 |
|
|
|
ILEX, Bournemouth & District Branch Newsletter
17 January 2008
Is it just me who feels like I have to spend the whole of January wishing everyone a happy New Year and asking about Christmas? It's like when you've been on holiday and have to spend the next month telling everyone what a great time you had.
Perhaps I'm just a grumpy old man but this is most definitely the last time I'm going to say it this year so I'll make it specially for you;
Happy New Year and I hope it brings you all the success and happiness you deserve.
(Yes, you do deserve it, everyone has to work desperately hard these days so you deserve everything you get. Well, provided it is good of course; I don't mean to suggest you deserve something horrible . . . let's move on shall we?)
Contents
- AGM and Quiz
- Membership Renewals
- The Year Ahead
- Annual Dinner
- Committee Meetings
- Shadowing etc.
- Your Shout
As is traditional, we kick off the year with the branch Annual General Meeting followed by our Annual Quiz. This takes place on Tuesday 26 February at the Gresham Court Hotel on Grove Road in Bournemouth. Kick off is 7.30pm prompt (provided someone doesn't have IT problems . . .).
Much as it is a tad formal and bureaucratic, the AGM is an important part of the life of the Branch. The Branch exists for and at the direction of its members and, much as we like to think we are always open to comment and feedback, the AGM is the time when all Branch members get a chance to air their views and opinions publicly. It is for you to decide who is your Chair, Secretary and Treasurer and who sits on the Committee. It is your money we spend throughout the year so you are entitled to see what it is spent on and ask questions. It is your Branch so please do come along and be heard rather than letting others make decisions for you. OK, lecture over.
The fun part of the evening is the Quiz. There is charge for this which is still only £5 per person which includes a cold buffet supper and the promise of a prize however well or badly you do in the Quiz (though as regulars will know, your prize does not reflect your performance and may be remarkably silly). As ever, all proceeds of the evening (including the entry fee) go to our nominated charity which this year is the Osborne Day Centre. To find out more about what they do, please check out this website click here. I'd recommend looking them up as I'll be asking questions about them in the Quiz . . .
All being well, either the ILEX President, Leslie Graham, or Chief Executive, Diane Burleigh, and hopefully both of them will be there too and this smaller event is a great way to get to chat to them. They are both extremely nice people and genuinely love to meet members so do not ever be slow in introducing yourself; and if you'd like to be in a Quiz team with them let me know as I usually use them to fill up a team.
The flyer is attached and if you and some pals (all are welcome including sensible children - who often know more than the parents of course) can come along please let me know as soon as you can. Ideally please send me the total entry fee in advance along with all your names and your team name for the evening (not too rude please) as this will save time on the night.
Back to Top
The down side to the AGM is that it means membership renewal time. I'll be circulating a renewal email shortly to save you having to fill in a form from scratch but as it happens you'll also get a postal reminder (along with formal notice of the AGM) and you can always download the form from the website. Don't forget that you voted (if you didn't then please see above lecture!) for an increase in membership fees last AGM so they are slightly higher this time around.
I hope you have found membership to be of some value and that you will renew for what is still a very modest cost. Then again, if you haven't please tell me why not so we can do something about it. Please also see below about Your Shout.
Back to Top
If you do renew, what can you expect? Largely of course that's rather up to you (see below about Your Shout) but we will undoubtedly arrange many of our regular events such as Ten Pin Bowling or Skittles, the Curry Night and something to do with Pro Bono work as well the perennial favourites like the Dinner and the American Supper.
You will get some more of these mailings though I don't imagine they'll be any more regular. If they are useful we can also produce the membership cards and of course we'll keep on doing our best to organise shadowing, study buddies and any other support you'd like.
Possible events for the year, subject to demand, are a summer Barbeque or Beach Party; a trip to Weymouth Speedway (I have been promised we will be treated like royalty if we take up a not unaffordable sponsorship deal); big track Scalextric near Ringwood, a careers advice seminar and even a mock trial. Any other ideas then . . . well, you know what to do.
