Old Newsletters Jan/Feb/Mar 2004

January 2004

Kingsley Park Working Men’s Club News January 2004

Subscriptions 2004

The subscription rates for 2004 are as follows: -

Men full subscription £4.50
Men Senior Citizens £4.00
Men Life Members £2.00
Ladies £1.50

Payment times in January are as follows

Sundays 4th 11th 18th & 25th 11.00am to 1.00pm
Mondays 5th 12th 19th & 26th 7.30pm to 9.00pm
Tuesdays 6th 13th 20th & 27th 7.30pm to 9.00pm
Wednesdays 7th 14th 21st & 28th 7.30pm to 9.00pm
Fridays 9th 16th & 23rd 7.30pm to 9.00pm
Saturdays 10th 17th & 24th 11.30am to 1.00pm

If subscriptions are not paid by 28th January, members become members in arrears and are not allowed to enter the Club except to pay their subscriptions at one of the times listed below. They have a further 28 days in which to pay their subscriptions after which they cease to be members of the Club.

To help jog memories there will be a card show from 29th January 2004 to 28th February 2004 inclusive. During this period every person entering the Club shall be required to show their membership cards every time they enter the Club. Bona fide guests and Associate Members with 2004 pass cards will be welcome.

There will be restricted times in February to pay subscriptions as follows: -

Sundays 1st 8th 15th 22nd from 11.30am to 12.30pm
Mondays 2nd 9th 16th 23rd from 8.00pm to 9.00pm
Thursday 26th from 9.00pm to 9.30pm

Please do your best to pay by 28th January so that your ability to use your facilities at the club is not disrupted.

Entertainment January 2004

Friday 2nd Fast Fret Fred 4 piece live band Mainly 60’s
Saturday 3rd Tin Rat Band Classic Rock Covers
Sunday 4th Shine Female Duo
Friday 9th T.B.A.
Saturday 10th Smooth & Sweet Trio
Sunday 11th Blayz Duo
Friday 16th Hollywood Nights Meat Loaf Tribute and 60’s & 70’s
Saturday 17th Hot or What Live Band 70’s to 90’s
Sunday 18th Fusion Male & Female Duo Soul & Motown
Friday 23rd The Flying Ants Band 60’s to 90’s
Saturday 24th Breeze Trio 70’s to 90’s
Sunday 25th Angel Eyes Girl Duo
Friday 30th Shotgun Blues Brothers. Blue Brothers Tribute
Plus Katia Collins Great Vocalist 60’s to 90’s
Saturday 31st Cake Train Band 60’s to 90’s

Bingo will be played: Every Wednesday (including National Flyer) Eyes Down 9.00pm
Every Friday. Eyes down 9.00pm
Every Saturday except 24th. Eyes down 9.00pm
Every Sunday. Eyes down 8.45pm

Senior Citizen’s Christmas Party

On behalf of all who attended the Senior Citizen’s Christmas Party, I would like to say a huge thank you to all the staff. Everyone worked very hard to give us all a wonderful evening. Once again thank you very much.

I would also like to give a very special thank you to Paddy and Jimmy for their hard work running the “Treasure Chest” which provides the money for events like this.

I have heard on the grapevine that two or three people had complaints about this brilliant, free evening. Will these people please see me and I assure you I will answer your complaint.

Brian Dolby D49
Party Organiser

Farewell to Club Shop

For the last six months two of our members, Steve Redden and Janet Gray, have run a shop by the entrance to the Club throughout the weekends.

Most of what they sold, including quality greetings cards, was often less than half the price charged in the high street.

Steve and Jan regret that not enough folk used this facility to make it viable and the shop will have closed by the time this newsletter is published.

From those who have benefited by using the shop, and from the Management Committee, thank you Steve and Jan for all your hard work over the last six months.
Dates for the Diary

Tuesdays 13th and 27th January Quiz Night

We start the New Year with a rollover on Aces High. The prize up for grabs on 13th is £209 plus the value of any tickets sold on the night. Will it roll over for a fourth time? We start the fun at 8.30pm ish.

Thursday 29th January Race Night

Another chance to experience the thrills of the Sport of Kings in the comfort and warmth of the bar. A great treat for young and old alike! The first race will be at about 8.30pm

Saturday 13th March St Patrick’s Day Celebration

Four days before the actual day we will celebrate St Patrick’s Day in the Concert room being entertained by the Thomas McGuire, specially flown in from Ireland for this special event.

Tickets at £6.00 each will be available from the entertainment section of the Committee when displayed on the posters in the club.


