Arrangements for our lectures going forward.

Update to the arrangements for our lectures going forward. We are now able to return to full seating as we had before the pandemic and in keeping with government guidance, as long as we all follow sensible procedures we are returning to ‘normal’.  We are very much looking forward to seeing our members back again for the interesting lecture programme we have arranged for the year ahead. We also hope to be offering members some interesting extra events again as we move out of the pandemic situation.

Covid safety Guidance.  Sadly, we cannot make the meetings completely risk free. Of course, if you have any covid symptoms or know you have been in close contact with anyone who has, then you should not attend the meeting. The Hall will be a little more ventilated than usual so wrap up warm. Mask wearing will be optional.  We will be putting the full number of seats out and it will be up to members to seat themselves as ‘spaced out’ as attendance numbers allow, though of course this may not really be possible given our membership and the size of the venue.

Meeting support. For those members who stay and help us put the chairs away, there is good news, as Gary who puts the chairs out will now also be putting them away. Thanks to those who have helped in the past.

Parking.  We are a fully subscribed Society which is wonderful, but it puts great pressure on our parking spaces. PLEASE, if you can possibly car share from your village or street it is an enormous help. And if you are a good walker please consider parking at Borwick Hall and taking the five  minute walk to the Village Hall from there. This frees up spaces for those who need them at the Village Hall and every car less in the car park is a major help for Mike and John, our car park team, who try to fit in as many cars as they can.

Tea and Biscuits.  We are not able to offer tea and biscuits at the present time though we hope to be able to offer them soon. Our previous tea team, to whom we are extremely grateful, is no longer able to continue the service and we are need of a new group of volunteers to do the tea and biscuits - so any members who are willing please contact Jenny Fisher to discuss how we might arrange this. As well as the much-appreciated social aspect of the teas, the sale of tea and biscuits is a valuable fund raiser for us so it would be a big help if a group could take it on.

Finally, I want to let you know about some changes to Committee responsibilities. Sue O’Brien, who many of you know, will in due course be taking on the responsibility of Committee Secretary, working with me on the overall running of the society and the procedures around the AGM.  Jenny Fisher will be taking on overall responsibility for our meeting venue and arrangements. Sue West will support Sue O’Brien during the hand-over of secretarial responsibilities and then eventually be solely focused on communications, Mailchimp and the website. All other committee responsibilities remain unchanged.

I look forward to seeing many of you at our meeting on 15 February, to hear our lecture on Medicine and Art.

With all good wishes

John Houghton