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Ballinasloe Active Retirement Association is featured in this issue number #03 August/Sept 2011.
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Showing posts with label ballinasloe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ballinasloe. Show all posts
Ballinasloe Active Retirement Holds its 7th AGM!
There was a very large attendance at the seventh A.G.M of the Ballinasloe Active Retirement Association which was held in the Gael Scoil on Wednesday January 21st 2009.Chairperson's Address
The outgoing Chairman, Jimmy Crehan (photo on left) , in his address, stated the importance of health and social aspects, of making new friendships , helping each other and generally improving the quality of life.Secretary's Report
The Secretary, Margaret McDonnell, reported on the year’s many activities. She further thanked Fr. McInerney, the Gael Scoil and particularly our Chairman for all his work for the association since it was formed in 2002.2008- An Action Packed Year!
Chris O’Flynn, Secretary of the Social Committee gave a comprehensive account of an action-packed year which included day trips, holidays, horse-racing and Theatre outings. The highlight of the year was a glorious Mediterranean Cruise which left 54 members with many happy memories of their visits to far away places.She said there were lots of exciting events in the pipeline for the year ahead.
Committee 2009
The following Officers were elected:Chairman: Gabriel Rohan
Vice Chairman: John Boland
Secretary; Margaret McDonnell
Asst. Secretary: Kaye Killeen
Treasurer: Douglas Rafter
Asst. Treasurer: Ollie Hanniffy
P.R.O.: Chris O’Flynn
Committee members: Sean Carrig, Bridie Loughman, Mary Fallon, Una O’Reilly, Celia McCafferty, Nicholas Power.
The next meeting will be held in the Gael Scoil, Ard Mhuire,on Wed. 4th February @ 3p.m. New members welcome
Knitting Blankets for Belarus
Every Monday morning, about 1 2 dedicated members of Ballinasloe Active Retirement get together in Gullane’s Hotel for a very good cause.
Here the knitting group happily spend a few hours chatting away while busily “clicking” away on their knitting needles.
The result of their year’s work was on display in the Gael Scoil on Dec. 3rd ’08. Margaret McDonnell (Sec.) presented, on behalf of the group, the most beautiful collection of colourful blankets and toys to Mr. Pat Dillon for the benefit of the Orphanages in Belarus.
Mr Dillon expressed his gratitude to these very talented ladies for all their wonderful work.
Well done to all these industrious ladies for your very charitable work!
If you find any spare balls of wool and a pair of knitting needles around the house, please come along and join them.Chris O’Flynn.
Here the knitting group happily spend a few hours chatting away while busily “clicking” away on their knitting needles.
The result of their year’s work was on display in the Gael Scoil on Dec. 3rd ’08. Margaret McDonnell (Sec.) presented, on behalf of the group, the most beautiful collection of colourful blankets and toys to Mr. Pat Dillon for the benefit of the Orphanages in Belarus.
Mr Dillon expressed his gratitude to these very talented ladies for all their wonderful work.
Well done to all these industrious ladies for your very charitable work!
If you find any spare balls of wool and a pair of knitting needles around the house, please come along and join them.Chris O’Flynn.
Don't Mug My Granny!
Two teenage girls held the home-made placard aloft, as high as they could reach.
The message, in black paint, a little bit uneven, told that they had come in support of their Gran’s protest against the Government’s action in withdrawing the automatic right of people over 70 to a full medical card.
Joining their Gran outside Leinster House was a coach load from Ballinasloe Active Retirement. Our bus had left the Square at 8.30 that morning. We were all determined to show that entitlements, which we had built up over years of contributing to the national coffers, could not be taken away.
When we stopped at the Lucan Spa hotel, the management shared our view. For just two euros each we enjoyed a lovely breakfast. That kept us going and gave us the energy to cheer and applaud.
All of Kildare Street in front of Leinster House was full of people. The crowd extended down behind, making an island of the platform in the midst of pensioners from all parts of the country.
The atmosphere was relaxed , friendly but meaningful .Although the Minister had rowed back on his budget proposals, this was to show that pensioners still had a value. Ni neart go cur le ceile
The message, in black paint, a little bit uneven, told that they had come in support of their Gran’s protest against the Government’s action in withdrawing the automatic right of people over 70 to a full medical card.
Joining their Gran outside Leinster House was a coach load from Ballinasloe Active Retirement. Our bus had left the Square at 8.30 that morning. We were all determined to show that entitlements, which we had built up over years of contributing to the national coffers, could not be taken away.
When we stopped at the Lucan Spa hotel, the management shared our view. For just two euros each we enjoyed a lovely breakfast. That kept us going and gave us the energy to cheer and applaud.
All of Kildare Street in front of Leinster House was full of people. The crowd extended down behind, making an island of the platform in the midst of pensioners from all parts of the country.
The atmosphere was relaxed , friendly but meaningful .Although the Minister had rowed back on his budget proposals, this was to show that pensioners still had a value. Ni neart go cur le ceile
Setting Up a Family Photo Album 'Online'
Thanks to our computer & Internet Awareness course, quite a few members now have their own websites and online photo galleries.To view some of these sites and to learn how you too can set up your own version, go to Chris O' Flynn's website kmk
Silver Surfers in Ballinasloe!
Our Association recently completed a computer and internet awareness course with Brendan Smith of the Digital Enterprise Research Institute (DERI) of Galway University. The venue was the brilliant IT facility in the Community Centre in what was the old Emerald Ballroon.Brendan gave us a hands-on approach to the new technology and showed us how it do so much to empower older people. Many of the new services available on the World Wide Web are easy to use, are highly beneficial and are free!
Participants not only learnt about the advantages of using email (electronic mail) but can now tour the world from the comfort of their desk via 'Google Earth', set up their own colurful websites and online photo galleries. Furthermore, members such as Evelyn Flanagan now communicate on a regular basis with their family members living abroad. "Silver Surfers!
“Until I went on the DERI course organised for members of the Ballinasloe Active Retirement Association, I only had a vague idea of what exactly the Internet was. Now I have my very own personal Blog and am in regular visual communication via Skype with my daughter and family in Boston. The ironic thing is that it was me that introduced her to this marvellous facility and got her to buy a web-cam and download Skype! Through similar situations, the course has dramatically changed the lives of other participants as well. Though many members of the association grew up in homes that had no electricity, we can now say that we are all proud members of the ‘Silver Surfer’ club!”
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