MINUTES OF THE BRANCH COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON 21 JULY 2016 AT THE BRANCH HQ

The meeting was opened by the Chairman at 1930 hrs.

Dedication and final tribute read by HT

PRESENT

Roy Lobley BEM (RL) / Chairman / Standard Bearer / Caseworker/
Temp Wings Organiser
Hugh Thompson
(HT) / Vice Chairman / Welfare Lead / Caseworker
Sandie Rule (SR) / Assistant Secretary
Vince Taylor (VT) / RAFALO
Ian Kent / ATC Liaison Officer

1 APOLOGIES

Stu Patton / President
Ian Hone / Secretary
Lyndon Edwards / RAFALO
Graham Turner / Treasurer

2 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

2.1 The Minutes of the last Meeting were accepted as a true record, apart from Item 3 below. Proposed: HT Seconded: RL CARRIED

3 MATTERS ARISING

3.1 VT queried photographs and information re vacant offices to put on the website. SR replied this had not been done yet, but would be within the week.

4 TREASURER’S REPORT

4.1 The report was written and emailed to SR as GT was unable to attend due to work commitments.

"Good evening Mr. Chairman and fellow committee members. As of today (Thursday 21 July 2016) the Branch Treasurer account stands at the constantly healthy total of £27, 243.72. Since the last committee meeting the following transactions have taken place;

Paid out of the account

Dorothy Rule - £120.00

Paid into the account

Richard James - car park - £350.00

Stein financial - £100.00

A. Kelly - £50.00

RAFA Club - £260

Berrystone Office rent - £300.00

Mr. Leon Malherbe - £50.00

Barbara McNie - £50.00

The last transaction date was for the 18 July 2016.

This Mr. Chairman concludes the Treasurer's report."

4.2 HT advised written notification has been received from Ganthorne cancelling car park space. However, he has contacted another Newsquest employee who has taken on this spot and has already set up the S/O and payment has been received.

4.3 RL reported that Berrystone has requested receipts of his payments on the 1st of the month for his accounts.

No vote to accept the report was undertaken as was not available for the meeting.

5. WELFARE REPORT

5.1 The report was written and presented by HT

Mr Chairman, fellow members. The Branch Welfare Account as of today stands at £1860.60. However, as reported previously there are still two un-presented cheques to the total value of £100 to go against the account which would then bring it back to £1760.60. £944.56 of those funds are monies I am holding on behalf of the RAF Ben Fund for disbursement against a successful assistance application, therefore our working Welfare capital to-day stands at £916.04.

  1. If you track the figures I give you each month you’ll notice quite a difference there from last month. I’ve paid out £3000.00 on behalf of the RAF Ben Fund to one of Roy’s successful case applications. Further due to some “cock-up” at the RAF Ben Fund I have had to advance one of our on-going RAFA (Maintenance Grant), clients her quarterly £390.00, due on the 1st July, as I don’t want the lady concerned to suffer any further financial distress. Our Area Welfare Officer, Glenford Bishop, is trying to sort that one out for me and we should eventually get £390.00 back into our Welfare account. It’s a little annoying in as much as it’s a bad reflection on both RAFA & the Ben Fund that the Admin in such cases can’t be kept accurate and on paid time.
  2. Following on from the “Befriending Scheme” trainer’s course in Leicester which Roy & I both attended in May, and my recent attendance at the Altzimer’s Society “train the trainers” course, we successfully ran the Associations first “Befrienders” training course here in Swindon at the RBL “Pop-In” centre. Area Welfare Officer, Glenford Bishop, travelled up from Area HQ.Exeter and we jointly co-presented the course. We had to truncate it a little to get it all into the 10 am- 4pm. timescale with Glenford taking the presentational lead and me assisting. When it came to the “Dementia element” I personally presented that part of the course explaining to the assembled that it was my first time doing so and apologizing for the lack of eye contact as I was reading from a “lesson script”. At the end of the day a course review was completed by the assembled and we got some very encouraging comments including “I now have a better understanding of Dementia and its effects” Being the Association’s first course that indicated to both Glenford and I that we must have got the most of it right. Those “review outcomes” now go up to Joanne Truscott, the Association’s Welfare Training co-ordinator at CHQ Leicester. Another “feather in the cap” for Swindon Branch I thought. Co-incidentally Roy is due to attend his “Altzimer’s Society “train the trainer” course tomorrow, so good luck on that one Roy. The Association is currently recruiting Befriender volunteers in all areas; you need to be mobile, if you or anyone you know is interested please ask Roy or I for further details.
  3. As regards casework I’m involved with at the moment I’m dealing with a relationship break-up case for which one of my coping strategies offered to the individual involved is a “Wings Break” to the Hemsby chalets near Great Yarmouth. I am currently guiding a client out at Stratton though the DFG process for a stair lift and a wet room shower. I’ve got two E.P.V. related cases on the go, one to collect a chap’s scooter owing to the fact he has now sadly passed as a result of terminal cancer and another for a new client who like me was an ex-RAF Boy Entrant. Plus as I mentioned earlier I’ve been processing the on-going RFA’s
  4. As previously reported, RAFA related inquiries at our weekly "surgery" at the RBL "Drop-In" Centre continues albeit quite slowly, in sharp contrast to the casework that comes both Roy and my self’s way from RBL sources. As mentioned before it far outstrips what we handle on behalf of RAFA and I personally think that our colleague and Chairman Roy here sometimes takes on too much. He’s aware of my feelings but he’s a “big boy” well capable of making his own decisions. As regards the “Pop-In” itself we maintain our RAFA presence there every Wednesday P.M. and are well known and integrated with the RBL. So much so that a lady called Emma Reed who looks after PR and other such related things at RAFA CHQ Leicester is paying us a visit on the afternoon of Wednesday 3rd.August to see us “in action” as it were. I did suggest she come and see us “in action” at the Befrienders Training course, but she couldn’t make it that day, so I’ve advised her that she’ll have to take us as she finds us on the 3rd. August.
  5. Roy, anything to add?

