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RBANA
AGM ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2010 |
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| Due
to the cancellation, from lack of support for the proposed Cruise
& Conference out of San Diego and the reluctance of Burns Clubs
to take on the responsibility of organizing a conference at such short
notice, the RBANA Executive requested the 2009 Conference Committee
to run the 2010 Conference and select a suitable venue for it in the
USA. The committee was chaired by Jim Cunningham, with Jean Cunningham as Secretary, Ron Ballantyne as Treasurer, Ronnie O’Byrne, who provided Printing & Technical support and Chrys Ballantyne. Detroit was determined to be the best location and arrangements were made to hold the conference in the Detroit Livonia Marriott Hotel on the 4th, 5th. & 6th. June. |
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| Attendance
was lower than expected, due to the date change and many regular members
had conflicting plans. There were 32 registered delegates with a turnout
of 51 at the Friday evening and 41 at the Saturday formal dinner, thanks to the support from the Detroit club. The World Federation was represented by the former President, Jim Robertson and his wife Eileen who are honorary members of RBANA. There was strong representation from the Halton Peel club and the Winnipeg club who will be hosting the Conference next year. |
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The
weekend began with the usual round of golf for the “keener
types” and the winner of the day was Frank McGinty of the local Detroit Club. |
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| We were honoured that Joseph Spence of the Milwaukee club was able to join with us. Joseph is a retired Major from the US Airborne Division, a published poet and great raconteur. (See page 46 of the Homecoming Burns Chronicle) | |
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His
presence in full regalia, at the reception before the Saturday formal
dinner caused quite a stir when a junior baseball team just had to have their picture taken with him and the other men in formal dress. |
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The
Friday night dinner took the form of a Burns Supper. The Immortal
Memory was delivered in grand style by Jim Robertson. Johnston Cummings
of the Detroit Club “addressed the haggis” & the
toast to the lassies & the reply were humorously delivered by
Don & Kathleen McGlew from the Annapolis Club.
Following the meal the entertainment took the form of a Ceilidh, during which Joseph recited one of his own poems. The music was provided by the Halton Peel folk duo “Itsjustus” and pipe music sessions provided by Bob Ritchie also of the Halton Peel Club. Ronnie O’Byrne and Chrys Ballantyne performed a selection of verse from the Jolly Beggars and there was enjoyable participation from others in the company. There was a well supported raffle held during the evening, with some interesting items, the Macallan single malt going to a delighted guest who had no Scottish heritage. On Saturday morning the AGM was held in the hotel, the new executive were elected appointing Chrys Ballantyne of the Halton Peel Club as President, Colin Harris from Winnipeg as Vice President, with Robert Boyd from Houston, Jock Smith from Milwaukee & Kathleen McGlew of Annapolis as US Directors, and Ron Ballantyne of Halton Peel, Tony Grogan & Don Rennicks of the Winnipeg Club as Canadian Directors, with Frank Campbell as Past President. A short directors meeting was held following the close of the AGM. Ron Ballantyne was appointed Secretary Treasurer, and priority assignments were determined. In
the afternoon, two well attended study sessions were presented,
one by Scott Reid of the Kilmarnock Ontario club, on the subject
“The Scotland of Burns” and another by Ron Ballantyne
of the Halton Peel Club on “Highland Mary”. There was
a lively discussion after both sessions. The Jim Connor memorial
Burns Quiz was held between the two presentations and the winner
was Ronnie O’Byrne of the Halton Peel Club. |
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On
Sunday Morning a worship service was held in the Hotel, led by Rev
Dr. Norman Pritchard of the “Kirk in the Hills, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan”. He brought his own organist Vicki Wills and led us in a moving and appropriate worship service with the title “To see oursels as ithers see us!”. It turned out there were surprising connections between Dr. Pritchard and his wife with Chrys & Ron Ballantyne, as they had attended the same schools, churches and college back in Glasgow-- Albeit a generation apart. The service was followed by an excellent lunch before we all dispersed. The 2011 conference will be hosted in Winnipeg in May 13th to 15th. See the separate announcement. The committee are happy to report that the conference ‘cleared it’s feet’ with a very small profit |
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Participating Clubs:
The Halton Peel Burns Club The Robert Burns Society of Doune
The Detroit Burns Club The Winnipeg Robert Burns Club The Heather & Thistle Society of Houston The Burns Club of St Andrews FL The Robert Burns Society of Annapolis The Robert Burns Club of Milwaukee The London (Ont) Burns Club The Robert Burns World Federation & West Yorkshire UK
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