Hello everyone! The next meeting is in the Seahorse Centre on Monday 23rd February 2009 at 2.00 pm. As usual, sign the attendance book and if you visit The Seahorse Centre at other times sign in at Reception and wear a visitor badge. There is no smoking allowed inside or in the vicinity of the building.
Our address: The Seahorse Centre, Stephenson Road, Minehead, TA24 5EB
West Somerset Disability Association Trustees
Martin Greenwood; Peter and Heidi Morse; Sue Horne; Terry Venner.
Transport
Dave Willett organises a taxi for partially-sighted people to come to the Monthly meetings. This must be booked with him. If you can’t make it, PLEASE RING HIM, to cancel it.
If you cannot access other transport you can register with Atwest community transport 01643 707090 and use the SLINKY bus to come to meetings. You must have a bus pass.
PLEASE HELP US TO HELP YOU!!! Transport queries about outings should be addressed to the Events Committee.
Useful Telephone Numbers
West Somerset Disability Association Committee Members
President: Jean Gilbert 01984 641197
Chairman: David Kendall 01643 863505
Vice Chairman: Mary Court 01643 702129
Secretary: Marlene Saunders 01643 702972
Accts/Treasurer: Molly Newstead 01984 634739
Transport for the monthly WSDA meeting only:
David Willett 01643 708592
Welfare: Margaret Bruford 01984 656367
Events Committee:
Shirley Williams 01984 632265
Sandra Kendall 01643 863505
Peter Kilner 01643 821464
IT Tutor Chris Brinkman 01643 708025 Mobile 07971 285878
Seahorse Centre IT room 01643 702021 or 07971 285878 Messages (Reception) 01643 705000
E-mail: wsomersetdisability@tiscali.co.uk or wsomersetdisability@yahoo.co.uk
Web Site: www.westsomersetdisability.org.uk
Computers
The newsletter is also on our website with news of our activities and forthcoming events. For the computer literate among you, (and those interested) Mary uses Facebook (www.facebook.com) and has started a group there for the West Somerset Disability Association. It is very early days so far but we might get more members to join, who use this site. If you want to join but are not sure how then ask Chris or Mary for details. Phone numbers are given above.
Please tell us your e-mail if you have one, as an e-mailed newsletter is free but we must pay to post them. Help us to help you!
If you would like computer training, please let us know or talk to Chris our IT instructor. You must be a member of our association (£10.00 per annum) before you can have lessons, which cost £2.00 per hour. If anyone has a problem with their computer at home and would like help from Chris, he will tell the committee of the problem and they will then decide what to do.
Disability Advocacy Service
The service is provided by A4e. Contact Jackie Churchill at 07841250277. The A4e website is www.a4e.gov.uk. Their address is A4e, 2nd Floor, Victoria House, Victoria Street, Taunton, Somerset TA1 3JZ. The service will offer help if you need assistance with care arrangements, equipment, housing, blue badges, etc.
President’s Report
Hello everybody.
First thanks to everyone who helped with the collecting at Tesco’s on Friday and Saturday. We do not know, at this stage of me writing this, how much was collected, but when David has counted all the monies, we shall know later in the newsletter. We have another collection at the Co-Op in March, so will be looking for more volunteers!! Oops!!
Have had two very successful eye operations. The transport for the second one was extremely stressful. I was ready to be picked up at 7am but nothing happened, after loads of phone calls to the ward the Surgeon said he would wait for me until mid-day. I got there at 11-45a.m, my blood pressure was sky high!! What a surprise, and I was in theatre by 12-15p.m. and home by 2-30p.m!! The driver who eventually picked me up first at 11a.m came from Wells and the driver who brought me home came from Axbridge. Blake Ward at Musgrove were fantastic.
Since my first eye was done have had to go back into Hospital for another operation. The preparation for this was very quick and was up at Musgrove nearly every day for a week. Thanks to Margaret for transport I survived!! Now this week have to go back again for another operation and then start eight weeks of treatment for one day a week. Am not looking forward to that at all.
Jean
Chairman’s Report
Hi Everybody
Well that is the first month of the year nearly over and already I have seen the first signs of spring coming while walking the dog, snowdrops and daffodils showing through.
Thank you, those of you that made the meeting last Monday. Police Sergeant Tom Mayberry spoke about parking, the Chief Highways Officer from Somerset County Council, Richard Newby and Tom Bowen (Info Officer) and Sam Rawle (both from West Somerset Council) also spoke. I thought the speakers very good and answered a lot of our questions. Next month’s speaker will be Mrs Barbara Mullins from Magna West Somerset so if you can think of anything to ask her jot them down on a piece of paper and come along.
I would like thank all of those who gave up their time last Friday and Saturday to man the money tins at Tescos and at the end of the weekend we had collected £264.55 so thank you all very much.
