Meeting of Twinning Association Committee: 19th February 2018.

Update on Visit to Rimbach 2018

An invitation has been received from Rimbach inviting us to visit this year and hoping that we shall be able to incorporate into our visit a contingent of young people (10 being the ideal number) and also members of the Stafford and Rugeley Lions Association (who have received an invitation from the Rimbach, Weschnitztal Lions Association). The preferred date for the Germans is the 29th July to 3rd August as they feel that this coincides with their school holidays, the weather could be better and Markus possibly would be away for part of the October dates.

The July dates could possibly give us a problem for the following reasons (we have asked if October is still a possibility but so far received no answer):

  1. We have circulated members asking for an indication of who is interested in taking part in the trip and at what time they prefer to travel. We have received responses from 26 people. We have also contacted bus companies for quotes for both July and October dates. Happy Days Coaches cannot transport us in July and we have not received any comeback as yet from the other company approached. Happy Days can transport us in October for £335 per person based on 30 people travelling. We are currently making the assumption that if we travel in October we will do so by coach and if we go in July then we will have to fly.
  2. Of the 26 replies received all people can travel in October by coach.
  3. Of the 26 replies, 8 people can definitely NOT go in July travelling by plane. A further 10 state a preference to travel in October but would consider July if their hosts could accommodate them.(Members have been asked to contact their hosts)
  4. Based on these figures the absolute maximum number (and possibly much less) being able to travel in July would be 18, and consequently it would be a much reduced trip from the older members point of view. We are unsure as yet how many young people would be able to go in July to compensate for this.
  5. We have extended an invitation to the Lions Association to join us and have received a response in the affirmative but stating that they would not be able to go in July because of other commitments. At least 4 members of Stafford Lions have expressed a wish to accompany us in October.

CONCLUSIONS:

  1. If the decision is that we should travel in October (dependent on this being acceptable to our friends in Rimbach) then we are able to raise the 30 passengers required to obtain the quoted price: 26 Twinning members and 4 Lions. This number could well rise as more people may commit to the trip & if so the price may drop.
  2. As the school holidays do not overlap between the English & German schools in October then various options need to be considered. One option could be for the English youth to fly out on the previous Friday & meet us there so as to get in a weekend with the German Youth(this would be dependent on us being able to persuade the Education Authority that this is an educational trip warranting the Friday off school.)
  3. A smaller party accompanied by the young people could fly to Rimbach in July.
  4. The Youth group could have a separate trip in July and the older group would go in October which could incorporate the Lions Association contingent. This would be similar to the arrangement that we had in the past when Youth camps were arranged. As we wish to merge age groups this would be the least preferable option.