I informed Members that I had now booked our speakers for 2015 but at an extra cost than usual, as the fees for speakers had increased to an average of £45 per meeting and this would possibly mean a fund raiser for next year to pay for 2016 speakers. I hope everyone will enjoy those booked for 2015. A list will be enclosed in my December report.
Members were also informed that a charge of the lofty sum of £1 per member will need to be paid at our meeting on 20 November 2014 when I shall be taking a Christmas Decoupage Workshop and everyone will be making a 3D Christmas Card. Members were asked to bring a small pair of scissors, a pair of tweezers and a pen or pencil with smooth sides; other materials will be provided. The extra cost is towards those materials as everyone should be leaving with a Christmas card and envelope.
The cost for any guests wishing to attend will be £3.50, however you must book with me by Saturday, 1 November to enable me to arrange for extra materials as I cannot guarantee these on the night of the meeting.
We then had a digital slide presentation by Joan Herrero & Jane Field. They are two orthopaedic and physiotherapy nurses who were invited to go to Bangalore in 2012 for a week to help with pre and post op therapy for disabled children. They took us through their journey to Bangalore, including their breakfast in India which was curry. Then we met the various patients and were told how the basics that we come to expect at hospital, wheelchairs, splints and even chairs are not available and things have to be improvised on the spot from whatever is to hand. The patients come with their families who stay throughout any procedures and at the time as a new unit was not completed these were carried out on the wards in front of everyone. However whatever the families were instructed to do to help the children were taken on board and adhered to and all the children had smiles on their faces. It was a very moving presentation but a joyous one as Jane and Joan certainly enjoyed their experience however harrowing, to the extent that Jane went back this year. They told us that they were constantly photographed on mobile phones and treated like film stars, they were greatly appreciated by the patients and their families.
Well that's all for this month.