Finally I would like to wish you all a very happy and stress free year ahead and to those that are not well, get well soon and I look forward in seeing you soon
David Kendall
Vice-Chairman’s Report
Mary here,
Well here we are into another year almost February and it will soon be Christmas again!!! (Only joking)
Now on to a more interesting subject I would like to thank Stephen Brinkman on behalf of the W.S.D.A. for making and designing the labels for our charity tins, I asked him if he could come up with some ideas and “wow” he came up with the whole thing and I must say I think he did a good job. Well done Steve, I think he is trying to take over my job!!
Chris and I both had Birthdays this past two weeks and as we are members of Facebook we sent each other lots of interesting things on the computer like Chocolates and Champagne and Chocolates and some French Bon Bons. Apart from outdoing each other we are both now a year older. May I thank all who sent me birthday cards.
Bye Bye for now Mary
Treasurer’s Report
At the meeting at the end of January, the raffle raised £46.00 and we collected £10.21 for the Almoner’s Fund.
Events’ Committee Report
The Events Committee:
Sandra Kendall 01643 863505, Shirley Williams 01984 632265 and Peter Kilner 01643 821464
Forthcoming Trips and Events:
Wednesday 11th February: Does anyone want to go for a meal at Minehead Golf Club at 12.00 noon. A roast lunch will cost £9.00, fish and chips, pies, etc will be about £3.50. If you are interested, contact one of the Events Committee.
Monday 23rd February: At the monthly meeting at the Seahorse Centre, Peter will bring sponsorship forms for his head shave and he will be selling raffle tickets for this occasion as well.
Friday 20th March, Minehead Social Club: Peter Kilner and Alan Verbek are having their heads shaved to raise funds for the WSDA and afterwards Peter will celebrate his birthday in the club. Everybody is welcome.
Announcements
Speakers at our monthly meetings:
February: Barbara Mullen from Magna Housing, West Somerset.
Articles, letters and e-mails
Warning from police this applies to both men and women
Beware of paper on the back window of your vehicle – new way to do carjacking. You walk back to your car unlock and get in. You start the engine and prepare to move off. On looking in the rear view mirror you notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of the rear window. So, you jump out of the car to remove the paper that is obstructing your view. When you reach the back of the car that is when the carjackers appear out of nowhere, jump into your car and speed off practically mowing you down in the process.
And guess what ladies? I bet your handbag is still in the car. So now the carjacker has your car, your home address, your money and your keys. Your home and your whole identity are now compromised!
Beware of the new scheme that is now being used! If you see a piece of paper stuck to your back window, just drive away. Remove the paper later.
FOR SALE
Pink Walk-in Bath. For details phone; 01984 641197
Handy Numbers
A4e Disability Advocate: Jackie Churchill 07841 250277 www.a4e.co.uk
Age Concern Information Line 0800 00 99 66 www.ageconcern.org.uk
Arthritis Care 0808 800 4050 www.arthritiscare.org.uk
A Taste of Exmoor: Home cooked food delivered to your door! 01643 709856 or 07919 816197
AT West Community Transport 01643 709701
Blue Badge (Disabled Parking Scheme) 0845 3459133 or 01823 335285. Renewals at 01278 437255
Breast Cancer Care 0808 800 6000 www.breastcancercare.org.uk
CVS (Council for Voluntary Service) Minehead 01643 707484
Cruse Bereavement Care 0870 167 1677 www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk
Depression Alliance 0845 123 2320 www.depressionalliance.org
Diabetes UK 0845 120 2960 www.diabetes.org.uk
Free Directory Enquiries (with adverts) 0800 100 100
Help the Aged 0808 800 6565 www.helptheaged.org.uk
Hospital Transport 01278 727444
NHS Direct 0845 46 47 www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
MIND (National Association for Mental Health) 01643 708 765 deborah.melmoth@mindinwestsomerset.org.uk
Open DAWS (Cathy McGill) 01643 821112
PALS (Patient Advisory and Liaison Service) Ruby Haq 01278 437013 www.somerset.nhs.uk/pals
Piper Lifeline (Cynthia Lewis) 01643 709234
Prestige Mobility (Customer Focus Team) 0970 787 1975 www.prestigemobility.com
Samaritans 08457 09090 www.samaritans.org.uk
Sky Helpline for the Disabled 08442 410333
Somerset Association for the Blind 01823 333818 www.sab-fund.org.uk
Stroke Association 0845 303 3100 www.stroke.org.uk
Talking Newspapers 01984 640 471
West Somerset Advice Bureau (similar to a Citizens’ Advice Bureau) 01643 704624
Winter Warmth Helpline 0800 085 700 www.dh.gov.uk
Next Meeting
The next meeting will be in the Seahorse Centre on Monday 23rd February 2009 at 2.00 pm.
