Reader number
No. 474
Sherbrooke, Qc June 15, 2000
BULLETIN
St-Patrick's Academy Old Boys Association Inc.
Dear Fellow Members:
There is lots to report since our last bulletin. Let me first say that our next meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 28th at the Camp in the Parker building at 7 P.M. I hope for a good turnout as this meeting will be crucial. The plans to sell the property have snowballed. At the last meeting it was decided that the asking price or the property be placed at $500,000. Some members felt that the services of a Real Estate Agent be immediately retained. This did not fly. These same few members however decided on their own to hold a meeting of interested directors with an agent of their choosing to explore the legal implications and procedures the sale of the property. I was invited but declined. I personally feel that things are progressing too rapidly and that other alternatives should be explored. I know that other members feel this way as well and if you are among them please come and express your views. One possible alternative I fing interisting would be the sale of the beachfront and camp area to the Municipality of Stoke and keep the Parker building and the rest of the property in our hands for the time being.
Notice was given at the April meeting of a proposed change of our By0Laws. This will be vited on at the June meeting. The proposed amendment concerns Art. 13 which would then read "In the event that the property be sold the proceeds will be held in reserve and the interest donated to charitable organizations to provide recreational activities for underprivileged children." this tet to replace "-the proceed of the sale of the property shall be divided amongst the paid-up life members of at least five(5) years standing. Life memberships at the time of sale shall be deemed to belong to all legal heirs of members." When however I consulted our By-Laws in the official version there was no Article 13! I remember that we put it into Article 5 of the constitution sometime in 1998. We will need to sort this out at the meeting on the 28th. Some other modifications to the constitution or By-Laws could also be considered for future reference. How about one which would have directors retire when they reach the age of 75? They do it for bishops! And how about dropping the requirement for attendance at 3/4 of the previous years' meetings as a condition to being elected to any office?
Moving on to less controversial subjects, new roofs were put on the Parker building and on the small playing field building and the ventilation problems in the Parker building corrected. Albert Kinkead had the kitchen painted and a general clean-up is underway. Webb Boilard attended the meeting of regional Scout groups where he conveyed our intention of buying badges for the toup we sponsor (St-Patrick's 10th Sherbrooke). We since have paid for the badges to the amount of $600 which should do for 2 years or more. The Municipality of Stoke has reimbursed the taxes we paid for the year 2000 as we have officially attained the statys of a Non-Profit organization. The Municipality also wishes to rent the playground and beach for their Summer childrens' program and are willing to pay up to $1000 rental. The Municipality has done almost all the maintenance on the beach and playgroud including roads for the past few years.
You have been most generous with donations this year and this is a big help in keeping us afloat and able to help-out worthy causes here and there. Most of the donations go to the Brother Joseph Fund but some have specified the Stamp fund and we are happy to oblige. We received one donation of $250, three of $100, one $90, one $50, three $40, one $25 and the rest $15 and $10 donations to the amound of well over $1000. Thank you all and hope to see many of you at the Camp on June 28th.
Yours truly,
John Murray, President