In this issue

Brigade announcements Brigade announcements
MEETING OF THE
BRIGADE EXECUTIVE
The meeting was held at Brigade
Headquarters, Felden Lodge, on
18 th /19 th November 2006. In addition to
routine business, the following matters
were also dealt with:
The Brigade President announced the
appointment of Mr Perry Donaldson
as a Brigade Vice President. The
meeting welcome Rev’d T McCormick
to his first Executive Meeting.
Jonathan Eales was welcomed as the
Business Director Designate.
Constitutional Review: The Executive
received draft proposals from the
Constitutional Review Group.
Consultation will take place with the
wider membership and further details
are contained in the Gazette.
Girls: The Executive received a report
from the Management and Advisory
Group following the motion to Brigade
Council. The Executive is keen to
reach a solution and has asked the
Brigade Secretary to explore possible
ways forward. Further details appear
elsewhere in this Gazette.
a position he still holds
today. He is a very active
Captain involved in all
sections of the Company.
This session the Company
has just over 100 boys.
Perry has served on many committees of
the Belfast Battalion and was Battalion
President from 1994-1997. He is a
member of Battalion Executive and
Chairman of the Finance Committee.
His business expertise and experience
have benefited the Battalion in many
areas of its work and development.
Brigade Development Plan: The
Executive was updated on progress
towards specific aims and also gave
thought to the formulation of the new
plan starting in 2008 and how this
might be best shared with the
membership.
IT Infrastructure: A report was given
regarding progress with regard to
linking Carronvale and Rathmore to
the central database. The recent
difficulties with web & mail were
outlined and the Executive agreed in
principle to a professionally managed
solution for the hosting of the web and
email services.
Finance: The Brigade Treasurer
reported on the deficit on the Brigade’s
general fund income and expenditure
on the first six months of the year.
Although expenditure was roughly in
line with expectation, there had not
been the expected income. The
Supplies operation and the Training
Centres are working well, but the
Treasurer reminded the Executive of
the ongoing drain of the pension fund
shortfall.
Programme Review: A progress report
was given on the work on the
Company Section programme
material. The Executive approved
several recommendations including
delaying the material for Seniors to
ensure that a quality product for
Company Section is achieved. Details
are contained in the Gazette.
Global Youthwork Project BB
Cameroon: The Executive approved
the commencement of the project
which will focus upon the issue of The
Boys’ Brigade as a worldwide family
and the self-sustainability of the BB
movement in Cameroon.
Sub-Groups: Groups under the
headings of Finance, Development and
Training were held which dealt with
various aspects of the Brigade’s
Development Plan
Reports were received on the work of
the Regional Committees
STAFFING
Mr Jonathan Eales has been appointed
as Business Director for The Boys’
Brigade and will take up his new post in
January 2007. Jonathan brings a wide
experience of the commercial world and
is currently employed as Customer
Services Manager for South of England
Corporate Centre of a major bank. He
has wide knowledge of The Boys’
Brigade serving as a Company Captain
and Battalion President. Until his
appointment he was a member of the
Brigade Executive and served on the
Brigade Finance Committee. The
Brigade wishes Jonathan well as he takes
up his new position.
NEW BRIGADE VICE PRESIDENT
Perry Donaldson joined the Lifeboys of
the 43 rd Belfast Company in 1954,
continuing his service into the
Company Section where he gained the
Queen’s Badge. He became a Lieutenant
in 1965 and Company Captain in 1994,
Perry’s wider role in the Northern
Ireland District saw him involved as a
tutor on Officers’ Basic Training for
many years and as Chairman of the
Activities Committee and a member of
the Northern Ireland District Executive.
Currently he is Chairman of the
Northern Ireland Committee. He has
been an elected member of Brigade
Executive since 1999 and is also a
member of the Management and
Advisory Group and the Finance subgroup.
In business Perry is Chairman and
Managing Director of North Down Fruit
and Vegetable Co. Ltd and his
innovation and leadership has ensured
continued success and growth of the
Company. He is well respected within
the Northern Ireland fresh produce
industry and has helped raise the profile
of the industry to a high professional
level. He is a Fellow of the Institute of
Directors.
Perry has been a lifetime member of
Dundonald Presbyterian Church where
the 43 rd Belfast Company is based. He
is an Elder and member of the church
committee where he is extensively
involved in the group, which is
planning for a major re-development of
all the church buildings.
NEW COMPANIES
The following new Companies have been enrolled since the last Gazette:
COMPANY CAPTAIN CHURCH
1 st Radstock Ian Albrow Radstock Methodist Church
8 th London Andrew Salmon True Vine Ministries
5 th Scarborough Christopher Bairstow Queen Street Methodist
1 st Billinge Joan Oakes Billinge Family Church
1 st Lanark Alan Brownlie St. Nicholas Church
30 th Sheffield Brian Betts Wesley Hall
1 st Madeley Ben Trumpeter Madeley Baptist Church
3 rd West Kent Louise Hawkes Charlton URC
page 6 • VOLUME 115 No. 1 • January 2007