Spring 2009 Bulletin
19 March 2009
Nominations to the Board of Directors
Did you know that every year there are nine elected positions available? All subscribing members are eligible to seek nomination. If you are interested in being nominated to serve on the Board of Directors for the 2009/10 year an application form and further information is available from either your branch if it’s active or from Fellowship Office if your branch has closed. You can contact either Jean Cooper or Richard Hornsby if you want to know more about the role and responsibilities of serving on the Board.
Branch Representative Appointments
If your branch has not yet appointed a Branch Representative as a company member, it is still possible to do so. Please refer to Memo 13/2007 – Appointment of Branch Representatives to be Members of the Limited Company Fellowship. If you require another copy of this memo or have any questions on how to appoint someone from your branch, please contact Hannah Evans on 020 8469 9192 or hannah.evans@csrf.org.uk. Please note that active groups within an inactive branch are also able to appoint a Representative - all the active groups in the inactive branch must approve the nomination of the appointee.
Website – www.csrf.org.uk
We had hoped that our new look website would be up and running by the time you received this bulletin. Unfortunately there have been difficulties setting up the on line joining section which has been outside our control. This has almost been resolved and we hope the website will go live shortly. We would appreciate any constructive comments about the site.
Publicity
Members of Benenden who receive a copy of Ben Health will have seen our appeals for support. We have been delighted with the level of responses for volunteers. Yvonne Kutzer has been in touch with those offering volunteer support and also contacted local groups with the good news. We are looking to target other magazines with our appeals, which we hope will generate a positive response.
Legacy Appeal
The Fellowship has benefitted recently from several legacies left by our beneficiaries of which we are extremely grateful. The funds help to support our network of groups, volunteers and beneficiaries. Many charities promote legacy giving and we need to ensure that our beneficiaries are aware that they can if they wish leave the Fellowship a legacy. The spring issue of avanti included a legacy appeal plus details of how to obtain a form. These forms are now available for groups to order. Please take supplies along to group meetings and hand them out to your members. As a charity the Fellowship can benefit from legacy giving from anyone, they do not need to be a beneficiary of the organisation. We intend to include the leaflets in mail-outs with an explanation why the leaflet is included. Many people unable to attend group events still care and support the Fellowship with donations and membership, they should be given the opportunity to consider leaving a legacy in the knowledge that it helps the Fellowship to continue its valuable work. Those branches still producing newsletters please promote our legacy giving appeal.
Volunteering
We’ve produced a great volunteer recruitment form which groups can also order and these forms will be widely circulated. If you would like to obtain supplies, please get in touch.
Speakers List
Please remember - if your group has recently invited an interesting speaker who charged no fee or claimed only expenses please contact Yvonne Kutzer with the details so that we can add them to our Speaker’s List! If you would like a copy, please get in touch. We can send it either by email or post.
Do you know what benefits you are entitled to?
Many pensioners do not claim all the benefits they are entitled to. Some don’t apply due to the stigma that is still associated with claiming benefits; others simply don’t know that they are eligible. It is worth making some enquiries though as a pensioner couple with a £10,000 income could be eligible for around £6,900 in benefits! If you have access to the internet there is a very simple way of checking what tax and pension credits you can apply for – simply go to http://entitledto.co.uk , just enter some basic details about your personal situation, such as income, council tax bill, and your savings and it reveals what, if any, benefits you're entitled to. You can also contact the Pension Credit Line on 0800 99 1234 for more information, or request the free Age Concern guide “Financial help in retirement” from Fellowship Office or Age Concern (0800 009966).
(Source: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/protect/benefits-check)
If you are struggling financially you can also apply to the ‘The Civil Service Benevolent Fund’ for help and advice – see www.csbf.org.uk for details or call 0800 056 2424. The Benevolent Fund website also has a benefits calculator. You can usually apply if you are a retired, or former, employee of a civil service department or associated organisation or if you are a financial dependant of a current or former civil servant.