We at Kingsley are proud to be members of the best club in town. Why is it that we allow a few mindless hooligans (no mention of age here!) to try and spoil things?

Is it funny to keep kicking in the toilet doors, and breaking the latches? No it is not!

Is it funny to keep blocking the toilets to cause floods? No it is not! Not only is it not funny, it could be very dangerous.

Is it funny to rip wallpaper off the walls? No it is not!

Is it funny to make hoax 999 calls from the club’s payphone? Not only is it not funny, it could be tantamount to murder!

The Management Committee does its best to provide an environment where families can come to relax and enjoy themselves in pleasant surroundings and pay sensible prices. The environment and bar prices will be affected if this wanton damage continues.

If anyone is aware at any time of these mindless hooligans at work please find a Committee member or inform the Steward or his assistant immediately. Those found guilty will be subject to the Club’s disciplinary procedures, and it is the policy of the Committee that the greatest penalty appropriate to the crime will be administered.

The answer to the question at the top of this article must be a resounding: -


Drinking, the law and Working Men’s Clubs

Many people are confused as to the law about the supply and drinking of alcohol in our clubs. Hopefully the following will simplify matters.

The only people who can be supplied alcohol in the club are members and associate members.

The only people who can consume alcohol in the club are members; associate members; bona fide guests and people under 18 who have been signed in as bona fide guests by a club member. This does mean that members who wish to buy their own children alcoholic drinks have to sign them in as guests. It should be pointed out that Guests can only be signed in six times in one year, so members can only buy their children alcoholic beverages for a maximum of six times.

It should be stated that as regards those under 18, it is the policy and wish of the Management Committee that no person under the age of 18 should consume alcohol. This could shortly become law under legislation currently working its way through parliament.

There is concern at the moment that some under 18’s are trying to get served alcohol. The bar staff have authority to ask to see membership cards as proof of age. Please do not be offended if challenged. Sight of your membership cards will ensure service, but failure to produce will them result in service being refused.

New for 2004

In recent months the choice in the concert room has been either to play bingo in a smoky atmosphere or put up with the relentless clicking cause by the arcing of the smoke filters. Your Committee has decided to purchase new smoke filters for the room, and it is hoped that an immediate improvement in air quality and peace will be enjoyed by all.

Early in January, we will be installing a new drink dispensing system in the club. We will be changing from measured to freeflow delivery. This new system is a much-improved development of the system we had in the club before the introduction of measured drinks. Whilst we know that the excellent quality of drink we provide will not change, we hope this will be a further step in improving service and providing what members are asking for.

This will be a major operation, and whilst we will keep disruption to a minimum, we apologise in advance for any inconvenience that may be caused. Opening times will not be affected, but there may be a short period when we will have to close the bar and use the concert room instead.

National Executive Elections

In the last letter you were informed that Barry Slasberg accepted the nomination for this election. The only other person standing was Colin Wright, our Branch President, who has been on the executive for over 30 years.

Colin won the election by 32 votes to 15. Congratulations go to him with our wishes that for the next two years he may have every success in his work for our Branch in the difficult times ahead.

Welcome to New Committee Member

In recent weeks, a new face will have been seen sitting at the Welfare table with David Yates. John Carnegie- Brown has been co-opted onto the Management Committee to fill the Casual vacancy created by the retirement of Dave Halliday and election of Ramesh Chudasama as Trustee.

John will serve out the remainder of Ramesh’s term and will be eligible for re-election in 2005.
Welcome to the Committee John, and may your obvious enthusiasm and commitment never be dulled.

And finally

Our request for volunteers to help run a games club for children on Saturday mornings came up with one parent willing to help get our next generation into the heart of club life. This is not enough to get the project started. Please help your club to prosper as a family club by your efforts for your children. The Committee can only open the doors. This they are doing, but it needs the whole family to come in. One parent was heard to say words to the effect that they came to the Club for their own reasons and only brought their children to the Club because the could not leave them at home. If that is typical, what a shocking indictment of modern family life that is!! Let us make 2004 the year of the family. Parents and children, please come with your ideas either in writing or in person to the General Secretary, Barry Slasberg. All serious proposals will be seriously considered. Thank You.

Febuary 2004

Kingsley Park Working Men’s Club News February 2004

GOOD NEWS BAD NEWS MONTH

Subscriptions

Good News

A warm welcome to the use of all the Club’s facilities is offered to all those members who have renewed their subs by 28th January 04.

Bad News

All members who have not paid their subs by 28th January 04 have become members in arrears. This means those folk are not allowed into the Club until they come to pay their 2004 subs. They cannot be signed in.

