Hello everyone! The next meeting is in the Seahorse Centre on Monday 30th March 2009 at 2.00 pm. Bring your Easter Bonnets! Let us see who has the best one. 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 Hughes; 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. So far we have just five members. 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
Jean apologies for not writing this month. What with operations and hospital visits, she just didn’t have any time. Sorry…
Chairman’s Report
Hello everybody
Well by the time that you get this newsletter February will have passed and we will be a little closer to spring, so that is something to look forward to. I would like to thank all of you who managed to come to the last meeting. It was well attended. I would also like to thank Barbara Mullins who was our speaker from Magna West Somerset. She talked about what they are doing for the wider community and what they could offer for some of our members. Next month’s speaker will come from AT West (accessible transport) so please come along.
Don’t forget some of us will be rattling tins at the Co-op on Friday and Saturday 6th and 7th March, so come and support us. I look forward to seeing you at the next meeting.
David Kendall
Vice-Chairman’s Report
Mary here,
I hope you are all well, and enjoying the sunshine when it appears in between the hailstones and snow. The nights are certainly getting lighter; a sign that spring is in the air.
I was called by the local radio to give my opinion on the effects a young lady was having on the children on the television. This young lady had one arm that was down to the elbow and apparently people wrote in to complain that the sight of this was upsetting the children and causing concern to the parents. Now as far as I know there were only a small amount of complaints about this lady so they decided to have the public’s opinion on this matter. I told them that I personally could not see what all the fuss was about and if they were so opposed to seeing the lady they could always turn the television off. I then mentioned about he soldiers who are fighting in Afghanistan etc who return home minus several limbs, what do we do with them? Lock them away so no-one will see them and get upset? I don’t think so. I think it is the parents who are at fault here and they are the ones that need educating. What would your opinion be on this subject?
A few of us went to the golf club for lunch the other week it was a nice friendly atmosphere and I think all had a good time .I was not over impressed with the meal but there was plenty of it and as I said the atmosphere was good. I have run out of news now so will say bye for now, see you all at the next meeting.
Bye Bye for now
Mary
Treasurer’s Report
We collected £45.00 for the raffle this month. Thank you everyone!
And now a reminder that the new financial year is about to start, which means that annual subscriptions are due on 1st April. Please give the money to the Chairman or post a cheque to him David Kendall, 5 Harepark, Allerford, Minehead, TA24 8HL.
At the Co-op collection on 6th & 7th March, we raised about £250.00. That was great. Thanks to all of the collectors!
David
Events’ Committee Report
The Events Committee:
Sandra Kendall 01643 863505, Shirley Williams 01984 632265 and Peter Kilner 01643 821464
Forthcoming Trips and Events:
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.
Monday 30th March: We are holding an Easter Bonnet competition at the monthly meeting. Come with your bonnets and see what other people come up with as well.
We have decided to have a second hand book table to raise some more money at the monthly meetings. So please bring your books to the next meeting. Who knows, you may find a good book there for yourself.
Announcements
Speakers at our monthly meetings:
March: Brian from AT West Community Transport will be here to speak to us. There will also be an Easter Bonnet competition so come prepared!
Articles, letters and e-mails
Transition Minehead and Alcombe
A transition town is one which is taking positive steps to become less dependent on outside resources such as food and fuel, and trying to meet more of our needs locally, creating a more certain future for our children and a confident, thriving local economy and community.
Have you got views on how Minehead and Alcombe residents can work together as a community? Are you interested in local food production and working together as a community to help preserve the world’s natural resources for future generation? Do you recycle and reuse and would like to do more?
We welcome anyone who would like to get involved and contribute to our thinking. Project groups turn ideas into action. You can get involved in any of the following project groups:
Growing and cooking our own food, getting about in West Somerset, energy – reducing costs, using renewable, reducing waste, reusing & recycling, strengthening the local economy, communications & publicity, skills & resources sharing, health & well being, arts & creativity, education.
For more information or to join a project group please get in touch: Contact 01643 709478, Email: TMA2009@hotmail.co.uk
If we wait for governments, it will be too little, too late.
If we act as individuals, it will be too little.
But if we act as communities, it might be just enough, just in time.
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 909090 www.samaritans.org.uk
Sky Helpline for the Disabled 08442 410333
Somerset Association for the Blind 01823 333818 www.somersetblind.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 30th March 2009 at 2.00 pm.
