 |
|
|
|
ILEX, Bournemouth & District Branch Newsletter
As ever it has been too long since I last contacted you so my apologies for this. When we have 2,000 members and the membership fee is £200 we will be able to afford to employ someone to do all this but until then I'm afraid you have to rely on my inefficiency. Sorry!
On a happier note, the rest of the Committee have been working very hard and so not only is there a large number of events scheduled for the rest of the year but even the date of next year's AGM has been fixed. Details of all these are below.
Before that though, <%IF [New] = "Y" THEN %>a very warm welcome to all those who have recently joined as new members and thank you for joining your local branch of Ilex. Hopefully something we try to do will be of interest to you but if there is ever anything else we can do then please let us know and we will do our best to help. Remember the branch is for you so if we are not doing what you want then tell us!
Contents
- Shadowing etc.
- 9 October - Branch Meeting
- 10 October - Ilex Curry Night
- 14 November - Pro Bono Seminar
- 20 November - Ilex Chinese Night
- 14 December - Annual Dinner
- 19 December - American Supper
- 26 February 2008 - AGM and Ilex Quiz
In light of the new stream of members, many of whom have asked for work shadowing, I have run off the latest schedule so all hosts and some shadows will be hearing from me shortly. As I'm sure everyone knows, there are many more shadows than hosts and so there is a rotation system in place whereby all shadows are placed in turn according to length of time with the branch and the number of visits they have already had (if any).
If you have been a member for more than a year but are still waiting for a placement, please let me know as something must have gone wrong. Otherwise, please be patient and you should get placed soon (a new rotation takes paces about every 6 weeks or so).
Besides shadowing, there are also several requests for mentors so I will endeavour to put something in place for this in the next week or so. A ggod number of new members have asked to be put in touch with others for group studying and support etc. so I will therefore shortly issue a new global list of those of all members who have asked for that contact but before doing so I'd like to confirm consent and some other details.
<%IF [Type] = "Student" THEN %>If <%IF [Contact] = "Y" THEN %>you DO wish to be put in touch with others please could you send me an email which confirms you are content for me to include your name and email address (but no other contact information) in a group email to everyone else who agrees. Could you also confirm what subjects and/or level you are studying so I can include those details.
<% ELSE %><% END IF%><% ELSE %>On this subject, old hands will recognise the familiar plea for more help from Fellows or Members in hosting work shadows and being a mentor. The more people who can help out, the less we all have to do and the more help our newest members can get. Please, if there is anything you can do I'd really appreciate it so please do get in touch.<% END IF%>
The next Branch Committee meeting will take place on Tuesday 9 October at 6.30pm at Reynolds Williams, 48/50 Parkstone Road, Poole. We have previously tried to encourage any member to come along either for the meeting or for a drink afterwards but without great success so I thought I'd mention it again. Much as it is a Committee Meeting, nothing we do is a secret and we'd love your input hence the open invitation. All I ask is that you let me know you want to come so I know who to expect and how many packets of biscuits we will need!
<%IF [Comm] = "Y" THEN %>
Back to Top
If you can't make the night before (or a Committee Meeting sounds just too dull) perhaps you can manage a decent Indian meal for an excellent price? With the branch subsidy, a full 3 course meal of your choice will cost just £5. As is now becoming traditional, the meal will take place at Spice which opposite the Civic Centre in Poole. I need to know numbers in advance so please could you let me know ASAP if you'd like to come. All are welcome, whether a member or not but only 1 non-member per paid up member can be subsidised (normal price is about £8 or £9 for the meal).
14 November - Pro Bono Seminars
National Pro Bono Week this year runs from 12 to 16 November and is immediately followed by the National Pro Bono Conference. Ilex is playing a leading role in both the Week and the Conference through the Ilex Pro Bono Forum and the Bournemouth and District Branch plays a leading role in the Forum (both the Chair and Vice Chair of the Forum are from the branch) so if you are already interested in or would like to learn about Pro Bono work you are in the right place.
As our local contribution to National Pro Bono Week, the branch will be hosting an afternoon of seminars and debate on Wednesday 14 November. This will probably take place at Bournemouth University and cover Age Discrimination and/or Harassment at Work as well as the provision of Pro Bono services locally. While that sounds like rather hard work, as compensation, a cream tea will also be laid on! If you'd like more details please contact me and for more information about the Week as a whole, click here.
The National Pro Bono Conference, the first ever held here takes place on Saturday 17 November in London. As part of our commitment to Pro Bono work, the branch is paying for 4 student members to attend the conference; meeting their entrance fee and reimbursing reasonable travel costs. These spaces have already been filled via Bournemouth and Poole College but if you are interested in going then please contact me and I may be able to arrange some help with the cost either via the branch or through Ilex itself (but I cannot promise).
If Indian food is not to your taste then how about Chinese? At Maks Garden on Ashley Road in Poole for a fixed price of about £12, you may eat as much as you like from a buffet menu but with all food being cooked to order so it is both fresh and delicious. All are welcome (whether a member or not) but I need to know numbers before I can confirm a booking so please contact me as soon as you can if you are interested in coming along.
Tickets for the Annual Dinner are now officially on sale. This year's prestigious event will take place at the De Vere Royal Bath Hotel in Bournemouth on Friday 14 December. The usual flyer and, more importantly, the attached ticket application form is available by clicking here. The capacity is lower than last year and as we are therefore likely to be oversubscribed, you are strongly advised to book early. Even if you have already asked me to keep a place for you I now need you to confirm your booking by completing the form and sending me a cheque (don't forget that if you are a paid up student member of the branch you get a hefty discount and need only pay £25 for your ticket; your guests and non students willl have to pay the full £40 I'm afraid).
For a relaxing evening after the Dinner (but an equally high calorie intake) don't forget the annual American Supper which will take place on 19 December at Sandra Barton's home in New Milton. There is no charge for this (if you didn't know the idea is everyone brings something to eat and drink with them and then we all muck in) and I am the contact as usual. I'll need to know what food you can bring just to make sure we don't have everyone bringing the same thing (or anything I don't like for that matter).
26 February 2008 - AGM and Quiz
Finally, advance warning that next year's AGM and Quiz will take place on Tuesday 26 February 2008. More details will follow nearer the time but, besides the usual formalities of the branch AGM there will be the familiar Quiz and the whole evening will be dedicated to raising money for the Osborne Day Centre for sufferers of Multiple Sclerosis. Please come along to support the branch and a local charity.
Thanks for your continuing support.
c/o RWPS LLP, 48/50 Parkstone Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 2PG