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Angus Gold Network Forum

 Note of Meeting Thursday 2nd July 2009

Volunteer Centre Arbroath

Present: Grace Stewart (Letham) , Sandra Livingston (Letham), Dot Brankin (Carnoustie), Margaret Brown (Carnoustie), Jessie Rennie (Brechin), Chris Stanton (Brechin, Betty Edwards(Arbroath), Noel Humphries (Arbroath), Avie Watson (Carnoustie), Bill Cunningham (Arbroath)

Apologies: Isobella McDonald (Forfar)

1. The Minute was accepted by the group, proposed by Betty accepted by Avie.

2. Matters Arising

In Letham on September 15th at 10am Mr Martin a local pharmacist will attend an open meeting to discuss the possibility of opening a Pharmacy in Letham.

3. Local Forum News Letham: The Gold Forum is leading on the work to secure a Pharmacy facility in Letham. There is a pharmacist very interested in providing a service in Letham and the NHS health board is being petitioned as part of this process.

There is an ongoing issue regarding the potholes and ruts in an adopted road. Councillor King is looking at this matter and Grace and forum are also keeping an eye on this.

Carnoustie: The forum are planning to have George Dunlop from Thorntons to give an input re: Older People and Finance (Ann suggests this is an open meeting in the Library).

They are now also organising a visit to the Scottish Parliament on a day when they can observe a debate.

Brechin: Brechin is maintaining a good turnout in numbers and enjoyed Margo and Graeme’s input at the last meeting. Chris also gave a little exercise taster which went well - the group also agreed to host the next Gold Conference in the Damacre Centre.

They have also been successful in attracting the next Arthritis Care Forum to Brechin for its next roadshow.

Jessie suggested that a new business who has recently joined the Gold Discount Scheme could do with a little publicity about that---Ann to ask Graeme Hodge to set up soon.

Arbroath: Betty and Noel updated the Network on the demise of the Scottish Older Person’s Action Group. Funding for this has been withdrawn and the attached information brings us up to date with that.

Betty and Noel also felt that they were not surprised by this as they felt it (SOPAG) had not and was not achieving its potential. They felt it was not inclusive, and seemed to have become a place to air grievances but do very little else. Betty and Noel felt they had tried to contribute but it was not an easy forum to feel confident about doing this, but they also acknowledged they were fairly new to the process.

Ann and the Network thanked them for their efforts and their clear feedback. (Ann also wondered if that is why now there is a discussion around a proposal to have a Scottish Pensioners Parliament).

Feedback on Singing and Storytelling All who had been involved confirmed the success of these events after discussion, it was decided to try and bring people together just before Christmas for a Singing Celebration and to try this in Arbroath again but also to target a Primary School – perhaps in Forfar and then to look at the possibility of a Gold Singing Group. Ann will discuss with team, and representatives to discuss with local forums.

It was also decided to explore ways to convene a Storytelling Group on a regular basis and again Ann to explore this with the Gold Forum staff team and reps to chat to own forums.

5. Recipe Book:  Ann supplied Grace with e-mail of print costs from Astute (rough) Grace to forward with note to contact in Tesco, copy to Ann for circulation to other Supermarkets.

6. Celebration Conference – October 2nd The group discussed the programme of this at length. It was decided to call it Looking Back and Looking Forward.

1-2pm: Would be an opportunity to share successes from all the Forums – little and large from the Gold team.

2-3pm: Possible input from George Patterson re: the possible development of a Pensioners Parliament and discussion time.

3-4pm: Looking forward – what should we be doing, what are we doing and why?

4-5pm: Fun time - further details will be put in place and tasks arranged at next meeting of the network.

Next meeting - Thursday August 13th at 10am in the Volunteer Centre Angus

Please note- do not worry about receiving this minute even if you are only the occasional representative at the Network Forum it is just for interest and I do realize some of your are the rotating representative (or is it birlin)?

