CHAIRMAN'S REPORT

Every season has its special moments, highlights and challenges and next season will be more of a challenge due to the marketing company, Skyline deciding not to back us for several events, including the international at Weston Park. They have their reasons and we have parted amicably, however we can not go back to the old way of doing things at Weston Park, as the package deal that was in progress there to make it financially viable, remains the same. So the Board Of Directors with the backing of the membership at the AGM, and on the advice and recommendations of our new marketing director, Roger Wilson-Gray, who I would like to welcome to the Board of ACWS Ltd, have decided to go ahead on our own with the international and the other events that were to be backed by Skyline. It is a new direction for the ACWS and some might say too commercial for a re-enactment society, but I feel that, that is the direction we have to take to make the ACWS more financially viable, better and more progressive, then so be. Let us all pull together and meet the challenge. I am confident we can do it and I look forward to it.

As you have been informed in this newsletter, we now have a new Membership Secretary, voted in by the membership, her name is Cpl Claire Morris of 69th New York, and I would like to welcome Claire on to the Board of ACWS Ltd, and I am sure she will fit in very well. Regarding Pat Cooney of 8th Ohio, the outgoing Membership Secretary, I would like to thank her on behalf of the Board of ACWS for all the effort and hard work she has done for the ACWS as membership secretary over the years. I wish her well for the future.

I would also like to thank Geraldine Patrickson 19th Indiana, who is retiring as Treasurer after eight years of loyal service to the ACWS, and also wish her well for the future. I would like to remind you that the post of Treasurer is still vacant, however Ian Morris 69th New York has agreed to do the job for the time being. I would like to thank Ian for filling the gap for the present.

I would also like to thank Phil Caswell the retiring newsletter editor for his many years of service on the Board of the ACWS. I am pleased to say that Phil is continuing as the Civilian Co-ordinator of the ACWS, I am still pleased to have him on board so to speak. I would like to welcome Kevin Holden on the Board of Directors as Newsletter Editor. Kevin is a long serving member of ACWS, who was recommended by Phil Caswell, and I am sure he will do an excellent job.

I am sorry to hear that Gordon Clifford and his good wife Rosemary are leaving us and moving to New York. However I am happy for both of them of course. Gordon is currently Captain of Battery B 2nd US Artillery and has been a leading light in getting the battery up to its excellent standard of morale, performance and camp layout that it has today. But knowing Gordon he will say he has only achieve it with the joint efforts of the Battery. He is right of course, but he has been the leading light and it came as no surprise to me when the Graham Forbes Memorial Trophy, for the most overall improved camp was awarded to his Battery. Well done Captain Gordon Clifford and the men of Battery B 2nd US Artillery, well deserved and I am proud of you all. I hope you do not mind this piece of Union News in my Chairman's report, but it seemed very appropriate with Gordon and Rosemary moving to America. They have both bee stalwart members of the ACWS for several years, and I will miss them both, especially Gordon's forthright manner. I wish them both a happy and successful future.

Regarding licenses and fire arms for overseas visitors coming to Weston Park, Neil Harrison has offered to do the job, and any enquires will pass on the details.

I will end my report now by thanking the Board of Directors and all members of ACWS Ltd, for all the hard work and effort that you put in to make the ACWS the great society it is today.

God bless and I hope you have had a good festive season and a happy new year.

Yours,

Nick Richards, Chairman ACWS Ltd