Annual Report - President's Report

September 2011

Dear Fellow Officers,

It is with sadness that we record the passing of Noelle Graham. Noelle was officer in charge of Anchor boys in 3rd Larne. We offer our sympathy to Noelle's husband and family circle and to the Captain, officers and boys of 3rd Larne.

Thank you for re-electing me as your President for the next three years. You will be aware that at the AGM we changed the constitution to allow officer bearers to be elected for three years with a further three year option. The executive would like the office bearers to change every three years so that we don't overload people with work.

I would like to express my appreciation to all officers who worked at company and Battalion level throughout the last session. A number of people have resigned from their positions and I wish to express my thanks for all their hard work; our outgoing secretary Mr. Frank Picton, Mr. Neill McAllister Company sports convenor and Mr. Stephen Lindsay Battalion training officer.

I welcome Mrs. Gillian Armstrong who has been appointed as Battalion Secretary and Dr. John Cathcart who has been appointed as Battalion Training Officer. At present we have 2 vacancies which need filled, Co-ordinator of Company Section sports and Company Section Secretary. The executive will organise a limited number of competitions whilst we seek to fill these vacancies.

I hope you are aware that the year 2013 will mark 125th Anniversary of the BB in Northern Ireland. The Battalion has placed articles in the Ballyclare, Larne and Carrickfergus Advertiser since January 2011 to highlight the work of the BB in East Antrim. We hope as a result of this to recruit 125 new boys into the East Antrim Battalion. Captains received a copy of posters in early August to advertise the work of the Battalion in the different areas.

Our Battalion website continues to be well used and we recently added a resource button behind a password. Please make full use of this facility but the executive request you supply a resource in return before we release the password to you.

On Sunday 2nd October we will hold our annual Church parade and our Officers Dedication Service in Ballyclare. The executive have moved the date in an attempt to get as many companies as possible to attend.

So at the start of a new session can I encourage you to get involved more with your local company. Give that little bit extra and collectively we can achieve our object of Advancing Christ's Kingdom among boys.

God bless you in this new session.

Yours sincerely

Drew Buchanan MBE

Battalion President