Back to Top
Before giving news of the next Dinner, a brief word to thank you for your support for the last one. We had the largest ever turn out of branch members especially those buying their own tickets which was really pleasing. My personal view is that the presence of so many 'real' people as opposed to corporate folk is what makes the evening so special so thank you for making it such a great event. I'm not going to pretend it is a total breeze organising it but (get your bucket ready) it is genuinely worthwhile when I get to see so many people having fun (excuse me while I wipe away a tear).
The feedback I've had about the venue, the food and the arrangements has been overwhelmingly positive albeit with some niggles which we will address with the hotel while negotiating the next dinner. If you have any particular comments then please let me know so I can try to put right anything which was not perfect.
So, what about the next one? As privileged members, you can be the first to know that this will take place on Friday 5 December. It will almost certainly be at the Royal Bath again but don't tell them that as I want to try to drive a hard bargain . . .
Anyone who went this year (well, last year really but you know what I mean) will have priority booking for next year's (yes, I know it will be this year!) so let me know if you'd like to reserve tickets. We had disappointed applicants this year even though several firms had their parties clashing (owing to a late date change) so it really is going to be important to reserve early. Payment won't be needed until October at the earliest.
Back to Top
I've mentioned these a few times but I think it is still only once that someone not on the Committee actually came along but that doesn't mean we should stop inviting you. In general we meet at 6.30pm on the second Tuesday in every month (save February because of the AGM and August because of holidays - not that any of us can afford to go away in August of course) at the offices of what is now RWPS in Parkstone Road, Poole. Any member of the branch is welcome to come along (and to join the Committee for that matter) and, if you'd like, to come for a drink afterwards (if you didn't know, there is a nice bar handily placed just across the road). If you do want to come please do let me know in advance so I can confirm the date as sometimes we have to move it a week.
Back to Top
As usual much later than planned, I am about to do the next Shadowing allocation. I apologise if you've been waiting for ages but promise the next batch of placement emails will go out in the next week or so. If you are on the list for shadowing but no longer need or want it please let me know. Similarly if you want to go on the list and think you might not be then contact me to check the position. If you are willing to have a Shadow please, please, please let me know as we need more, many more.
The Study Buddy scheme is in operation but actually seemed to be remarkably unwanted. Only 1 person responded asking for a Mentor last year so if you missed that and do want someone to chat to about how things are going then . . . you know what to do.
Finally, if you are distance learning (or even if not) and want to get in touch with others doing the same thing let me know. I will put consenting parties in touch with one another (er, that sounds rather worse that it is intended) and we will also try to make facilities available for meetings etc. if that would help. The major problem with distance learning can be the feeling of isolation so anything we can do to help please ask.
Back to Top
Which brings us neatly to what is the ever present theme (or should I say 'tirade'?) of most of the branch messages; we want to hear from you. In fairness, the advent of email has, I believe, made a big difference as it makes it easy to fire off a quick comment, idea or request so if I'm suggesting we never hear anything that would be untrue. We have a high membership compared to other branches and benefit from a large amount of support so thank you for that.
Even so, I can't believe we manage to do everything you'd like us to and I know we are (well, OK, just I am) old, tired and set in our ways. New ideas, fresh requests and even criticism is both welcome and even essential.
For example, several issues arise from some of the above, e.g.
- Do you want to do Ten Pin Bowling again or would you rather do Skittles or both?
- Any thoughts about a BBQ or Beach Party or something similar? Any ideas about where we could do it?
- Besides the Curry Night, what about Chinese (our meal in November was excellent), Italian or something even more exotic?
- Does Speedway or Scalextric take your fancy? How about the Greyhound Racing? Several of us went to a Comedy Night a while back; any interest in a return trip?
- Would you come to a seminar on careers (i.e. advice on CVs, interview technique or similar)? Would you want to see a mock trial?
- Is the Membership Card useful or just another piece of junk mail to throw away?
- What do you think about the newsletter? In spite of my verbal excesses, it doesn't really say much so would other stuff be useful? Recent developments in law? Reviews of local pubs, clubs and restaurants (members would need to do these as I don't get out much)? A problem section? Su Doku? [You're getting silly now; Ed.]
c/o RWPS LLP, 48/50 Parkstone Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 2PG