In September a questionnaire was sent out to a number of you, of those returned, without exception, the respondents said that they wanted a newsletter. Initially it is intended to make this a quarterly newsletter. If there is sufficient demand and more importantly, input from you, then we could make it two monthly or even monthly.
A belated very happy, peaceful and successful New Year to you all, from your BRANCH committee.
As you probably know, without any blame attached to anyone, for one reason or another, the Colchester branch has not flourished, as it should, over the past year or so. With myself, Geoff Wiseman, as chairman and Sue Wood as secretary, both newcomers to Muscular Dystrophy, more than ably assisted by Maria Fremlin, vice chairman and welfare officer, together with the other committee members, we aim to turn the branch around and make it again the success it once was. We can only do this with the support of you the branch members. With that support there is no limit to how far we can go. Without it your committee are fighting a losing battle, which can only end in the branch closing completely. We do not want that to happen. With your help it will not happen, once again it is up to you.
Enough doom and gloom!
On November 18th. in celebration of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign 40th. Anniversary, a long service award presentation was held at the Winsley Square Chapel Hall, Old Heath Road, Colchester. The Mayor and Mayoress of Colchester, Councillor and Mrs Martin Hunt made the presentations. The evening was well attended, including our Regional Officer, Anne Jackson. Everyone enjoyed themselves and the excellent buffet. The evening was a great success.
Just prior to Christmas, committee members assisted with the 'cards for good causes' sale of Christmas cards, at the Colchester public library, this was a new experience for me, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
On March 25th, it is proposed to hold the branch AGM, followed by the long awaited Annual Party, at the Tollgate Hall, Stanway. Please put this date in your diary, now, we hope to see as many of you there as possible. For it to be a success, your Committee would like YOU ALL to attend. We will have a keyboard player to provide the entertainment. The Committee will provide some refreshments but it would be appreciated, if you could bring along something to help out with the food requirements. If each of you could bring just a little, it would be very helpful.
We really do need to know the numbers attending, please please, let Sue Wood know if you will be coming and how many people you will be bringing. Sue's address etc is on the invitation enclosed, and on our contacts page.
Naturally everyone is invited to attend the Annual General Meeting, which will commence at 2.00pm. Enclosed is a 'Committee Nomination Form'. If you want to nominate someone, even to nominate yourself, to serve on the Committee, please complete the form. Make sure that it is signed by you and the person or persons that you are nominating and hand it to Sue Wood the Branch Secretary, before the commencement of the AGM.
Also, if you have a question to raise or a topic to discuss, under Any Other Business we must receive it, in writing, at least 10 days prior to the AGM. Anything received after that will not be discussed during the Annual General Meeting. Topics for discussion should be sent to:
Geoff Wiseman,
57 Winsley Square,
Old Heath Road,
Colchester, CO1 2ET.
On May 27th. Maria Fremlin is holding a Plant Sale at her address, from 2.00pm.
25 Ireton Road,
Colchester,
Tel: 01206-767746
e-mail: mfremlin@gmx.net
Maria would welcome donations of, plants, cakes, cards, knitted goods, in fact anything that we could sell to raise funds. Maria has said, that at this stage she is not looking for jumble. The Committee would like to see as many of you as possible at the sale. Tell your friends, the more people that turn up the more funds raised. The Committee is looking for helpers on the day. If you are willing, please telephone Maria direct, it will be most appreciated.
It is planned that we will have a wide range of fund raising activities, throughout the current year. Although as yet no firm dates have been agreed, with the exception of four 'out of store' collections in Colchester, which have been arranged, details below:
| Saturday 17th June | Tesco Store | Greenstead Road |
| Saturday 12th August | Co-op Store | Abbots Road |
| Saturday 7th October | Sainsbury’s | Tollgate West |
| Saturday 14th October | Co-op Store | Abbots Road |
We desperately need assistance with these collections. If you can spare just two hours, on any or all of the above dates and/or, with street collections, manning stalls making items for sale etc., please let Maria Fremlin know as soon as possible, so that we have a ready list of helpers available and can plan accordingly. We really do need your help. If you have any ideas for Fund raising let us hear them, the more the merrier.
For all you Internet buffs. You most certainly should visit our own excellent web site, produced for the branch by Peter Fremlin at:
http://privatewww.essex.ac.uk/~pfremlin/mdgroup
New Copy for publication, to reach the Editor? By mid March, for the next newsletter in April. Remember this is your newsletter, again it is your input, in the form of letters, comments, questions and suggestions etc., which will let it succeed or fail. Help us to help you?
Geoff Wiseman
Branch Chairman / Editor
57 Winsley Square, Old Heath Road,
Colchester, CO1 2ET.
Tel: 01206 792654
e-mail: geoff@gjwisecol2.freeserve.co.uk