Euroville

A Happy New Year to all club members! Let’s hope the next twelve months bring as much excitement as the last (or perhaps just a little bit less, I hear you chorus!).

Last year certainly was busy for the club. Membership held steady at 27, and ALMOST everyone (ahem!) did their best to round up some more support.

But we’re not getting the “WELCOME NEWCOMER!” signs out again just yet. If there’s a message from 2009 on the membership front, I think you’ll agree it is: “We don’t let just anyone join, you know!” (Although we do really…!)

Once again, apologies for the cold start to 2009 when someone cut the gas supply to the club premises…we still don’t know how it happened, but visitors are urged to wear their thermal undies when attending club functions during the current winter blues, just in case the gremlins strike again!

José, our loyal caretaker, whose reappointment for another term was approved “Nem Con” recently (“hurrah!” we all cry) has re-lagged the pipes and promised to remain on site until well after dark on weekday nights to discourage outsiders straying onto the club grounds. We’re seeking council permission for a taller fence along the perimeter and I’ll report back in the next newsletter.

Meanwhile, thank you José, what would we do without you? (Don’t answer that!) and thanks for all those odd jobs you do around the clubhouse without having to be asked. Much appreciated!

Summer camp in June was a riot, as usual, with lots of newcomers adding to the fun. One or two spoilsports managed to sneak in, but I think we showed them that, although we’re an inclusive bunch, we don’t tolerate ruffians and troublemakers gladly!

Afterwards all agreed the club had shown that everyone is welcome at our social functions, even non-members and non-believers – as long as they stick to club rules. As José said during the clean-up afterwards, “It’s not much to ask, is it?” and Amen to that!

Talking of club rules, autumn finally saw agreement on completely new arrangements which hopefully will clarify who is responsible for running what. No more ructions over whose turn it is to buy the tea bags or book the caterers for Bridge night!

So a warm hello to newly appointed members of the Club Organising Committee (COC) and good luck!

Big event of the year of course was Herman being chosen to organise the monthly club agenda. This was a most welcome development in the club’s evolution, and not a moment too soon!

I know lots of you still doubt that we need this (like a hole in the head!) but it was encouraging that everyone rallied round in the end and supported Herman.

It turned out that many volunteers were willing to take on this onerous task, and it’s a shame there could only be one winner! We wish Herman all the best. For club members who don’t know him yet, you soon will! Herman is the quiet one with big ideas for livening the place up, so watch out for whoopee cushions on chairs when sitting down at club events in future!

Congratulations, too, to Cathy, who not only scooped the Lucky Tea Ticket in our winter raffle, but also stepped into the breach to become José’s “little helper” after some other candidates had to drop out at the last minute.

Cathy only joined the club in 2008, and it’s nice to see her getting stuck in and being so helpful.

José, of course, still insists he doesn’t need any help, but we know he’s secretly thrilled to have someone to ease his workload, and someone he can boss around!

Highlight of the club year has to be the Rubik’s cube which José gave Fredrik as a thank-you for organising events in these hectic last few months. For those who didn’t see it, the cube had a mini-photo of José’s face glued on one of its middle squares, flanked by photos of Herman and Cathy – the club politburo!

José had us in fits of laughter when he revealed that he hadn’t even got a picture of Cathy ready just before she agreed to take the new job, because no one had thought of her! Much scrabbling about ensued to find a photo of her and make it fit the cube! Apparently a photo of “someone else” was ready to be pasted onto “Cathy’s” square until the very last minute, but mum’s the word about who that might have been!

Anyway, it’s nice to see more women being chosen on their merits, as I’m sure all the girls would agree!

On the financial front, all is rosy, despite some club members not having paid their full subs for 2009 yet! (You know who you are!) We raised some much-needed funds during the year and we must thank Mirek for his racy art display in the club lounge during the winter. It wasn’t to everyone’s taste, and unfortunately it didn’t make money, but I creased up (literally!) when I saw the Bulgarian toilet! Or was it Turkish?!

So, once again, have a Happy 2010 (or should that be 2020!!!???)!