notices

Notices and News

NOTICES

WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS

Since our last Newsletter, we have acquired 4 new and joint members

Mr D & Mrs E B Molyneux
Mrs V Corrick
Mrs J G Lerry

We extend a warm welcome to you, and hope that you will participate in the Association’s activities and meet up with old colleagues and friends.

OBITUARIES

It is with sadness that we report former colleagues known to have passed away since the publication of our last Newsletter: -

Mr A C Johnson
Mr O R L Taylor
Mr P J Thursby
Mr C L Treeby
Mr R J Thornborough (in previous year)

Our sympathy is extended to families and all next of kin.

Tools for Self Reliance

I last wrote about this charity in Newsletter 62 – summer of 2003.

Tools for Self Reliance renovates hand tools and sends them in kits to various African countries. Since we started in 2002 the Bristol group led by Rodney Stone, ex Factory Facilities at Filton, have produced quite a few kits for the following countries:-

Uganda	9 kits
Zimbabwe	2
Sierra Leone	3
Tanzania	4
Mozambique	2
Ghana	1
Total	21

You should note that the kits are requested by organisations in these countries and enable a craftsman to earn his living and often take on some employees. We have also sent 42 Singer round bobbin sewing machines which are very well received. Our organisation also trains the Africans to maintain the sewing machines thus extending the life of the machines.

The word is getting around that we need tools in reasonable condition but we could still do with some more. If any member has decided that he no longer needs a shed full of tools we will gladly come and collect them but please, we are not a shed clearing organisation!

The kits we have assembled have been for Auto mechanics, Furniture making. General Construction, Joinery, Carving and even Shoe repair. Most of the kits contain between 80 and 110 tools so they are very comprehensive.

We still meet at the Kingswood Heritage Museum on Tuesday afternoons but we now have a fully fitted workshop as well as our old outside store room so if anyone wants to join us they would be made very welcome.

Graham Ferrier

RMSA - ??For How Long??

Each year at the A G M a number of the committee members retire in compliance with the associations Constitution. The following year the balance of committee members do exactly the same. This ensures a rotation of committee members over a two year period.

Up until and including this year, all retiring committee members have expressed their willingness to continue to stand for office.

HAVEN’T WE BEEN LUCKY?

Most of our committee members have served the association for a number of years and with the best will in the world, willingness to stand is no combatant for age and we are rapidly reaching a point where members, though willing to stand, will find themselves unable to continue.

WHERE WILL THAT LEAVE THE ASSOCIATION?

We are all pensioners ranging in age from their 50’s to (think of a number) and most of the committee members are in the “think of a number” bracket.

We really need some members who are in the lower range and in the first flush of retirement shall we say?

If this does not occur soon I can see the demise of this association and all that is associated with it

I have tried to treat this article in a somewhat light hearted manner but for all that the subject matter is quite serious and requires both thought and action.

The current committee comprise 12 members. Now that is 12 out of a total of 520 at the last count or 2.3%. I cannot believe there are no younger members who would be prepared to meet for a couple of hours once a month in the morning (nothing too onerous). There is no evening involvement at all.

So how about it members? If there is any member prepared to give up a little time once a month; please contact one of the existing committee members and we will be only too pleased to welcome you.

Bill Brand

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