Here we are once more, the year is racing away and soon it will be winter. May I, on behalf of your committee, take this opportunity, as this is the last 'newsletter' for the year 2000, to wish you a very happy and peaceful Christmas. I hope that the New Year will bring a spirit of peace and optimism, not only to ourselves, but also that this will be reflected in the troubled areas of the rest of our planet.
The present year has been, hopefully, a turning point in the fortunes of the branch. At the time of preparing this newsletter, the branch has already sent £3,500. to head office, We had a very successful store collection at Sainsbury's, Tollgate, Colchester, on Saturday 7th. October when we collected £301.33, our most successful this year. We still have one more to go, on Saturday 14th October, the last for the year.
I cannot thank enough, all of those people, who have worked throughout the year to make our fundraising successful. Whether at Maria's plant sale, the store collections, the three fetes that we have attended or the individual events that have been carried out. Special mention must be made, of the Colchester Institute Quiz which due to the efforts of Clare Jarman, the branch benefited to the sum of £557.00. and Sue Boreham, Stan Angier's daughter, who purchased at her own expense and bagged up sweets, which we were able to sell on the stall at the fetes. Of course our thanks, as always, to Bridget and Tony Farley for their fund raising efforts, taking their organ to the many events around the area.
For next year we have already arranged two store collections:
| Date | Place |
|---|---|
| 26th May | Fiveways Co-op store, Brightlingsea |
| 11th August | Fiveways Co-op store, Abbotts Road, Colchester |
We are in touch with other stores in the area, who are yet to start making arrangements for next year and will let us know in due course.
The Annual General Meeting of the branch has been arranged for Saturday 3rd March 2001, once again it will take place at the Tollgate Hall, Stanway. More details will follow nearer the date.
In addition to the store collection and fetes that we usually attend, your Committee is considering other fund raising events. It is hoped, to hold an indoor 'open bowls tournament' at the Colchester Indoor Bowls Club. It is early days yet but a possible date would be Sunday May 6th, more about that in future newsletters.
We had approached Williams and Griffin Department store with a view to them holding a 'fashion show' in conjunction with the branch. Unfortunately they have already arranged their programme for next year and could not fit us in. Undaunted, we are approaching other stores, to see if something can be arranged, possibly making use of the Mayoral Suite, which has been promised to us for one fund raising event.
A letter has been sent to the Head of the Music Department, at the Sixth Form College, asking if it is possible, to arrange a fund raising orchestral or choral concert during next year, we are awaiting a reply.
As you can see the Committee is striking out in various directions, in an effort to raise funds. We are anxious to hear from any one who may have ideas for raising money, if you know of something that has worked for another organisation please let us know. We do not need a complete plan just the germ of an idea will suffice. We do not guarantee to use every idea we are presented with but each one will be given consideration. Put your thinking caps on, we need your ideas.
Your committee has had a successful year 2000 to date, raising a total of £3,500, after branch running costs, which has been sent to Head office, to assist in the fight to combat Muscular Dystrophy. After spending a further £120. On welfare projects, there is a healthy bank balance of over £1,300. A breakdown of how the money was raised, at the time of the newsletter, is shown below.
Donations amounted to an excellent £1,144.60 including a generous £1000. from BDR Consulting. (not included in the foregoing but a very welcome addition is the donation, from the estate of Alf. Saunders, brother in law to Janet Saunders, of £ 300.00).
Plant Sale raised a staggering £967.85 our thanks to Maria Fremlin and her helpers.
Quiz Evening amassed the sum of £557.00 many thanks to Clare Jarman.
Aldham Steam Rally brought in £357.72
RNLI Fete, West Mersea we made £231.10
Mersea Island Lions Fete raised £184.72
Bridget and Tony's organ raised £293,82
Counter Placed Collecting Boxes brought in £275.88
Store Collections amassed the sum of £756.55 (including £301.33 from Sainsbury's, mentioned above).
Other Activities brought £98.41
Our grateful thanks to those mentioned and those, not forgotten but too numerous, who have given of their time and effort to help raise these sums of money.
At the recent Annual General Meeting of the Colchester Community Voluntary Services, your Chairman was elected to the Executive Committee and is serving on the Transport and Shopmobility Management Committees. I felt that we, as a branch, should have a presence with CCVS, which would help to raise our profile in the town and perhaps put our point of view across where appropriate.
The Branch is holding an informal coffee morning at the Winsley Chapel Hall, on Saturday 18th November between 10.00am and 12.00pm. it is hoped that as many of you as possible will be able to come along. it will be a chance to meet old friends and also our new Committee members, over a cup of coffee (tea) and a biscuit. Bring along your friends, everyone will be welcome. If this is successful, we could arrange further such events during the coming year.
New copy, please! for the January newsletter, should reach me by mid December.
We are still looking for volunteers to help out with our fund raising activities, you do not have to commit yourselves to anything, if you can only manage an hour at a store collection or on the stall at a fete, that will be very welcome.
If you are willing to help us, in any way, please contact myself or any member of the committee, your help would be much appreciated.
Geoff Wiseman,
Branch Chairman/Editor,
57 Winsley Square,
Colchester,
CO1 2ET