CHANGE to TIME & DATE of the FESTIVE DINNER

     As the result of feedback from members, the Festive Dinner will now take place in the evening of Wednesday 9 December at the Lymington Arms, Wembworthy near Eggesford.  The Lymington Arms provides some of the best food in Devon, yet is reasonably priced at £16 for two courses and £20 for three courses including after dinner tea or coffee and mint.  For those who do not wish to drive home after dinner, there is accommodation available at the nearby Parsonage.  Contact the Secretary for details.
     Please note that family and friends are most welcome to come along to this event.
     A booking form is in the November Magazine or may be downloaded by clicking HERE.

     The menu is as follows:
STARTERS
1. The Chef’s Leek and Mushroom Soup with croutons and cream.
2. Crab cake with tomato pesto and prawn salad.
3. Deep-fried Breaded mushrooms stuffed with brie served with garlic mayonnaise.
4. Chilled Melon and pink Grapefruit, Kiwi fruit and strawberry and raspberry sorbet.
5. Chicken Liver pate with toast and Green Bean chutney.
MAIN COURSES
A. Roast Turkey Breast with Chestnut Stuffing, aausage and bacon rolls and cranberry sauce.
B. Roast loin of Pork, served with cabbage leaves with lemon, butter, coriander and ginger sauce.
C. Ragout of Beef and Venison in Red Wine with bacon, mushrooms and herb dumplings.
D. Escalope of Salmon with smoked salmon, vermouth and cream sauce.
E. Mushroom Ravioli with basil, tomato and cream sauce, topped with cheese.
DESSERT
1. Christmas Pudding with Brandy sauce and maple and walnut ice cream and clotted cream.
2. Sticky Toffee Pudding in butterscotch sauce with clotted cream.
3. Brandysnap Basket filled with Fresh fruit, strawberry ice cream and clotted cream.
4. Crisp homemade Meringue served with clotted cream, Black Cherries and vanilla ice cream.
Coffee or tea and mint.

SUBSRIPTIONS 2009-2010

     Please note that Subscription renewal is due in November and new rates have been agreed by the Council.
     The basic reasons for the increases are as follows:
     For the past few years, the Council has voted to provide benefits from the society’s savings.  The Treasurer had given warnings that such action needs a “Plan B” for when such benefits have to stop or be reversed, as the society has not been in a strong financial position, apart from our savings, for some time.
     It is now time for Plan B.
     The Council has considered a number of options which, apart from do nothing, included:
1.  a small increase in subscriptions and changing the society’s activities to reduce costs, e.g. limiting the number of speakers, and increasing the subscriptions again next year to cover the new running costs;
2.  an increase in subscriptions to cover current costs, but this would also see some reduction in the number of speakers, and another rise in subscriptions in the near future;
3.  An increase in subscriptions to cover the current costs and to maintain the expected number and quality of speakers that is expected from the society without a further increase in subscriptions in the near future.
     There will be an opportunity to discuss these issues and the revised categories at the AGM.
     The new rates and categories are:
INDIVIDUAL  = £24   + £3 joining fee.

COMBINED/FAMILY  = £44   + £3 joining fee.
                      All individuals living as a family at one address,one set of information and post, but all with voting rights.
                     Under 18 years, all information, post and free access to meetings, but no voting rights or library card.

OVERSEAS  = £12   + £3 joining fee.

Dowsing Courses

     Our new member Aaron is presenting a wide variety of Dowsing Courses around Devon and beyond.  This will be particularly useful for those who live some distance from Eggesford.  Full details are now on our COURSES page.

Newsletter and Magazine.

     Our editor Marion of the Magazine has done an excellent job with your support.  It is hoped that all members will continue to make the effort in support of our new editor Susan.  Again we can expect a professional product.  However, the content of the Magazine is mostly the responsibility of the membership.  It is still up to all of us to ensure that we produce a Magazine of which we can be proud, and which reflects the wide range of expertise and experience within the Society.

     So, please get writing about your experiences, views and opinions for the benefit of all our members.  As we also send our Magazine to other dowsing societies, they will also benefit, and may well respond with articles for us to publish.  Copy may be sent by e-mail to editor@devondowsers.co.uk

Subscriptions

Why not pay by STANDING ORDER?

     For those that would find it more convenient, it is possible to pay by Standing Order.  Payments should be arranged for the first payment to made immediately and subsequent payments to be made every 25th October.
     Your membership cards will then be sent to you automatically with the November issue of our Magazine.

     Contact the Membership Secretary for more details about paying by Standing Order, and for a form for you to send to your bank.

E-MAIL NOTICES

     Sometimes a meeting has to be changed, or even cancelled, at short notice, as was our field trip last year to Bodmin.  Although details are put on our Enquiry Line, some members have found it useful to receive e-mail notification.  If you would wish to be included in such notifications in future, please contact the Membership Secretary to ensure that we have you on our e-mail address list.