Subs will be taken at the following times in February: -

Sundays 1st 8th 15th 22nd from 11.30am to 12.30 pm
Mondays 2nd 9th 16th 23rd from 8.00pm to 9.00pm
Fridays 30th Jan 6th 13th & 20th Feb
Thursday 26th from 9.00pm to 9.30pm

There will be a card show from 29th January to 28th February.

Bona Fide guests and Associate Members with 2004 pass cards will be welcome.



Bar Tariff

Good News

The Management Committee has decided that those members and associates who use the club regularly should be thanked in a tangible way for their loyalty over the last year.

The prices of all drinks served will be reduced by 20% from 1st to 15th February inclusive.

This reduction will be funded from the Treasure Chest.

As from 16th February, the 20p deduction on all draught beers and lagers will be reinstated for the foreseeable future from opening to 7.00pm Monday to Thursday inclusive.



Bad News

Our major suppliers have issued their price increases for 2004. These come into effect on Monday 16th February.

It goes without saying that their initial demands are unacceptable, as they would be no matter what level they requested.

Negotiations are ongoing to ensure that the best possible deal is gained for the benefit of all those who use the Club.

Entertainment February 2004

Sunday 1st True Blue 70’s to 90’s
Friday 6th Tobacco Road 60’s to 90’s
Saturday 7th Cassidy Show Band
Sunday 8th Voodoo Duo 60’s to 90’s
Friday 13th Boys U K Modern
Saturday 14th The Classics 60’s
Sunday 15th Three is Company 60’s to 90’s
Friday 20th Streetwyze 80’s and 90’s
Saturday 21st Big Bad Wolf 60’s to 90’s
Sunday 22nd Silhouettes 60’s
Friday 27th T.B.A.
Saturday 28th Blind Alley Trio 60’s to 80’s
Sunday 29th Soft Option Group 70’s to 90’s

Bingo

We regret to announce that, due to lack of support, the Wednesday session and the National Flyer have been discontinued with immediate effect.

Bingo will be played every Friday. Eyes down 9.00pm
Every Saturday except 7th. Eyes down 9.00pm
Every Sunday. Eyes down 8.45pm



Life Members & Senior Citizen’s Outing

It is intended that this year the outing will take place on Saturday 26th June.

With lessons learnt from last year it has been decided to invite all those eligible to go on the outing to a meeting in the Club on Sunday 14th March at 11.30 am to discuss where you would like to go.

Your attendance and ideas will be greatly appreciated.

D B Yates (Welfare Secretary)

Welfare Quarterly Payout

The Senior Citizen’s payout will commence Sunday 7th March through to Sunday 28th March.

Christmas Savings Club

The Management Committee is considering the introduction of a Savings Club whereby members may contribute regular sums of money through the year and withdraw it either at Christmas or as required.

With the law being as it is, to set this up is fraught the legal requirements needing a lot of work and research before it is launched.

We need to find out if there is be a demand for such a club before committing ourselves to all this work. It would therefore be appreciated if you would be interested in joining such a club, or have any comments or views, if you could have a chat with John Carnegie- Brown who can be found at the Welfare table Fridays between 7.00pm and 9.00pm and Sundays between noon and 1.00pm


Dates for the Diary

Tuesdays 10th & 24th February Quiz Nights

The competition is getting very keen, but the emphasis is still on a fun night out. The payout on Aces High is reaching un-paralleled heights. So for fun and excitement you are welcome to join us. Formalities commence at 8.30pm

Thursday 26th February Race Night

If you can cope with the nail-biting excitement of this full evening of horse racing come along and enjoy the atmosphere. They’re off at 8.30pm. We hope you’re on for then!

Saturday 13th March St Patrick’s Dance

With Thomas Maguire and his band and a display of Irish dancing what more can you ask? How about Guinness at £1.50 a pint and house doubles at £1.00?

This winning combination must make tickets at £6 an absolutely great deal. They are available from the Entertainment Committee.

Saturday 17th April Ladies Supper

Details will be in next month’s newsletter. Keep an eagle eye out so you don not miss getting your tickets.

Friday 23rd April St George’s Day

Details will be in next Month’s newsletter. With entertainment both lunchtime and evening and our usual English grub for breakfast and lunch, this promises to be an excellent day

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of members will be held on Sunday 29th February. A formal notice in accordance with the rules will be posted nearer the date.

The meeting is brought to your attention earlier in the hope that as many male members as possible may attend in support of the Management who have worked hard through the year to run the club to the high standards it sets itself and its members deserve.

If any member entitled to attend the meeting has a notice of motion to propose, the General Secretary must receive the notice in writing at least five days before the meeting. If anyone has such a notice and is concerned about how to present it, the General Secretary is available to offer support and advice if required.


Elections 2004

On the weekend after the AGM, elections will be held for the positions of President, Vice President and five members of the Committee.

Again, formal notice giving details of how the elections are run will posted in accordance with the rules. This item just gives male members time to think about whether they feel they can make a positive contribution to the running of the club by being on the Management Committee.

If you want to know what is involved in being on the Management Committee, please feel free to ask any Committee member or the General Secretary.

And finally

It is with great regret that we inform you that the Langland Holiday & Convalescent Centre will not be opening in 2004. This is a direct result of member clubs in other parts of the country refusing to insist on their members buying a pass card costing just £2.00 per year, or fewer than 4 pence per week.

Many of our members have used Langland for both holidays and convalescence over the years. The place will be sorely missed. However, Saltburn remains open for the time being and alternative convalescent facilities with an independent home are available in the south of England. Please see the General Secretary for details.

In previous letters the probability of this happening has been mentioned. The fact that it has happened brings home most forcefully how serious the situation is. Other cuts are in hand to ensure the long-term viability of the CIU, none of which would have been necessary if all good club members like ourselves had been willing to pay that £2.00 per year.

The Management Committee of this club has to manage this club taking into account outside influences including what is going on in the movement as a whole. The next two or three years should prove very interesting and challenging for our Committee.


Barry Slasberg
(Editor)

March 2004

Kingsley Park Working Men’s Club News March 2004

2003 Accounts and Bar Tariff Increase Explained

Those of you who have seen the published accounts this year will note we have just about broken even in 2003. There are two main contributory factors to us going so close to the wire.

One is a factor that hit our whole industry. This was the exceptional weather through the summer. Everyone was having barbeques at home or going to establishments with large gardens. This put a big hole in our bar takings which no one could have anticipated.

Another factor is that in 2003 the concert room was let out less for private functions. During 2002, the function room was being let to members for celebratory parties on Saturday nights on an ever- increasing basis. It was felt by the Committee that this was being unfair to the loyal members and associates who play bingo regularly on a Saturday night, and the decision was taken for 2003 to only let the room for one private party per month. This had a marked effect both on the catering turnover and margin and again hit the bar takings.

Some comments have been made that we are over-staffed. The Committee keeps this item under constant revue and is satisfied that the level of staffing is appropriate to the amount of work involved in running the club.

There are, of course, other factors that have affected the end result. The maxim that it never rains but pours comes to mind. Had it not been for the rainless summer weather, we believe that we would have made a reasonable surplus.

With regards to the year 2004, we once again face the unknown. All costs are being examined to ensure we both get and give the best value for money. It must be stressed that the maintaining of our renowned high standards of refreshments, both wet and dry, service and entertainment that attract folk from far and near will be our main priority. It is not our intention to embark on any service cutting operations. Last year showed a hiccup in our growth track record. We plan to resume to a moderate level of growth this year.

As regards the tariff review in mid February, the levels of increase were held to about the same levels as last year. With increases in heat and light and rates and other expenses in the pipeline, your management had absolutely no scope to reduce the review lower than that which has been imposed.

It was brought to my attention by a member that they read in the press that Carlsberg was going up 13 pence a pint. With the help of Carlsberg Tetley our increase is only 10 pence including the allowance for our expense increase. We had a little less success in negotiating with Coors, but have passed on all the savings made. The increase in Sam Smith’s products was only for internal budget purposes. This, I believe, is the 15th year they have not imposed any price increase other than duty increases. The big boys should learn some lessons perhaps?

It is important that the Club budgets to make a surplus to fund ongoing improvements. There are only two realistic ways to provide that surplus if we are not to cut benefits to members which currently are running at a rate of above £70,000 per annum in the form of free entertainment and subsidised evenings and outings. The first is to increase bar prices and the second is to get more people into the club. It is true to say that the more people that use the club; the greater becomes management’s flexibility in being able to hold back bar prices.

On behalf of the Management Committee, I would like to thank all members and associates for their loyal patronage over 2003, and look forward with enthusiasm to the rest of 2004.
Barry Slasberg(General Secretary)
Entertainment March 2004

Friday 5th Frantik Band 70’s to 80’s
Saturday 6th Ayleys Comet Band 60’s to 90’s
Sunday 7th Ttorria Girl Band
Friday 12th The Old Speckled Men Country. Irish Folk & Blue Grass
Saturday 13th Pure Dreams Trio 60’s to 90’s
Sunday 14th Honeywell Band 60’s to 90’s
Friday 19th Two Up Front Band 70’s to 90’s
Saturday 20th Velvet Touch Band
Sunday 21st Backstreet M & F Duo
Friday 26th Steven Bond tribute to Robbie Williams
Supported by the Apollo Disco.
Saturday 27th Second Time Round Trio Modern
Sunday 28th Aces & Kings Duo 60’s & 90’s




Saturday 13th March.