Angus Gold Network Forum

Note of Meeting Tuesday 12th May 2009

Volunteer Centre Arbroath

Present: Bella Rae (Letham) Grace Stewart (Letham) Jessie Rennie (Brechin) Chris Stanton (Brechin) Noel Humphries (Arbroath) Avie Watson (Carnoustie) Dot Brankin (Carnoustie) MargoSinclair Graeme Hodge Ann Craig

Apologies: Betty Edwards (Arbroath) Helen Scott (Forfar) 

The Minute of the last meeting was proposed accepted by Jessie and seconded by Dot.

1. INFORMATION DAYS

There was general agreement that the information week had been a success. Numbers were varied but across the area over 100 people had been contacted plus the actual forum members. Carnoustie had a good turnout and they felt the venue was very good (30 folk). Dot wondered if the Gold Forums would be better held here as it was very central. Dot agreed to discuss with the Carnoustie Forum. Ann would ask Margaret what her thoughts were on this. Dot and Avie did not think they had taken names that they could invite to the forum - (did anyone? not sure.)

2. LETHAM

Grace and Bella reported the Tesco speaker was very good but that the acoustics in the village were terrible for older people. Apparently there is a sound system but it is locked away. Grace to find out more! To assist with getting the information to people the Gold Forum are going to write out the Tesco manager answers and distribute to everyone who was there. CAB speaker was also good but again hard to hear. *Sponsorship possibility from Tesco.

3 ARBROATH

The Youth Bytes Bus in the Abbeygate was a big success and the group spoke to 50 people, 30 of whom completed questionnaires, 2 who have joined the Gold forum, 9 new participants on the waiting list for Computer Training. George Dunlop's presentation in the afternoon was very successful again - and the Arbroath group would urge other forums to host an input from George in their own areas.

4. FORFAR

The Forfar Forum visited the library and had an information stand. The library gave an input on Accessibility options in the library and how to access family history information (genealogy). All found this very informative.

4a The manger for Tesco was asked about possible sponsorship of a recipe/health book for Angus Gold. He showed interest in this and asked about estimated costings - (Ann to investigate). The Network group were very enthusiastic about this possibility and discussed ideas of how such a project might be approached, and what it might achieve. It was agreed to explore this further.

There was a report back about the visit to Councillor Helen Wright (see previous minute). The group are now keen to extend their research to another area and Fife Elderly Forum has been approached - Ann to confirm date and time as soon as possible.

5. PARLIAMENT VISIT

The group thanked the Angus Gold team for the organisation of the trip to the European Offices at the Scottish Parliament. It was felt the day was very informative, interesting and enjoyable.

6. EXERCISE TRAINING

Ann updated the group about the new seated exercise training just delivered to some of our Health Volunteers and other services. This has proved a successful process and congratulations to our Angus Gold Volunteers who have completed their assessment-special congratulations to Chris Stanton for completing her assessment process so quickly! Twenty people have been trained and this means at least 100 more people a week are now getting seated exercises.

7. HEALTH

Leisure Services are promoting the 50+ Active Gold classes and Margo circulated all that information.

Depression Alliance Scotland is conducting a survey with Older People on this subject (June 19^th) and Margo asked for help in involving the forums in completing the questionnaires. The Health Volunteers have visited the Telecare Flat in Montrose and this will help them when talking about these developments to other people.

8. BUS

Grace to ensure that the letter has been actioned from Letham.

8a Hearty Thrang

Carnoustie and Margo distributed the leaflets for the Hearty Thrang - lots of interest in this event - all the news to go to all the forums.

9. NEXT AGENDA

Please note it would be helpful if agenda items could be e-mailed or phoned in at least one week before the network meeting. We will have all the usual news but your forums views are important to share. Thank You.

Date & Time of next meeting -

Thursday 2^nd July Arbroath Volunteer Centre @ 10am

Please let us know if you require transport.