Some seventy members of the Club welcomed local Barclays Digital Eagles at our Annual General Meeting at the Exeter Golf and Country Club in March. After the formalities of the morning were over, Jade Wood and her three colleagues gave a presentation about the work of the team. Digital Eagles can help people get the best out of their smart phones, tablets and laptops. They showed how easy it was to set up for on-line banking, and how to stay secure, whilst embracing all the opportunities of the digital world. Further information may be found in the notes Jade has kindly written for members in this Newsletter.
Then members did what they like doing best, and enjoyed each other’s company over a splendid lunch. The Club organises four heavily-subsidised (by the Bank) lunches a year for members. Whether you worked for the Bank in Devon, or have moved to the area in retirement, even if you have never attended before, we would love to see you at one of our functions. You will probably already know several of the folk present. We have included a copy of the next delicious lunch menu in this issue. Don’t worry whether you joined as an Active or Inactive member, just book your place(s) (no booking necessary for Coffee Mornings), come along and enjoy. You will be made most welcome.
Andrew Green, Hon Secretary
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Financial matters
The year 2014 proved to be a very positive one for the Club’s finances, albeit unexpectedly! The planned budgeted deficit turned out to be a surplus of £759, for a number of reasons, amongst which the following are pertinent.
- General expenses were £160 lower than the previous year as more of you move onto e-mail and the outsourced printing of our newsletters is proving beneficial.
- No representatives went to the annual HO Forum in November, saving £360 on our budget.
- The low attendance (of 47) at our Autumn lunch in Tiverton saved £300 on our planned budget.
- The initiative of holding a raffle at the Christmas lunch brought in £250 of unexpected income. Thank you to Lyn Green for that idea. We will repeat it this year.
As a result of the above, we have finished the year with £2640 in our accounts. For 2015, this means that we can afford to run a planned deficit of £700, and still have £1940 in our kitty at the year-end. We can thus continue with our subsidised social programme of 4 lunches and 2 free coffee mornings, whilst keeping members’ contributions at £15 for each lunch and an average subsidy of 47% across the year. Furthermore, we should be able to do the same for 2016.
The HO Grant income will be £4126 this year compared to £4222 in 2014. A very slight drop.
Finally, once again your £5 per active member Subscription entitles you to £56 of subsidy if you attend all events: Fantastic value for money. Please therefore come along and attend at least one of our events in 2015.
Garry Adams, Hon Treasurer
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Welfare
It was good to see those who attended the recent A.G.M.
I was able to thank Pat Willis for her tremendous contribution as a Welfare Officer over a period of 22 years!
As previously mentioned, Pat’s well earned retirement means that we do have a vacancy. As I live in Exmouth, I have taken on responsibility for those who live in and around that area, and I am looking for someone to oversee the Sidmouth region.
I will provide support – and a handbook – although ‘Life Experience’ is the main qualification!
If you think that you can support us, please do ring me.
Ray Cavill, Welfare Coordinator – 01395 275265
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Functions
Our next get-together is a FREE Coffee Morning, 10am-12 noon, on Thursday, 16th April 2015 at The White Horse, Sidmouth Road, Woodbury Salterton EX5 1EP (A3052 – main Exeter to Sidmouth road). For those of you who joined us for the Coffee Morning at Froginwell Vineyard, the White Horse is next door! The White Horse has an excellent menu for those wishing to stay on for lunch (at your own cost, of course). There is a large car park on level ground. Wi-fi is available so we are hoping to have a return meeting with Barclays Digital Eagles for those who may find it of interest – bring your i-phones, i-pads!
The next lunch will be on Thursday, 14th May 2015 at the Sidmouth Harbour Hotel (Westcliff), Manor Road, Sidmouth EX10 8RU at 1pm.
Menu/booking form is enclosed and should be returned to me with your cheque by 5th May 2015. Cheques will be banked on that day. For information: Cheques need to be banked earlier as Barclays has changed its clearance policy in that all cheques – even ‘house’ cheques – are not now debited to individual accounts for three working days. Plus, credits take five working days to clear. No refunds will be given after this date. The cost per head for members is £15.00 or £29.50 per head for non-members. The cost includes a glass and a half of wine OR a glass of orange, apple or grapefruit juice.
Please also let me know when replying of any special dietary requirements you may have, e.g. if you do not want sauces or gravy.
For those who like to make this event more of an occasion, you can arrive from 11.00am to purchase tea/coffee and the bar will be open from 12 noon.
Please collect your menu choices form from me and place on your chosen table by 12.40pm. Please do not move them after this time.
Future dates for your diary
Tuesday, 7th July 2015 (free) Coffee Morning at Froginwell Vineyard, Woodbury Salterton
Tuesday, 15th September 2015 Lunch at Best Western Tiverton Hotel
Tuesday, 8th December 2015 Christmas Lunch at Victoria Hotel, Sidmouth
Tuesday, 8th March 2016 Annual General Meeting and Lunch at Exeter Golf & Country Club
Further details of these events will be included in future Newsletters. Do please try to come to at least one event in the year. If getting to an event is difficult for you, please do not hesitate to contact any member of the Committee and we will do our best to arrange transport for you. We would like to see you – and it helps our finances!
Lynne Ring, Committee Member
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Digital Eagles
Jade Wood, Cornwall and Devon Branch Manager, who recently brought some of her Digital Eagle team members to our AGM, writes :-
“Barclays has a large agenda of support for the community in this digital age.
“The Digital Driving Licence, launched last year, has now been rolled out nationally. Under this scheme, a series of quizzes and learning activities can be undertaken, in a range of modules from Online Security to Coding, and, upon completion, a City and Guilds Accreditation will be awarded.
“More recently, the Fraud and Scam Awareness Project has started in conjunction with local Police and Trading Standards Officers. This aims to teach about current scams and fraud, and how to avoid them, as well as where to seek guidance. It covers doorstep fraud, online and telephone scams and has been very well received.
“Tea and Teach Events are also being run in branches, where you can come into a branch and our Digital Eagles can support you in a number of ways – from setting up your new iPhone, to creating an email account, or showing you how to shop safely online – all with a cup of tea or coffee!
“For more information please Google Barclays Digital Driving Licence or Barclays Tea and Teach, and, if you would like to know more about the fraud awareness, please let me know.
“Our Regional Digital Eagle is Tammy.Hyndman@Barclays.com and she will be in touch later in the year regarding the launch of our @Silver Eagles@ proposition!”
‘Of bales and banking’
You may know of a former Barclays manager, Mike Pitcher, who recently wrote to us:
“My latest book is ‘Of bales and banking’, and was featured in our ‘connection’ magazine last year. It tells of my early days with Barclays, at a tiny branch in darkest Wiltshire. All profits are being donated to a range of charities.
I am now able to offer the book at a 25% discount to fellow pensioners, whilst stocks last. Send your name and address, with a cheque for Fifteen Pounds (£15), which includes P & P, to: M. Miller, 6 St. Michael’s Road, Melksham, SN12 6HW. Please mark the application ‘Barclays Pensioner’. Thank you.”