Junior Section Council meeting of East Antrim Battalion Boys Brigade held on Wednesday 12th November 2008 at 8.00p.m. in 1st Ballyclare Presbyterian Church.

After Mr Brian Smyth welcomed everyone and opened the joint meeting there was an in depth talk from Jonny Farrell of Youth for Christ in Ballyclare.

The Councils then broke into their relevant sections to discuss any further business.

PRESENT:-

Carol Bell, 2nd Carrickfergus Gregory Moore, 1st Carrickfergus Ken McKinley, 1st Larne Wesley Magill, 1st Larne Derrick Murphy, 1st Ballyeaston Neil McAdoo, 1st Ballylinney Thomas Young, 1st Ballyclare David Hoy, 1st Kilbride Gillian Armstrong, 8th Carrickfergus

APOLOGIES:- Susan Featherstone, 2nd Ballyclare Lorraine Bell, 1st Ralloo Roy Beggs, 1st Ralloo

David Hoy opened the meeting and welcomed those in attendance.

The minutes from the previous meeting of 27th February 2008 were agreed, everyone had received a copy via e-mail.

MATTERS ARISING:-

Annual Carol Service: - The joint Annual Carol Service will be held on Sunday 7th December 2008 at 3.00p.m. in Holy Trinity Church, Carrickfergus (8th Carrickfergus). Collection will be a joint collection and will be donated to a charity yet to be determined. For details on how to get to the church check the website www.holytrinitychurch.org.uk there is a link at the top right hand side of the screen 'location' this will show a map.

5-a-side football: - East Antrim Battalion Competition. The area heats have been arranged as follows:- Carrickfergus provisionally booked for 21st November, Stephen Mearns to confirm. Larne area to be held on 5th December 2008, Ken McKinley to arrange. Ballyclare area to be held on 5th December 2008, Derrick Murphy to arrange.

After discussion it was agreed by those present that ONLY ONE TEAM PER COMPANY should be permitted to enter each area heat. Ken McKinley to arrange the final in Larne Leisure Centre in January 2009, date will depend on the availability of the hall. Battalion will only cover the cost for the Final in Larne. Cost of the area heats to be covered by the companies who enter. 5-a-side

Uni-Hoc: - East Antrim Battalion Competition. Provisionally booked for Friday 6th February 2009 at 7.00p.m. in 1st Ballyeaston. This competition is for P5 & P6 boys only as most P7 boys enter football and Quiz Kids and this allows for other boys to compete. A copy of the rules will be e-mailed to each company who enters. Closing date for entries 23rd January 2009. Please e-mail Gillian Armstrong before 23rd January 2009. No company will be permitted to enter the competition after that date.

Figure Marching: - East Antrim Battalion Competition. Those present agreed that if this competition was not held this year it may be difficult to start again. Gillian Armstrong has asked Drew Buchanan to prepare a programme which should be with all sections within the next week. Closing date for entry to this competition 30th November 2008. It was agreed that there needs to be 3 or more companies taking part. The competition will be held on Friday 20th March 2009 at 7.00p.m. in Joymount Presbyterian Church (2nd Carrickfergus). Please e-mail Gillian Armstrong before 30th November 2008 if you intend to enter.

Quiz Kids: - This year Quiz Kids is being held later in the session to encourage more companies to take part. The East Antrim Battalion heat will be held on Friday 6th March 2009 at 7.00p.m. in 2nd Ballyclare, (Susan Featherstone to confirm this). All entries via Rathmore, closing date Monday 9th February 2009. It is hoped that there will be more than three teams taking part this session. Also please note, if a team has not entered via Rathmore they are not permitted to take part. Registration forms will be sent out in the January Newsletter from Rathmore.

Young Musicians: - Gillian Armstrong encouraged companies to enter as there has been a poor turn out from our Battalion in previous years. Competition being held in Templepatrick, Saturday 17th January 2009 1.45p.m. Entry forms in the August Newsletter from Rathmore. Closing date for entries Monday 8th December 2008.

Swimming Gala: - The annual swimming gala is being held in Larne Leisure Centre on Saturday 28th February 2009 at 1.00p.m. Entry forms will be included in the January Newsletter. East Antrim Battalion have been asked to provide ten timekeepers for this event. There were no volunteers forthcoming. Sharon Mackey to be advised.

Annual Battalion Parade: Being held Sunday 29th March 2009 in Larne. Details will be e-mailed closer to the date.

Other Business:- NI Rep. Wesley Magill confirmed that he was happy to replace Ken McKinley as NI Rep.

Boys Activity Weekend: - was cancelled in last session due to lack of interest. Gillian Armstrong encouraged those present to think about taking part in this event.

Next meeting AGM 29.4.09 in Downshire Presbyterian, Carrickfergus (6th Carrickfergus)

There being no further business David Hoy thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting.