MS FIT

So what are you doing at 2pm on Tuesday 10^th June

The usual? Watching telly? nothing exciting?

Then how about joining us at TJ’s Fitness Centre and make a real effort to get as fit as you can this summer.

What we have done is arrange for a months trial is to hire the centre purely for MS sufferers (No general public allowed) for an hour a week. Combine that with the services of Steve Marsh as our very own personal trainer / rehabilitation adviser and you have an opportunity not to be missed. Your own exercise program designed specifically for you within your capabilities (whether you be walking wounded or wheel chair bound) to help you make the most of what you’ve got and all for FREE. As the medical profession are so fond of saying “use it or lose it!”.

The benefits of losing a few pounds are well documented as is raising your heart rate for just a few minutes on a regular basis and if the exercise doesn’t get you going then the sight of me and Jane in lime green lycra leotards should bring a smile to face if nothing else.

What have you got to lose? Give it a go! Ring Jane on 0797 662 9012 to reserve you place and book your transport if you need it.  

Committee News

If you can’t think of a better way of spending a glorious sunny afternoon than at an MS Branch Committee meeting then you need serious medical advice. But attend we did at the Riverside Centre on the 12^th May, this being my first meeting I was flitting around some teenager on their first date trying to make sure everything went well and all in all I think it went OK. That is if you disregard noise from the ball room dancing classes the other side of a flimsy partition and the guy in the loft space above our heads rewiring with a very large hammer making thinking let alone intelligent conversation a challenge.

 

In my opening remarks I welcomed everyone to the meeting and said how I felt that we all had own areas of expertise or interests that are dear to our hearts and that by concentrating on what we enjoy and are good at was the key to a successful group of volunteers. Where as my job tended to be one of co-ordinating the group and to pick up on what jobs we were unable to do.

 

As with all meetings the bulk was taken up with reporting back on mundane matters such minibus maintenance and problems with arranging carers – but never the less the important things which if some one doesn’t do then the services we provide which we all take for granted just wouldn’t exist.

 

One area that raises cause for concern as always is fundraising and at our next meeting we will be setting aside a good part of our time to brain storm schemes to see how we can improve our finances because as horrible a thought as it is we are in competition with other Island charities for the small amount of funds the man in the street has to donate to worthy causes.

 

We have been lucky enough to have some fresh volunteers put themselves forward to help with branch activities but we still need more volunteers to work in the sop even if just for a couple of hours a week.

 

Other items up for detailed discussion at the next meeting will be a questionnaire to fin out what MS suffers on the Island really need and whether we can arrange an MS Information day for September this year as we have done in previous years.

 

We will also be looking to start planning for our 40^th anniversary celebrations so if anyone has any bright ideas for a shin dig or historical photos or papers then please get in touch.

AGM REPORT

The 38^th Annual General Meeting was held at the Chequers on the 25^th April following their usual fine cuisine and was attended by almost 50 members. I must admit I was a bit concerned when they did the raffle before the start of the meeting proper as I had visions of people gathering up their prizes and making a dash before the boring bit. But no everyone stayed much to my relief.

 

Aside from the usual business of election of committee and approval of accounts there was a letter read from our President Norman who thanked all the committee and all others who do so much for the branch, especially the shop volunteers. Without whom the funds would not be so healthy. He sent his best regards and good wishes for a successful 2008.

 

A question of note to the Treasurer was why there was no donation to research in this years accounts – the reason being that the MS Society had changed the end of the financial year to October and our donation based on number of members fell outside of this date.

 

2nd Wight Blat

In April, the second ever 'Wight Blat' was held at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park which is a Caterham 7 Car Rally and this year we had 75 cars and about 130 people. A Caterham 7 is basically a Lotus 7 which was designed by Colin Chapman over 50 years ago. It is a lightweight two-seater and most people know it as the car that Patrick McGoohan used in 'The Prisoner' 60s TV series. On the Saturday the cars assembled in the County Hall car park and then moved on the the Isle of Wight Military Museum near Cowes for 'tea and tanks'! The weather was not brilliant but a good time was had by all. On the Saturday evening, before the band, the raffle was held and this year we decided to split the proceeds between three charities.

