Newsletter December 2018

Dear Member,

Well Christmas is nearly here, and we would like to wish all our Members and Supporters a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We would also like to thank you all for your continued support by being a member of our Association and your support of our many fund-raising events throughout the past year. We would also like to thank our fund-raising event organisers for their extremely hard work in making our events such a success.

By-Elections:

During the year we have had two by-elections in Charnwood. We held the County election due to the sad passing of Cllr David Slater. We were delighted to see our very own Cllr Tom Barkley elected.

We also had a by-election in Birstall. Shona Rattray, a local business owner, was elected and has plunged herself into elected life.

At the time of writing we are in the final stages of the Anstey by-election which will be held on the 20th December. Our candidate is Prof. Paul Baines who lives in Anstey. We hope to be writing to you with an extra Christmas treat when the results are announced!

Councillor Surgeries:

Your local Councillors have been busy this year holding numerous surgeries in their local areas, so that they can see as many residents as they can with any concerns that they may have. Further details of future surgery dates for 2019 can be obtained from Sarah in our local office. Contact details for your local councillor can be found on our website www.charnwoodconservatives.org.uk

Reducing Costs.

You may remember that last year we asked if you would allow us to contact you by email rather than by post where ever possible to reduce our ongoing postal costs which were a staggering £659 in 2017. We would like to thank you for providing us with your email addresses as our postal costs this year have reduced considerably to £147. This is a saving of over £500 this year, funds that can be used in more important areas. If you haven’t provided us with your email address, then please consider this as your preferred contact method and allow us to save even more money. An email to Sarah with your name and address advising us to contact you this way will allow us to put you on our mailing list.

Branch Fundraising in 2018

Our branches are an extremely important part of the Association as they fundraise throughout the year to enable us to run our office and more importantly ensure that we can support our Councillors. We would like to thank the following branches, CCWO, Birstall, Bradgate, Queniborough, Syston and Wreake Villages for their hard work during the year by providing their donation payments. The Association Officers hope to build on our fundraising throughout 2019 by working with all branches to ensure we have an even more successful year next year.

Updates from Branches:

Queniborough and South Croxton branch had a very successful year as they have raised over £435 from their “100 club”. Half of this amount raised is passed on to the Association and the other half is given out in prizes. There were two other very successful and well attended events held which were the summer lunch held at Beryl Preston’s and a Ploughman’s lunch held by Colin and Suzan McKenzie.

Wreake Villages branch held a curry night at the Wheel Inn, Rearsby. It was so successful that they plan to make this a regular event and hold a few more next year.

Bradgate branch held their usual 2 quiz nights during the year both raising around £700 on each event and their annual curry night raising a credible £260. They also decided to try a different type of event which thankfully did prove a success. It was a well-attended talk “Explaining Cameron’s Catastrophe, Brexit and the Public Mind”. They plan to do another similar political talk in the early part of the year. Details will follow.

The Patrons’ club has had a very successful year as they have increased their membership considerably this year to 23 members. As you will see further on in this newsletter it’s a great way to meet likeminded people and to also get a chance to speak to your local MP and other invited politicians. Lady Byford continues to support us in this club and we thank Hazel for her support.

We are always looking for new ideas and new people to join our fund-raising team. If you have any ideas of any events that you would like us to hold or you want to help us then please do let us know.

Future Events:

Our future social events will be notified to you by our normal regular newsletter and we urge you all to try and attend these events. You will get to spend time with likeminded people and maybe make new friends. Details of events can also be found on our website www.charnwoodconservatives.org.uk

Current planned events are;

Charnwood Conservative Association Luncheon Club

Friday, 1st February 2019 - 12noon for 12:30pm

Beedles Lake Golf Club, 170 Broome Lane, East Goscote, Leicestershire, LE7 3WQ

Speaker – Ed Argar MP

Bradgate Conservative Branch Bi-Annual Quiz Night Date

Friday, 1st February 2019 - 6:45pm for 7:00pm

Invite you to a Quiz and Fish and Chip Supper

The Linford, Main Street, Newtown Linford.  LE6 OAD

Will you be the winning team - Ed Argar MP will be attending

Tickets are required for these events so please contact us if you wish to attend any event. If you wish to attend on your own then please let us know and we will make sure that you are looked after at the event.

Patrons’ Club

Another area which provides much needed funds is our Patrons Club. This year has been extremely successful with many new members joining. Have you considered being a member of our Exclusive Patrons’ Club?

The Patrons’ Club is a group of local Conservative Party supporters. Membership includes subscription to the Conservative Party but does not necessarily mean becoming involved in the day-to-day business of the Association - although you are very welcome to do so if you wish.

Being a member of our exclusive club also offers:

• inclusive lunch or dinner event ticket, with speaker(s)
• access to discuss local and national issues with our MP, and selected ministers
• you will also be invited to other ad hoc events; such as exclusive drinks receptions

Subscription costs (which includes membership costs) for 2019 are £125 per person, (£250 for a couple). Any additional donation however would be greatly appreciated. It is easy to apply, and your subscription can be paid by cheque, Standing Order or BACS. To join the Patrons club, please contact our office

Season’s Greetings from all the Officers and Sarah (Office Administrator)

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