Local Groups
The ASLTIP executive Committee met on 27th April to discuss priorities for the coming two to three years. As a large number of members have been telling us about the importance of local groups, it was decided to encourage and support members in the setting up and running of local groups. Various ways of doing this have been discussed at last year’s extra ordinary meeting and the previous two conferences. A number of members have encouraged us to allocate funds to facilitate groups and there have been suggestions of developing a common format and administration practices.
The Committee agreed a number of principles:
ASLTIP is committed to supporting and encouraging members to form local groups.
• All ASLTIP members should be encouraged to be affiliated to a local group
• Local groups should have a member who is responsible for convening the meetings, keeping in touch with members and liaising with the executive committee.
• The executive Committee need to identify a member who will be responsible for liaising with local groups.
• The website needs to be a focal point for holding and disseminating information about groups.
• Arrangements which suit local conditions need to be encouraged. At the present time there are several models of local groups operating successfully and there is not a one clear model that suits all.
• Any group of 5 or more members can form a local group.
It is therefore proposed that:
• There will be a significant development of the website to create a large section devoted to local groups. This has already had some discussion and planning and will be actioned immediately.
• Each current group will nominate a member to be responsible for coordinating the group and liaising with the executive committee.
• The 6th Member of the executive committee: Jane Richards will initially be responsible for liaising with the nominated group coordinator. (as the 6th member is responsible for the oversight of the website and the initial set up of the local group registration will be linked with the development of the website) After the first year or so it may be appropriate for the responsibility to move to the information officer: currently Rosemary Wyatt .
• The member responsible for the group will be able to self administer their section of the website to post meeting dates, hold a record of members affiliated to the group, hold minutes of meetings and other shared documents.
• The group coordinator will convene a group of 5 or more members
• The group will meet at least 2 times per year
• A simple annual report will be generated and a template for this will be provided.
• The coordinator will keep the website section updated and let the 6th member know if there are any changes or queries.
• All members will be asked to indicate which local group they belong to when they renew their membership.
• New members will be asked to choose a local group when they take out membership.
Funding:
• Local groups may apply for funding if they wish
• There will be initial funding of £100 for each group. This will be paid for from ASLTIP savings for the year 2009 -2010. The amount of ongoing funding and set up funding will be reviewed on an annual basis by the executive committee.
• Groups who wish to have funding must nominate a treasurer and may open a bank account for the group.
• Groups who do not have a bank account may apply for the funding to be held in petty cash.
• Forms will be developed so that groups can apply to the ASLTIP treasurer for the funding which will be begin to be allocated on the 1st September 2009.
• All groups receiving funding will be required to provide an account of their spending with the annual report.
• Funding can be used to:
o Pay for venues
o Pay for speakers
o Fund a coordinator
o Pay for social events
o Other activities as agreed by the group and the 6th Member.
I look forward to receiving everyone’s comments on this proposal. This will be finalised at the full executive committee and project group meeting on 5th June so please forward your comments to an executive committee member or through the office. Full contact details for the executive committee are on the website: www.helpwithtalking.com/about/executive