Leukaemia is the adopted charity of the Lotus Seven Club of Great Britain so we donated 500.00 to them as this is the club that all the Caterham 7 owners belong to.

We gave 500.00 to the hospice as my co-organiser recently lost his father who was the architect who did a lot of the improvement work there. As Sarah, my wife, has MS we decided to give the other 500.00 to yourselves!

 

All the best,

 

Sarah and Alex Moore

Treasures AGM report

For those of you who were unable to attend our AGM I thought I would write and provide you with a summary of my financial report to the Committee and Members. The accounts presented to the AGM for the year ended 31^st. October 2007 were subsequently accepted by the meeting and they have also been accepted by MS National.

 

Looking at the Branch’s finances for the twelve months we can summarise the results as follows -

1. Total income for the year was                                £25,535
2. Total expenditure for the year was                        £23,360

      3.   Excess of income over expenditure was   £2,175.

 

A breakdown of income and expenditure for the twelve months shows the following -

 

Income :                                                                            £`s

Shop Sales                                                                  12,998

Subs, Donations, and Legacies                                      6,457

  Store Collections (M/S, Sainsburys, Tesco)                     1,592

  Social Events                                                           2,485

Friday Club Fundraising                                                1,429

Bank Interest                                                                    574

                                                                               

Total Income                                                            25,535

 

Expenditure :                                                                                 

      Shop Expenses                                                                    7,179

                Social Events- Lunches/AGM                                              5,414

Grants                                                                          3,452

Travel and Transport                                                   3,806

Newsletter                                                                      596

Stationery, Postage, Telephone                                   1,676

General Expenses                                                        1,237

 

Total Expenditure                                                   23,360

 

Surplus for the year to 31.10.07                               2,175

 

As you can see from the above statement we have kept to our policy of using our income to its fullest extent whilst at the same time maintaining a safe level of reserves, and we hope in the process that we have provided financial and emotional support where it was most needed.

 

My sincere thanks to everyone who has supported us in our work – I look forward to seeing you at our next social event.

 

Kind Regards – John Crawford (Treasurer)

Up, Up and Away

Following the highly successful Flying Days we have held over the last seven years we have again arranged through the a day on which people with MS can get a taste of flying light aircraft.   

On Sunday 7 September 2008 the British Disabled Flying Association is hosting the MS Flying Day at Old Sarum Flying Club near Salisbury.  We should be able to put about 40 people with MS in the air on that day for what would be essentially a first flying lesson in an aircraft adapted for the disabled flier. Each one would do the pre-flight checks on the aircraft (typically a Cessna 152 or Cessna 172) and then take off for a 30 minute flight during much of which time they would have control of the aircraft. Each flight would cost about £75 (final price subject to confirmation by the Old Sarum Flying Club).

As the BDFA will also be putting a number of its own members in the air on 7 September, it should be a full and exciting day both for those who take wing and those who observe.  

The Old Sarum Flying Club serves hot and cold food and snacks and has a licensed bar. The clubhouse has accessible toilets.   

Any of us who gets the flying bug can seek further flying opportunities through the BDFA with which the MS Society operates an associate membership scheme. The new Private Pilot’s License makes it possible for people with MS to seek to qualify as a licensed pilot, subject to medical clearance by the CAA. There are one or two scholarship schemes that the BDFA know about.   Alternatively it might also be possible for such an individual to get support from a charitable trust.    

For more information or to request a flight contact please contact Jane on 0797 662 9012.

Thoughts from Spain - Norman Youngs

As I write this I am recovering from a very nasty chest infection which laid me a bit low but I am feeling a lot better now especially as the weather is warming up nicely!

