RTAI National CONVENTION fEBRUARY 19
The Annual Convention of RTAI (national) was held yesterday6-3-2019) in the Gresham Hotel and Laois Branch was well represented with 6 of our members present.Sheelagh Coyle as National President presided at the Meeting ,welcoming guests and delegates and conducting debate for reports and motions in a very organised manner before handing over her chain of office to the incoming President Matt Reville. Sheelagh will continue to be part of the executive as ex-president until Convention 2020. Well done to Sheelagh on her year as President becoming the first Laois RTAI member to serve in the role.
Mary McCarthy was also present as a member of the National Executive and was returned unopposed as the Representative for District 6. Continued best wishes to Mary in that position.
Joe Hickey was in attendance as a member of the Standing Orders Committee for Division 3- his last Convention in this role as his term of office ended at this meeting.The good news for Laois RTAI was the election of Catherine Coleman as his successor on the Standing Orders Committee.Catherine was present at the Meeting on a non voting basis but will be eligible to attend future conferences in her new role. Well done to Joe on his work over the years on the Standing Orders Committee and best wishes to Catherine in her new role.
Laois Cathaoirleach John Mulhare and Runai Sean Mullaney attended as the county delegates under rule (1 delegate per 100 members or part thereof)
The 2 motions which Laois forwarded from the AGM in December were before the Convention and both were passed unanimously
-retirees and un co-ordinated pensions (will require INTO support)
- web site to give greater prominence to branches (website to be reviewed)
The other main news from the National Convention
-Mary Kyne (Galway branch) is the new vice-president.
-annual allocation to branches increased from €15 to € 22 and payable in October.
-feasability study on retired teachers from Northern Ireland joining RTAI
-money from Membership Plus Discount scheme to go to counselling and bursaries.
-extra edition of Comhnasc to be issued.
-membership passed the 10,000 mark last week.
Full details of the Annual Convention will be in the next issue of Comhnasc and also on national RTAI website.
A number of our members will travel to Dublin on Wednesday next (13th March) for an afternoon production of The Country Girls at The Abbey Theatre. Thanks to Mary McCarthy for organising the trip. If anyone wishes to join them there may be tickets available on the Abbey website. Also Mary has plans for a group visit to The Children at The Gate in May. Contact Mary if you are interested in trip.
The next event in Laois is the GOLF OUTING in RATHDOWNEY on Tuesday 19th MARCH-This will be on the usual format 3 PERSON SCRAMBLE with an 11.00 am start. The entry fee is €20 which will include fees,prizes and tea/coffee & scones beforehand. Catering will be available in the Club-house afterwards. Thanks to Paud O Reilly (Rathdowney G.C) and Mary McCarthy for organising this event. There is no need to register-just turn up ahead of time.
The proposed trip to York which Mary McCarthy was planning will not take place now due to the lack of interest. Another attempt to organise a trip may be made for the Autumn.
The next social meeting of the Laois branch is for TUESDAY 2ND APRIL in the MALDRON HOTEL,PORTLAOISE at 2pm
If anyone has any information re. yesterdays March Social Meeting please let me know as this meeting clashes annually with the RTAI Convention thus ruling out some usual attendees.
Sean Mullaney .
(Runai RTAI LAOISE)