ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2016 SATURDAY 9 APRIL, 6.00 for 6.30 PM SWISS EMBASSY, MONTAGU PLACE, LONDON W1H 2BQ

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1 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2016 SATURDAY 9 APRIL, 6.00 for 6.30 PM SWISS EMBASSY, MONTAGU PLACE, LONDON W1H 2BQ Dear Members, You are cordially invited to the Society s ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING to be held in the Canteen of the Swiss Embassy, by kind permission of the Ambassador, Mr Dominik Furgler. For security reasons it is essential that everyone attending complete the enclosed booking slip in their own and their guests names. Please make sure you return it by Saturday 2 nd April The meeting will be followed by a finger buffet with wine and a showing of the English version of the recent documentary Ticinotown which details with the history of the Ticinese community in London and of the Unione Ticinese. There will be an opportunity to acquire DVDs of the documentary. This is your opportunity to stand for the committee or put yourself forward as an officer. Please contact Peter Barber if you wish to do so at peter_barber@mac.com or on Best wishes, Peter Barber Presidente dell Unione Ticinese 1

2 AGENDA 1. Introduction 2. Apologies for absence 3. Minutes of the AGM of 30 May 2015 to be approved and signed 4. Matters arising 5. President s Report 6. Audited accounts New members and membership 8. Subscription for 2017/18 9. Election of officers and members of the committee for 2016/ Election of the Auditors for 2016/ AOB Please find enclosed your Booking Form, the minutes for the AGM 2015 and the President s Report You can now make event payments by bank transfer, but you ll still need to complete the Booking Form and send it to Christiane Barber. Please check the account numbers carefully: Payee: Unione Ticinese Sort Code: Account No Please note that the accounts for 2015, budget proposal for 2016 and membership figures will only be available at the meeting. Should you wish to view this in advance please contact Peter Barber at peter_barber@mac.com. 2

3 PAST EVENTS CARNEVALE 30 JANUARY 2016 The event went well with over 30 participants and some evidence of Carnevale fancy dress! Guests enjoyed the traditional risotto and accompaniments prepared by Christiane Barber and fellow committee members and officers. The raffle followed and there was every sign that those present went home happy. 3

4 AN EXHIBITION TO VISIT LIGHT, TIME, LEGACY: FRANCIS TOWNE S VIEWS OF ROME LAKE COMO, 1781 The British Museum currently has a lovely exhibition of watercolours and drawings by Francis Towne ( ). His artistic style was so novel, in some ways anticipating the work of impressionist artists, that his work only came to be fully appreciated much later. The watercolours in the exhibition were created in during his stay in Italy. He considered them among his best and on his death disappointed at the lack of recognition and his failure to be elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy he bequeathed them to the British Museum. On his way back to England, in late August 1781 Towne and his friend and fellow artist, John Warwick Smith became the first English artists, and amongst the earliest English tourists, to stay in the Italian lakes. Previously (then as now!) most people, including artists, had just passed through it on their way to or from Italy. Towne, however, visited and depicted Lugano, Bissone, Mendrisio and Locarno. Indeed his recently discovered views, while not particularly accurate (he was, after all, an artist and the weather was bad), count among the earliest views of Locarno. The exhibition continues to 12 August

5 VICKY FERRARI We are sad, belatedly, to announce the death of Vicky Ferrari at an advanced age in Vicky and her husband Arnold, though born in England, were descended from Bleniesi families and Arnold s family, which came from Semione, ran café-restaurants initially in Hastings and later in Tunbridge Wells. We send our condolences to Vicki s family in Switzerland. DATES FOR THE DIARY FUTURE EVENTS AT A GLANCE 9 April 2016: AGM Please see enclosed documentation we look forward to seeing you there. 15 May 2016: Outing to West Wycombe Park This beautiful National Trust house with a picturesque village and extensive grounds was recently seen in Julian Fellowes s television drama. Dr Thorne has strong links with the Ticino region and more particularly with the upper Vallemaggia! Do put the date in your diaries and come along to find out more. Details will follow in the next newsletter May 2016: FOSSUK AGM The Federation of Swiss Societies in the UK (FOSSUK) will be hosting their AGM at the Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh. For further details see 5