Fwd: FW: NSALG Eastern Region - Essex.
Nick Holmes
From: Darren Fazackerley <darren.fa...@harlow.gov.uk>
Date: 21 July 2014 09:48
Subject: FW: NSALG Eastern Region - Essex.
To:
Dear All,
Please see below for information.
Regards
Darren
From: Jeff Barber [mailto:barb...@greenbee.net]
Sent: 18 July 2014 08:55
To: Jeff Barber
Subject: NSALG Eastern Region - Essex.
Dear Members,
On 20th May the agreed statement below was sent from the National Allotment Society to all members in the Eastern Region with valid email addresses. As it may have not been received by all of you it read:-
“The Society and Alex Mullins are pleased to inform the members that following discussions the issues raised by Mr Mullins have now been resolved.
It has been agreed that Alex Mullins and Allan Rees will step down from their positions on the Management Committee with immediate effect. The Society wish to thank both Mr Mullins and Mr Rees for the work they have done on the Management Committee and with the Society as a whole and wish them both well for the future.
The Society wish to assure members that it remains focussed on continuing to support our members and allotment holders and to protect, promote and preserve the future of allotments. The Management Committee have already resolved to review our management structure, rules and procedure.”
Since that date the AGM was held in Blackpool on 7th June when we are pleased to say that Karen Kenny was elected President and Andy Percival (North West Regional Representative) was elected as Chairman of the Management Committee. It was, it is fair to say, a meeting with a degree of tension present - the most discussed agenda item was the accounts presented within the Treasurer’s Report..
We would also like to remind you that in 2013 the Strategic Review Business Plan had the following aims for the National Allotment Society:-
“1. Create a flexible and responsive management system that is more effective.
2. Assess the needs of our staff (including volunteers) to ensure their needs are more fully met.
3. Bring the Regions into a consistent framework, following good practice from the areas.
4. Develop effective lines of communication to the grassroots level.
5. Create an image by the start of 2018 that is in tune with current expectations.
6. Talk and engage with more LA members.
7. Increase out overall membership figures.
8. Engage with key decision makers i.e. Government, Local Authorities, Policy Makers to ensure the rights of the allotment holders and people on waiting lists and the general public are upheld.
9. Be seen as an organisation with a set of values which people can get behind.
10. Offer a first class service to everyone interested in allotment gardening.”
Given the statements and changes reported in the paragraphs above it becomes more possible to address a number of issues and practices within the National Allotment Society. The first aim of this email is ask for your contributions and suggestions to this debate. The result should allow the National Allotment Society to fulfill its remit more fully and relevantly. Please email to the Eastern Region Representative at barb...@greenbee.net He will acknowledge any contribution you may make and attempt to collate them effectively. Without wishing in any way wishing to pre-empt what you may need to say the issues that stand out are probably Finance, the Management Committee, the Regions, the Rules, NAS Staff, Members and Membership. All we would ask is that you make your suggestion as positive as you can: assess them in terms of affordability, effectiveness and workability. Do give this some thought as some unexpected but extremely useful comment is very likely to be made. Serendipity?
That request for comment is just part of the purpose of this email because it is also a request to keep in touch with those of you with email (a significant majority now). Any email would be sent out quarterly only and would aim at news and other events especially relevant to the Eastern Region. And may we thank all of you who have submitted articles to the magazine for publication. We hope your efforts were rewarded and I would urge all of you to provide copy and photographs for use in future issues of the magazine.
· Only a few weeks away is National Allotment Week from 4th to 10th August. Open the gates and do something special.
· Kings Seeds will not be far behind with their catalogue and seed orders from Allotment Societies benefit the plot holders, the site and the King’s. Rustle up as big an order as your site can manage.
· And lastly the creation of county Bodies in Norfolk and Cambridge with an elected Committee would make it possible to bring you closed into the existing framework - work for the autumn.
Best wishes,
Karen Kenny, President,National Allotment Society, Suffolk – Ipswich.
Jeff Barber, Eastern Region Representative. Essex – Wanstead.
John Bray, Eastern Region Panel Chairman. Beds., Bucks & Herts. – Sandy.
Sheila Pullin, Secretary, Eastern Region Panel. Essex – Shenfield.
Peter Fowler, Treasurer, Eastern Region Panel. Essex – Brightlingsea.
Carol Andrew – ADI East of England Mentor. Beds., Bucks & Herts. – Bedford.
Louise Carpenter. Suffolk – Hadleigh.
Ray Bedwell. Suffolk – Lowestoft.
Isobel Exell. Middlesex – Barnet.
Wyn Marshall – Essex – Debden.
Andy Ibbotson – Cambridge – Huntingdon.
Mick Camp. Beds., Bucks & Herts. – Baldock.
Grant Smith – London ADI Mentor.
This E-Mail and any attachments are intended for the addressee only, and may contain confidential or privileged information. If you are not, or suspect you are not, the intended recipient, you must not copy, distribute or take any action in reliance on it. If you have received this E-Mail in error please notify us immediately and delete this E-Mail and any attachments. Please note that although this message has been checked for viruses, we cannot guarantee that this message or any attachment is virus free or has not been intercepted or amended. The information contained in this E-Mail may be subject to public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Unless the information is legally exempt from disclosure, the confidentiality of this E-Mail and your reply cannot be guaranteed. The views of the author may not necessarily reflect those of the Council. All communications sent to or from the Council may be subject to recording and / or monitoring in accordance with relevant legislation.