Recruitment of new members and volunteers
Your group still has the opportunity to apply for help with organising a recruitment event under Memo 4/2008. Please note that funding is still available and you can now apply at any time, there’s no deadline, and we can accept one application per group per year. This means that if your group has had a recruitment event in 2008 you can re-apply for another one in 2009.
If you haven’t already applied please consider this at your next group committee meeting. Application forms and a sheet with helpful tips and things to remember are available from Fellowship Office.
Group Support – it’s not too late!
Please also remember to apply for Social Room Hire Expenditure (Memo 8/2008) and general assistance if your group is struggling financially – don’t leave it until it’s too late! Should you have any questions or would like to apply please do not hesitate to contact me on 020 8469 9190 or email yvonne.kutzer@csrf.org.uk
Change of email address
Please note that Jackie Reilly has reverted to her maiden name of Ryan, her email address is now: jackie.ryan@csrf.org.uk
If you would like an up to date copy of our staff list with brief job descriptions and details of direct telephone numbers and email addresses please get in touch with Fellowship Office, please state whether you would prefer to receive it via email or post.
Distribution Dates
Key distribution of paperwork to branches and groups plus return dates
Subject Responsibility
April 24 Planner deadline for Summer issue of avanti Branches to Jackie
May 7 Deadline for receipt of Branch Representative, proxy & Observer forms, Nominations for the Board of Directors, Resolutions and Motions Branches to Hannah or Jean
15 Distribution of AGM/Conference papers Fellowship Office
15 Distribution of Annual Accounts 2008 Fellowship Office
June Mid Bulletin Distribution Fellowship Office
July 10 Distribution of final AGM/Conference papers Fellowship Office
17 Distribution of Branch & Group Estimates Fellowship Office
17 Planner deadline for Autumn issue of avanti Branches to Jackie
Aug 5-6 Annual General Meeting & Annual Conference
Sept Mid Bulletin Distribution Fellowship Office
11 Deadline for receipt of Branch & Group Estimates Branches to Donna
Oct 2 Planner deadline for Winter issue of avanti Branches to Jackie
9 Distribution of End of Year Accounts Fellowship Office
Nov End Bulletin Distribution Fellowship Office
-End-
Did you know that every year there are nine elected positions available? All subscribing members are eligible to seek nomination. If you are interested in being nominated to serve on the Board of Directors for the 2009/10 year an application form and further information is available from either your branch if it’s active or from Fellowship Office if your branch has closed. You can contact either Jean Cooper or Richard Hornsby if you want to know more about the role and responsibilities of serving on the Board.
Branch Representative Appointments
If your branch has not yet appointed a Branch Representative as a company member, it is still possible to do so. Please refer to Memo 13/2007 – Appointment of Branch Representatives to be Members of the Limited Company Fellowship. If you require another copy of this memo or have any questions on how to appoint someone from your branch, please contact Hannah Evans on 020 8469 9192 or hannah.evans@csrf.org.uk. Please note that active groups within an inactive branch are also able to appoint a Representative - all the active groups in the inactive branch must approve the nomination of the appointee.
Website – www.csrf.org.uk
We had hoped that our new look website would be up and running by the time you received this bulletin. Unfortunately there have been difficulties setting up the on line joining section which has been outside our control. This has almost been resolved and we hope the website will go live shortly. We would appreciate any constructive comments about the site.
Publicity
Members of Benenden who receive a copy of Ben Health will have seen our appeals for support. We have been delighted with the level of responses for volunteers. Yvonne Kutzer has been in touch with those offering volunteer support and also contacted local groups with the good news. We are looking to target other magazines with our appeals, which we hope will generate a positive response.
Legacy Appeal
The Fellowship has benefitted recently from several legacies left by our beneficiaries of which we are extremely grateful. The funds help to support our network of groups, volunteers and beneficiaries. Many charities promote legacy giving and we need to ensure that our beneficiaries are aware that they can if they wish leave the Fellowship a legacy. The spring issue of avanti included a legacy appeal plus details of how to obtain a form. These forms are now available for groups to order. Please take supplies along to group meetings and hand them out to your members. As a charity the Fellowship can benefit from legacy giving from anyone, they do not need to be a beneficiary of the organisation. We intend to include the leaflets in mail-outs with an explanation why the leaflet is included. Many people unable to attend group events still care and support the Fellowship with donations and membership, they should be given the opportunity to consider leaving a legacy in the knowledge that it helps the Fellowship to continue its valuable work. Those branches still producing newsletters please promote our legacy giving appeal.
