This, the 30^th Anniversary AGM of Chamber is a very historic and proud occasion for the current and former members of Chamber. It marks the first AGM in our history, where Newbridge Chamber of Commerce has ceased to be a voluntary organisation and is now laying the foundations for its permanent growth, as a viable business representing the needs of the business community in Newbridge and the surrounding area. It is also the first occasion that we have been graced with the presence of the Minister of Finance as our Guest speaker and minister in extending to you a very special welcome may I thank you on behalf of all the members of chamber for including us in your very busy itinerary. President of the Chamber of commerce of Ireland Mr Tom Kehoe I wish to extend to you a very warm welcome to our Chamber. It is a great honour to have you with us here tonight. Newbridge Chamber is striving to reach accreditation of the CCI and we have every intention of fulfilling that objective by the year 2000.

It is appropriate that tonight in your presence I can publicly state that without a partnership approach to our development we would not be able to succeed. We are most grateful to Michael Maher recently retired Placement Service Officer with FÁS and to John Delmer, Co-Ordinator with the Resource Centres for the Unemployed for the assistance they have given us in staffing our newly established office.
We are very happy to welcome Tina and Sharon, our new staff members to their first AGM and tonight I thank you Michael and John for making it possible.
This is the first time that the Presidents of our neighbouring towns of Naas and Athy are with us at the AGM and it is only appropriate that you should be with us. We are not in opposition but instead we have a lot to learn form each other and I hope that this will be the beginning of a much closer working relationship.
Members of the Oireachtas, Town Commissioners, County Manager and Chairman of the County Council you are all bery important people in the development of a chamber because the business industry which we represent is constantly dealing with the implications of government decisions, whether in the areas of tax, development, revenue or legislation. We will also be seeking your help in a partnership approach to establishing a permanent location for chamber in the next year or so, and in turn providing not just a service to members but also a full-time tourist office service in the town.

Within the last month we had in Newbridge one of the most successful meetings and I believe one of the most important held in the town for some time which was organised by the Tidy towns in association with chamber, commissioners, NEWBRIDGE development committee, voluntary bodies and concerned residents. What I hope will evolve from that meeting will be the establishment of a town council who will regulate and decide what is good for our town and chamber in congratulating tidy towns for organising the meeting, pledge to fully support the changes which are needed to change the present system to one which involves the community in the decision making process relating to the affairs of our town.

We will closely monitor the Strategic Management Initiative to ensure that greater control of resources is given to towns. I will not recall the developments of chamber since our last AGM as this will be covered by Con and Graham in their presentations but I would like to thank the Accreditation Committee and their Projects sub-committee for the excellent work that has been achieved in such a short time. Gentlemen you have put a lot of time and energy into the process and I thank you tonight on behalf of all the members of chamber.

As part of the process of getting our message across to our members and in elevating a greater awareness of chamber we are now publishing "Chamber News". Our objective is to develop this publication into a self financing operation where each business member can make their products or services known to all members of chamber.

Newbridge Chamber looks forward to the year ahead with confidence and it will continue to strive to develop the services needed by its members and to provide these services in a professional and efficient manner.

Finally, I wish to express a sincere thank you to the officers of chamber Des, Thomasina and Con for their support throughout the year and also the chamber committee members who did great work in advancing the growth of chamber.

I have not forgotten our new office manager Brid Nolan. Brid we are very pleased to have you working for us and thank you for the past years work but most importantly for your contribution since the first of December last.

Distinguished guests Ladies and Gentlemen I now propose we proceed with the business of the AGM.

Thank you for your attention.