 

As you know, I try and keep up to date with world news and local Spanish affairs and find some of the articles in the local English language newspaper quite interesting. Apparently in the UK a group called Cotton Kids produce cotton bags and homewares and are spreading the message to say no to plastic carrier bags.

 

It is said that if everyone in the UK used a Cotton Kids Eco Bag, they would save over 500 million plastic bags a month. Plastic buried in landfill sites takes 500 years to decay. The article I read on this subject has numerous facts and figures, one which I question is that hundreds of thousands of sea turtles, whales and other marine mammals die every year from eating discarded plastic bags which they mistake for food.

 

Like many people I am very concerned for the animals of this world but when these figures are put out they are never backed up and while lots of people are prepared to accept them, I am not. I seem to be in a minority who don’t take everything they see in the media without question.

 

The national government election was held here recently with the middle-of-the-road socialist party being re-elected with Jose Zapatero as Prime Minister. He has given an undertaking that l5% of total school classes will be in English in four years with the intention that children who pass through the Spanish education system will be bi-lingual in ten years.  I am pleased to say that all three of my grandsons are considered bi-lingual now, the youngest being six in July.

 

The Prime Minister has said that Spain needs this to compete economically and Spanish youngsters would benefit from being able to compete professionally as well. As well as extra native English teachers being employed, 20,000 Spanish teachers of English will be given a month’s course in an English speaking country.

 

I get MS Matters sent to me here and I read it with interest. It seems that where in the UK you live can make a big difference to the treatment and help MS people can get. My experience on the Island with my late wife Norma, was that we didn’t do too badly compared to some mainland areas. I would say to you if you are in any doubt at all as to what help you get or think you should get more, don’t forget DIAL at the Riverside. You will find them very supportive and helpful.

 

I hope the AGM went off well and all the positions on the committee were filled by the very able and dedicated people we are so lucky to have. To all members I would say please remember how lucky we are to have such a hard working committee striving to make life better for MS people on the island.

 

That will do for this issue, I wish you all the best for 2008.

 

Regards from

 

Norman Youngs

 

TANDEM CIRCUMNAVIGATION

Our member Nigel Pearce, together with a sighted colleague, is bravely undertaking a sponsored tandem circumnavigation of the Island over August Bank Holiday. Proceeds will be divided between the branch and the RNIB.  

Sponsor forms and further details, including stopping off points, are available from Nigel on 755162. 

PLEASE GIVE THEM YOUR SUPPORT.

ARTICLES FOR SALE

Recliner chair electrically operated - FREE to a good home     

Jane    0797 662 9012

ARE YOU THE MYSTERY PHOTOGRAPHER?

One of the last functions that our late member Peter Mattey attended, and enjoyed, was our Christmas party in December. Peter’s widow, Daphne, recalls that some photographs were taken there and she is naturally very anxious to get hold of any pictures that feature Peter.

 

If you were that photographer or if you can throw any light on who was, please contact Jane on 731588.

Dates for your diary

10^th June                    MS Exercise Class               TJs Lake opposite Morrisons                                               then every Wednesday at 2.00 pm

5^th July                        Sailability Day                       Victoria Yacht Club Fishbourne

 

6^th August                    Lynne Swanns                       Methodist Church Hall

Coffee Morning                     Regent Street Shanklin

Lunches 

May 30^th                            Fighting Cocks                      12.30pm for 1pm 

June 27^th                    Albert Cottage East Cowes12.30pm for 1pm 

July 25^th                             Appley Manor                        12.30pm for 1pm 

August 22^nd                Bembridge Coast                 12.30 pm for 1pm 

September 26^th            Isle of Wight College 12.00 pm 

October 31^st               Ponda Rosa                          12.30pm for 1pm 

Christmas Lunch

December 5^th            Isle of Wight College 12.00 pm 

To attend any of the lunches please ring Fay on   01983 865637 

For transport to any event please ring Jane on                 0797 662 9012  

Please take note of these dates we really would like to see more of you at our lunches and events. Also if you have any ideas of things you would like us to arrange please let us know and we will see what we can do.