Volunteering
We’ve produced a great volunteer recruitment form which groups can also order and these forms will be widely circulated. If you would like to obtain supplies, please get in touch.
Speakers List
Please remember - if your group has recently invited an interesting speaker who charged no fee or claimed only expenses please contact Yvonne Kutzer with the details so that we can add them to our Speaker’s List! If you would like a copy, please get in touch. We can send it either by email or post.
Do you know what benefits you are entitled to?
Many pensioners do not claim all the benefits they are entitled to. Some don’t apply due to the stigma that is still associated with claiming benefits; others simply don’t know that they are eligible. It is worth making some enquiries though as a pensioner couple with a £10,000 income could be eligible for around £6,900 in benefits! If you have access to the internet there is a very simple way of checking what tax and pension credits you can apply for – simply go to http://entitledto.co.uk , just enter some basic details about your personal situation, such as income, council tax bill, and your savings and it reveals what, if any, benefits you're entitled to. You can also contact the Pension Credit Line on 0800 99 1234 for more information, or request the free Age Concern guide “Financial help in retirement” from Fellowship Office or Age Concern (0800 009966).
(Source: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/protect/benefits-check)
If you are struggling financially you can also apply to the ‘The Civil Service Benevolent Fund’ for help and advice – see www.csbf.org.uk for details or call 0800 056 2424. The Benevolent Fund website also has a benefits calculator. You can usually apply if you are a retired, or former, employee of a civil service department or associated organisation or if you are a financial dependant of a current or former civil servant.
Recruitment of new members and volunteers
Your group still has the opportunity to apply for help with organising a recruitment event under Memo 4/2008. Please note that funding is still available and you can now apply at any time, there’s no deadline, and we can accept one application per group per year. This means that if your group has had a recruitment event in 2008 you can re-apply for another one in 2009.
If you haven’t already applied please consider this at your next group committee meeting. Application forms and a sheet with helpful tips and things to remember are available from Fellowship Office.
Group Support – it’s not too late!
Please also remember to apply for Social Room Hire Expenditure (Memo 8/2008) and general assistance if your group is struggling financially – don’t leave it until it’s too late! Should you have any questions or would like to apply please do not hesitate to contact me on 020 8469 9190 or email yvonne.kutzer@csrf.org.uk
Change of email address
Please note that Jackie Reilly has reverted to her maiden name of Ryan, her email address is now: jackie.ryan@csrf.org.uk
If you would like an up to date copy of our staff list with brief job descriptions and details of direct telephone numbers and email addresses please get in touch with Fellowship Office, please state whether you would prefer to receive it via email or post.
Distribution Dates
Key distribution of paperwork to branches and groups plus return dates
Subject Responsibility
April 24 Planner deadline for Summer issue of avanti Branches to Jackie
May 7 Deadline for receipt of Branch Representative, proxy & Observer forms, Nominations for the Board of Directors, Resolutions and Motions Branches to Hannah or Jean
15 Distribution of AGM/Conference papers Fellowship Office
15 Distribution of Annual Accounts 2008 Fellowship Office
June Mid Bulletin Distribution Fellowship Office
July 10 Distribution of final AGM/Conference papers Fellowship Office
17 Distribution of Branch & Group Estimates Fellowship Office
17 Planner deadline for Autumn issue of avanti Branches to Jackie
Aug 5-6 Annual General Meeting & Annual Conference
Sept Mid Bulletin Distribution Fellowship Office
11 Deadline for receipt of Branch & Group Estimates Branches to Donna
Oct 2 Planner deadline for Winter issue of avanti Branches to Jackie
9 Distribution of End of Year Accounts Fellowship Office
Nov End Bulletin Distribution Fellowship Office
-End-