Annual Open Meeting
8 June 2007
The Derbyshire County PCT Headquarters in the former Scarsdale Hospital was once again the venue for the Annual Open Meeting.
In welcoming everyone, Linda Moore as Branch Chair was pleased to report that the branch was now five years old and continued to grow and flourish.
We had several part time workers including Administration and Information worker, Pat Boyle, and two development workers, Jo Franklin and Carol Thompson. Sally Plummer had become the branch manager.
Vicky Cope, our Treasurer, had stood down in January and gave birth to a son in March.
We have welcomed Libby Davis to the committee and she has taken over Vicky's role with great enthusiasm.
We still face difficulty with premises, although the office has moved temporarily to Newbold.
We need an information and drop-in centre which is easily accessible to all and are currently researching possible sites together with the recurrent costs that this would entail.
Linda also thanked those who joined the protest march against Alzheimer drug restrictions which took place through Chesterfield town centre in November 2006. The issue had now moved to a judicial review and we awaited the outcome. Further campaigning was continuing within the Society for better quality care and fair funding for care provision.
Alzheimer cafés in our area had grown from two to seven, and in addition there was a travelling lunch club and an Arts project. These groups offered much needed help and support, summed up by one lady who said 'I no longer feel on my own.'
This is what it is all about and why the branch is here. Hopefully many more people are finding these services helpful and our supporters are thus encouraged to continue their association with us.
Guests, staff and committee members after the meeting
to download or print the 2006/2007 Report and Accounts
(161k)