont where they availed of a guided tour, followed by retail therapy in Marks and Spencer's, Sprucefield and then on to Moira where a beautiful meal was had by all. At the end of June the season ended with a beautiful meal in the Golf Club Dungannon.
The Rotary Club President Joan Gormley visited the Club in October and later in the month the ladies paid a visit to St Patrick's Church which had been refurbished. Seamus Ferris gave a very informative tour and afterwards everyone had refreshments in the newly refurbished St Teresa's Hall.
November started with a very informative and entertaining talk about Tallin in Estonia by Janet Brennan, a member. This was also the month that the club celebrated its third birthday.
In December the members visited the City Hall in Belfast for a guided tour and a trip around the continental markets. The year concluded with a floral demonstration from Eunice Cuddy and that was followed by Christmas dinner.
Thelma went on thank her officers and Joan Gormley, Lady President of the Rotary Club of Dungannon, presented Thelma with her Past President's pin and presented Jackie Campbell with her chain of office, being the new President for 2010.
Jackie then presented all her officers to Joan. Angela McCrystal is the new Vice President, Thelma Redpath is secretary, Mary Ferris is the treasurer, Marie McArdle is attendance officer, Ivy Williams is PR officer and events organisers are June Nelson and Angela McCrystal.
Jackie thanked Thelma for all her hard work throughout the year and went on to give a brief summary of the next six month's itinerary.
There are a number of trips planned and various speakers, some of whom will be providing demonstrations, have been arranged. A Dungannon Council representative has also been invited to the Club to update members with plans for Dungannon in 2010.
The Probus Club is now in its fourth year and it provides ladies the opportunity to explore their interests and meanwhile enjoy the fun and fellowship. The Club affords ladies the opportunity to develop friendships, and provides a forum for mutual support. There is a maximum limit on the membership and names will be taken on a first come first in basis. The annual fee for the first year of joining is £25 and £20 each year thereafter. The club is non profit making and fees will be utilised to the benefit of the members and various events etc will be subsidised throughout the year. The meetings take place on the first and third Wednesdays in the month at 11am in Dungannon Golf Club. Anyone interested please give your name to one of the aforementioned officers.
The next meeting takes place on 3rd February and Judy Taylor will display and demonstrate the art of jewellery making.
Source: Tyrone Courier
Date: Wednesday 27 January 2010