Mr. Chairman, fellow members, that concludes my July report.

5.2 RL reported has an ongoing case where the client has ulcerated legs, depressed mobility. He was referred to GWH, but he stated that RAFA were sending him to Wroughton Hospital (Princess Alexandria’s Hospital – now closed down). This is ongoing.

Proposed: VTSeconded: SRCARRIED

6. OTHER REPORTS

6.1 WINGS. The Wings report was presented by RL.

RL I is seeing the Station Manager as Swindon Station with regard to collecting. He already has dates for Kemble where he collected early in the morning to catch the commuters.

There is currently £646 in the Wings Account and AFD raised £140.

HT thanked IK for the Cadets assistance with erecting and dismantling the marquee and assisting with collections.

Proposed: RLSeconded: HTCARRIED

6.2 RAFALO UPDATE

VT reported that Shrivenham Wings Committee was not set up and running. They have their own gazebo and set of flags (10). On 14th July Shrivenham had a Music Festival and £150 was raised – which would go into the Swindon Wings fund.

STFC has been booked for collections on 17th September and uniformed personnel will be out collecting. He invited members of the Committee to join them if they wish.

VT suggested putting the Befriending Service on the website so members would know what it is about. He also stated it would be good to note the differences between Welfare Officer/Caseworker/Befriender on the website. HT will sort this out and email to VT.

6.3 ATC Liaison Report

IK informed the Committee that organisation for their 75th Anniversary is proceeding well with regards to the Fun Day. Besides RAFA Wings being in attendance, the RBL Poppy Appeal will also be attending. The arena will be full of events, refreshments and a bird display amongst others.

IK stated that 1244 will be attending the Torch Relay at Stonehenge where 10 cadets will be taking part in the ceremony.

He mentioned that the Cadet, who was promised to be raised up the promotion list for selling 3 ducks to the Navy Cadets, has in fact now been promoted.

HT asked how the ideas were coming for the Cadet competition re collecting for Wings. IK advised that some ideas have been generated and will follow this up.

HT proposed that we split the collection taken at AFD 50/50 with 1244 Squadron in appreciation of their assistance.

Proposed: HTSeconded: RLCARRIED

7. OTHER NOTIFIED REPORTS

There were no other reports.

8. AOB

8.1 VT introduced Andy Ormston to the Committee. He was an ex-RAF Medic and now works in SW Primary Care and is also the key to the RAF Medical Service website.

The Chairman and committee welcomed AO to the meeting and extended future invitations as and when he was able to attend.

8.2 AO states he runs a virtual RAFA branch and currently there are 40 members.

8.3 VT advised that he took ED to the RAF Unit as Swannick to visit Air Traffic Control. She was overwhelmed about the use of computers being used as opposed to how she worked during the war.

RL advised VT that he could be reimbursed for mileage for taking ED.

Proposed: RLSeconded: SRCARRIED

8.4 VT mentioned that Janet Hardy has asked him about being able to order merchandise i.e. Name the Teddy, badges, etc. RL explained that this could only be order by the Branch and the three names people to access RAFA Trad is RL/SR/IH. VT will email JH to advise she can have merchandise, but would have to order through the above people and money MUST go to Wings and not to the Club as they are Charity items.

8.5 HT stated he would chase up Swindon Adver is nothing is heard about publishingthe 75th Anniversary of the RAF in the paper by 1st August.

8.6 RL stated that Stu Wright had a woman in the Club asking if she could collect for Swindon Heritage as they are trying to raise £780 for a plaque to be sited outside of Weatherspoon’s wall in honour of Sqn Ldr Starr. RL advised that RAFA would not be allowed to sponsor as monies raised is Charity money. RL will contact Area is SW wants to allow the collector into the Club, but no mention of RAFA must be made.

8.7 RL has received correspondence to say that we are due an Asbestos review, which will cost £95 as quoted by Swindon Asbestos Surveying Ltd.

Proposed: RLSeconded: HTCARRIED

Next Meeting: Thursday 18th August at 1930 hrs.

There being no further business, the meeting was closed by the Chairman at 2050 hrs.

R L Lobley BEM

Chairman

Date: July 2016