See the posters around the club and see if you can resist the temptation to come and enjoy a really good evening of music, dance and good company.

The one thing we would ask is that every one present drinks up by 12.20am and leaves the premises by 12.30am.

Your cooperation will be greatly appreciated.


Bingo will be played: -
Every Friday. Eyes down 9.00pm
Saturday 20th. Eyes down 9.00pm
Every Sunday. Eyes down 8.45pm

Dates for the diary

Sunday 14th March Life Member’s and Senior Citizen’ Outing Meeting

All those entitled to go on the outing are invited to discuss the venue at 11.30am in the main bar. The outing will take place on Saturday 26th June. Let’s make this year’s outing one to remember for all the right reasons!

Sunday 21st March Mothering Sunday

If you wish to celebrate with a meal, then Kingsley Park W.M.C. is the place to be. Going on previous years, the restaurant will be extremely busy. To make sure of a table, please telephone Graham on 715514 and book a table otherwise it cannot be guaranteed you will be accommodated.

First orders will be taken at 12.00 noon and last orders at 4.30pm. As meals are cooked to order, please be prepared to relax and wait awhile if you join us. We will be as quick as possible but assure you we would rather be known as a good food outlet, not a quick food outlet.


Tuesdays 16th & 30th March Quiz Nights

We start at 8.30pm, but recommend you come a bit earlier as the bar gets quite full nowadays. It’s hardly surprising for such a good night out! The grey matter gets well exercised and adrenaline gets a good pumping in Aces High.

Thursday 25th March Race Night

An excellent evening of entertainment supplied by the ever popular Big Kev and the ever more popular Louise at the Tote table, refereed by the evening’s master of ceremonies Steve. Oh; and of course there are some horse races thrown in to make the evening complete. The fun starts at about 8.30pm.

Saturday 27th March Rugby Union – France v England

This match has the potential of being a Grand Slam decider. The kick off is at 8.00pm. A large screen television will be positioned in the games room for those who wish to see the match. We regret that for the duration of the match the skittles and pool tables will not be in use, and hope the inconvenience will be outweighed by the joy of watching our boys doing the business>

Saturday 17th April Ladies Supper

A beautiful three-course meal, our traditional entertainment and the company of good friends for a ladies-only night out are what make this event a sell-out every year.

Tickets are only £7.00 and can be obtained from the Entertainment Committee. Get in quick!

Friday 23rd April St George’s Day

With St George’s day falling on a Friday, the whole day will be given over to the celebration.

Start the day with a traditional English breakfast for only £2.10.0d from 9.30am

An extension is being applied for to open the bar at 10.00am

Luncheon will be served at about1.00pm. Bangers, mash and onion gravy for only £2.10.0d.

We proudly present for your entertainment from 12 noon to 3.00pm. Smart Move, a male duo who we are assured will get us going in a traditional sing-along and Richard C Parker who is billed as a vocal comedy entertainer.

The Entertainment Committee will take over for the evening and have promised a group appropriate for the day.

Truly a day to celebrate being English or, if not English, share in the joy of English tradition.


Games News

Ladies Skittles Congratulations to the B team for coming runners up in the Grolsch division of the ladies skittles winter league. It was nail biting stuff all through the season with our ladies just being pipped at the post.

New Membership Applications

After the Annual General Meeting the books will be open for application for membership. Forms will be available from the Secretary or Committee members.

Every applicant “must be proposed and seconded by two financial members, able from personal knowledge to vouch for his/her respectability and fitness to be a member” in accordance with our rule 2.

If this rule is ignored, the justices and police could interpret our books as being open to the public and our registration certificate could be revoked. There will be spot-checks to ensure that proposers and seconders do have the appropriate knowledge of the person they are sponsoring.

And finally

Thanks to the vast majority of members who willingly showed their cards every time they entered the club through the month of February.

To those few who reared up, we would refer you to the newsletters of both December and January that clearly explained this would be happening. A copy of each of the newsletters was posted in a prominent position on the Club notice board.

The Management Committee would urge all members to always have their cards in their possession every time they come to the club. It would be a good habit to cultivate in order to save any embarrassment should the door staff not know any member.