A brief meeting of all the joint Councils was opened by Mr Brian Smyth. The councils broke up into their relevant sections to discuss further business.

PRESENT:-

Susan Featherston, 2nd Ballyclare
Derrick Murphy, 1st Ballyeaston
Trevor Mills, 1st Ballyeaston
Thomas Young, 1st Ballyclare
Neil McAdoo, 1st Ballylinney
Sylvia Bell, 1st Kilbride
Wesley Magill, 1st Larne
Gillian Armstrong, 8th Carrickfergus
APOLOGIES:-

Gavin Watt, 1st Greenisland
Mark Lawther, 6th Carrickfergus
Gregory Moore, 1st Carrickfergus
Carol Bell, 2nd Carrickfergus
Apologies were received from David Hoy who arrived later.

Gillian Armstrong opened the meeting and welcomed everyone.

The minutes from the previous meeting of 12th November 2008 were agreed, everyone had received copies via e-mail.

MATTERS ARISING

Annual Joint Carol Service, Gillian Armstrong reported that £300 had been raised at the carol service in December 2008 and this was being donated to the Carrickfergus Special Olympics Branch. Wesley Magill to make enquiries about holding Carol Service in 1st Larne Sunday 6th December 2009. To be discussed further at next meeting.

5-a-side Football, The final was held in Larne leisure Centre on Friday 30th January 2009 and was won by 1st Whitehead. Thanks to Ken McKinley of 1st Larne for organising the final and thanks to Battalion for covering the final expenses.

Uni-hoc Competition, This year the competition was held on Friday 6th February 2009 in 1st Ballyeaston and was won by 1st Kilbride. Thanks to Derrick Murphy for organising this event and thanks to Ballyeaston for the use of their halls.

East Antrim Battalion Figure Marching Competition, This year the competition was held on Friday 20th March 2009 in 2nd Carrickfergus. The competition was won by 1st Raloo. Thanks to everyone in Joymount for the use of the halls and the supper.

Quiz Kids This year was the Northern Ireland District Spring Competition and the East Antrim heat was held on Friday 6th March 2009 in 2nd Ballyclare. The winners were 1st Larne. Thanks to 2nd Ballyclare for the use of their halls and for the supper. 1st Larne went to the Northern Ireland Final and finished in 8th place.

It was agreed by all present that we should continue with all these competitions.

OTHER BUSINESS

Young Musician of the Year, was again held in Templepatrick on Saturday 17th January. Again there were few entries from East Antrim Battalion, but those who entered from 8th Carrickfergus and 1st Mullaghdubh got 2nd and 3rd place respectively with a few highly commended. This was very encouraging.

Forthcoming Events, Wesley Magill provided information for the calendar for the 2009/10 session as from the Northern Ireland District Committee.

Quiz Kids, The Area heats are to be held on either Friday 9th or Saturday 10th October 2009. The Final will be on 24th October 2009 in the West Ulster Battalion area. Entries are via Rathmore and should be submitted before closing date 21st September 2009. Details should appear in the August Newsletter from Miss Mackey! Gillian Armstrong to make enquiries re holding this event in the Carrickfergus area this year.

Junior Officers Conference is planned for Saturday 7th November 2009 in Rathmore. More details should appear in the August Newsletter.

Young Musician Competition To be held again in Templepatrick on Saturday 16th January 2010. Closing date for entries will be 7th December 2009 and will be via Rathmore. There should be further details in the Newsletter.

Swimming Gala Will be held on 27th February 2010 in Armagh, closing date for entry will be 8th February 2010. Entry is via Rathmore and details should be available in the Newsletter.

Annual Spring Competition The date planned for this competition is 27th March 2010. No decision has been made as to what form the competition will take.

Activity Boys Weekend This is planned for the weekend starting Friday 7th May 2010. If this event is not better supported it will be cancelled. Wesley Magill had hoped to take boys to this event this year (2009) but due to work commitments was unable to attend. After a discussion amongst those in attendance it was agreed that as a Battalion we should make more of an effort to support this weekend. We should try to establish a rota system whereby boys from different companies could attend, or even two or three companies could show support and attend. Due to lack of time it was agreed that this topic should be addressed in greater detail at the next meeting.

RE-ELECTION OF OFFICE BEARERS Gillian Armstrong thanked those in office for their work during the previous session. All seats were then declared vacant. Gillian Armstrong then asked for nominees for the various positions:-

Chairperson:- Neil McAdoo proposed David Hoy remain and be re-elected. This was seconded by Sylvia Bell. There were no other nominees and no objections and David was re-elected in his absence. (David had suggested he would remain if there were no other nominations.)

Vice Chairperson:- Trevor Mills proposed Gregory Moore remain in office , this was seconded by Wesley Magill. There were no other nominees and no objections. Gregory was re-elected in his absence. (Greg had indicated via e-mail he would be happy to remain in the post.)

Secretary:- Wesley Magill proposed Gillian Armstrong be re-elected. This was seconded by Trevor Mills. There were no other nominees and no objections. Gillian Armstrong accepted the position.

Northern Ireland District Rep.:- Gillian Armstrong proposed that Wesley Magill remain in Office. This was seconded by Derrick Murphy. There were no objections and no other nominees. Wesley Magill accepted the position.

Training Officer:- there were no proposals for the post and no one volunteered. The position remains vacant.

Representative to the Executive:- Susan Featherston proposed Gillian Armstrong be re-elected. This was seconded by Neil McAdoo. There were no objections and no other nominees. Gillian Armstrong accepted the position.

There being no further business the meeting was closed and all present then joined the Battalion A.G.M