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Forfar Angus Gold Forum
Note of Meeting
No1 for Youth/Angus Gold Base
Tuesday 12 July 2010

Present: Betty Phillip, Isobella MacDonald, Helen Scott, Babie Gouck, Betty Hosie, Peggy McBay, Gladys Nelson, Isobel Redman, Margaret Ritchie, Barbara Stewart

The main news items which had caught the attention of members were the world cup (mentioned in passing as having been an unavoidable news item) and news coverage of the shootings in England. Isobel and Betty made particular mention of the internet coverage, where the majority of people who are making on-line comments are hailing the gunman as a hero. Everyone agreed that this seemed to be a very strange response to somebody who had killed one person and seriously wounded two others.

In local news members expressed the view that they understood the financial position of the local authority and that, although they are not completely opposed to the sale of Chapelpark and Wellbrae schools, they are completely opposed to the schools being demolished. This led to a sharing of reminiscences about members’ school experiences, subjects, teachers, the age at which some members left school, etc.

The main points which members had noted in the recent budget announcement were that VAT is to be increased to 20% and that the state pension is to be index linked. Although the VAT increase will be applied to services such as telephone, gas and electricity, members did not seem to feel that they will be greatly adversely affected.

Members gave a positive response to the ‘Conversation & Wise Words’ booklet, with some members highlighting passages which struck a cord with them. Members mentioned a number of instances they are aware of, mainly through family members, where older people are helping out, sharing skills, etc in primary schools in Angus. When asked whether members would be willing to participate in something similar in Forfar, if a request was made, whilst nobody leapt to give a positive response, everybody nodded and/or smiled in response.

Members participated in a food hygiene quiz, with everyone getting all but one of the questions correct. The facts which came with the answers generated some discussion.

Isabelle and Betty indicated that they are happy for Rick Moore to contact them about a fire safety visit.

Sun and depression awareness information was given out. Suggestions for forthcoming programmes were canvassed, with no response.

Next meeting: Tuesday 10 August, at 10.15am, in No1 for Youth/Angus Gold

Forfar Angus Gold Forum
Note of Meeting
No1 for Youth/Angus Gold Base
Tuesday 15 June 2010

Present: Babbie Gouck, Isobel Redman, Betty Hosie, Isobella MacDonald, Betty Phillip, Helen Scott, Peggy McBey, Margaret Ritchie, Barbara Stewart

Apologies: Gladys Nelson.

A recap of the Information Event in May resulted in Isobel reporting that the health discussion had prompted her to respond to a newspaper article promoting a healthy eating/weight loss class, which she has been attending on a weekly basis, in No1 for Youth. Isobelle and Betty were disappointed with the home safety visit they had following the event and neither had felt able to ask about the availability of resources which Rick had mentioned during his presentation. However Barbara will contact Rick to ask for further information regarding these resources. Whilst Margaret and Barbara understood the fire safety aspect of closing all the doors in the house overnight, they both felt safer in other respects in keeping them open.

On being asked whether the world cup was keeping everyone riveted or whether other items in the news had managed to grab anybody’s attention, unsurprisingly only one person reported having actively followed one of the matches. However nothing else in the news had particularly stood out for anyone.

In discussion based round a specific discrimination case highlighted at a previous meeting, and possible differences between now and when Forum members were younger mothers, it transpires that the majority of members were working mothers, with almost all relying on family members for child care and one making use of nursery care. The main difference was thought to be around how close family members lived to each other and whether people lived somewhere with community spirit.

The majority of Forum members’ families lived close together and most folk knew their neighbours and looked out for each other’s families. Working was a necessity to pay the bills and have food on the table, whereas the impression was that nowadays young people expect a much higher standard of living, what would previously have been seen as luxuries are now necessities.

Nowadays families live further apart and there is less evidence of community spirit; there is more reliance on, and more choice of, child care options but at a financial cost; there are more working grandmothers nowadays, which means they are not available for child care, even if they live close to their grandchildren; people nowadays seem to think that money is the answer for everything but they have to work all hours to make the money to pay somebody else to look after their children.

Taking all of it into account there seem to be pros and cons for then and now and no clear winner as to which was or is best.

Highlights from the Network Minute were shared with the group, with Isobelle, Helen Scott and Betty Hosie having already received the Minute. A view was expressed that all the other Forums seem to do more interesting things, however it was generally agreed that it is the members who lead on what happens in the Forums and that programme ideas are regularly sought. Betty Hosie has agreed to attend the next Network meeting on behalf of the group.

It was agreed to move the meetings to the second Tuesday of the month to enable Gladys Nelson to attend.

Next meeting Tuesday 13 July, at 10.15am, in No1 for Youth/Angus Gold

Forfar Angus Gold Forum
Note of Information Event
No1 for Youth/Angus Gold Base
Tuesday 18 May 2010

Present: Betty Hosie, Isobel Redman, Isobella MacDonald, Betty Phillip, Peggy McBey, Margaret Ritchie, Gladys Nelson, Mary Coyle, a man who didn’t share his name with us! Rick Moore, Margo Sinclair, Barbara Stewart

Those who arrived early were served tea and invited to look at the display of photographs and information on the boards, whilst Rick finished setting up the equipment for his presentation. Rick showed photographs to illustrate his talk on fire safety in the home and also asked participants to share their ideas, thoughts and experiences in relation to issues raised throughout his presentation. At the end of the session Rick arranged home safety visits with a number of those present.

Margo handed out information sheets and talked about the importance of eating a variety of different types of fruits and vegetables each day. Participants shared their thoughts, views and experiences about diet and asked lots of health related questions. The majority of us were previously aware that there were particular health benefits relating to highly coloured fruit and vegetables.

As we had a delayed start a number of people had to leave at this point. However I gave a short input about Angus Gold and, in particular, invited people to visit the Magpie’s Nest exhibition, which was being staged by Angus Gold members from Arbroath and Brechin, in the Meffan Institute.

Mary had arrived towards the end of the session but indicated that she was interested in finding out more about Angus Gold and was happy to have her contact details added to our group data base. I also gave her a note of the date of the next Forum meeting.

Photographs were taken of the assembled crowd before everyone headed for home.

Date of the next Forum meeting: Tuesday 15 June, at 10.15am in the No1 for Youth/Angus Gold base.