ADHD
GROUP
HIGHLAND ADHD SUPPORT GROUP
Chairperson – Mandie McCulloch, 14 Kenneth Place, Smithton. IV2 7LY
Tel: 01463 790518
Minute of Annual General Meeting held on Monday 24 May
2004.
Charleston Community Complex, Inverness at 12 noon – 2 pm
APOLOGIES: None, but as some members were delayed due to other commitments items not on or further down the Agenda were dealt with first.
COMPILATION OF WELCOME PACK: Susie pointed out that, with many folk making contact on the back of recent publicity, small packs of informative and balanced material should be made up and sent out to people seeking more information on ADHD and its implications. Discussion took place about a good series of booklets passed to the Group by ADDISS (ADHD Information Services), which would form a good basis for this. Vanessa pointed out, as this is produced by a drug company, it might be difficult to obtain more copies and other complementary information would be required to be put out as well. Lindsay Graham agreed to pursue this for the Group with the company concerned and she will contact Susie.
SUMMER TERM OUTING: It was agreed that this should be to see the new Harry Potter film, which opens this weekend. The agreed date was Sun 6 June around lunchtime, as this tends to be quieter. On investigation 12.02 pm seems to be the best time and as the film’s running time is just over 3 hours the estimated finishing time is 3.15 pm approx. As this will still be a very busy showing Susie needs to know exact numbers now, so please ring her on I’ness 226273 immediately. Anyone who has paid their £10 family membership for 2004/5 is eligible and if you haven’t then Emma will be happy to collect this from you on Sun 6 June. This will entitle you and your family to free participation in all our outings, which will hopefully be extended and enhanced considerably if our Funding bid to BBC Children in Need proves successful later this Summer. Please note that everyone attending will need to be with our committee members in the queue by 11.30 am. at the latest, as we have been unable to reserve seats.
INFORMATION AFTERNOON/EVENING: This is to take place in Room 22 and the Drama Studio at Tain Academy, Hartfield Road, Tain, Easter Ross on Monday 7 June between 4 and 9 pm and will cover a wide spectrum of learning difficulties including ADHD. Susie will collect information from Vanessa and display boards from Voluntary Action and will attend for the Group. Kathy will help out for the first half and Nicola might be able to help as well for part of the evening. Please note that there will be a creche /child minding facility. We do hope that as many of our members and others who have expressed an interest will be able to attend this event, which is being organised by Fiona Munro of Healthways, Ross and Cromarty.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING: Monday 28 June 12 noon – 2 pm and AN EVENING MEETING ALSO MONDAY 28 JUNE AT 7.30 PM TO WHICH WE HAVE INVITED MARTIN GENT OF THE CHILD AND FAMILY PSYCHIATRY UNIT. It will also be an opportunity for new members and others just expressing an interest to come along and find out more about ADHD and the work of our group.
ANNUAL REPORT: Vanesssa began her report reflecting that it had been a good
year for the Group, although rather less good for her personally since December
and she apologised for her reduced input over the second half of the year.
Early April 2003 saw the Mindfield Conference in Edinburgh, which had been a
great start, with a follow up meeting in August of professionals who attended
this and others with a view to holding an ADHD specific conference in the Highland
area.
Half day seminars on nutrition were held in Aviemore and Inverness in September
with committee members attending.
In early October the web-site was launched with input from Mandie and Susie
and a lot of help from Simon Baker. The Group is indebted to Chris Kelsey for
taking over the updating of the web-site, which can be found by visiting www.adhdhighland.com
In February 2004 the Group were the beneficiaries of a Ceilidh organised by
Fraser and Betty MacLean. It was a great night and well attended in spite of
the snowy weather and it raised £840 for the Highland Support Group thanks
to a lot of effort on the part of the MacLean family and all the other folk
who took part and attended.
1 March saw most Committee members attending a conference on Challenging Behaviour
organised jointly by CHESS and the Govan Law Centre and March was also the month
when bids were submitted to Lloyds TSB and Children in Need for funding for
specific projects. We will know later in the Summer whether we have been successful
with either of these bids, so watch this space!
Perhaps saving the best until last – the Daffodil Tea held, by kind permission
of Mrs P. Munro, at Foulis Castle was a tremendous success raising approximately
£1700 net of all outgoings. It was a lot of hard work, but well worth
it and our thanks go to all the folk who helped on the day, both out front and
behind the scenes and to everyone who contributed to the raffle and all the
other stalls.
Vanessa read out a personal letter from herself offering her resignation from
the post of Chairman, although she is happy to remain on the Committee.
The Group reluctantly accepted this decision, but hoped Vanessa would be very
much involved in organising a Spring 2005 conference in Inverness if bids are
successful.
ELECTION OF OFFICE BEARERS:
Treasurer: Vanessa proposed that Emma continue in her role as Treasurer and
Susie seconded this, and it was carried unanimously.
Secretary: Vanessa also proposed that Susie continue in her role as Secretary
and Kathy seconded this and it was carried unanimously.
Chairperson: Nicola proposed Mandie to take over as the new Chairman and this
was seconded by Kathy and was carried unanimously.
Fund-raiser: Vanessa thought this was rather a heavy load for Susie, but she
indicated she would continue for now as there was still an Awards for All bid
to complete.
Management Committee: Kathy, Wendy, Lesley and Vanessa all indicated that they
were happy to continue on this and to attend as many Committee meetings as possible.
Web-site update: Wendy indicated that Chris was very happy to continue with
this and everyone was delighted. Chris’ new E-mail address is chrisekelsey@ntlworld.com
PRESENTATION OF AUDITED ACCOUNTS FOR 2003/4: Thanks to successful fund-raising
and generous donations in 2003/4 the accounts show an increase of just over
£700 in the bank over the year to £2396.65. This does not include
the total for the Daffodil Tea, which would bring this up to over £4,000
at present. The Christmas cards designed by Nicola made a profit of over £160
and her artwork was acknowledged for these and the Daffodil Tea poster, which
was very eye catching.
Emma agreed to organise the auditor for 2004/5.
It was agreed to maintain a family membership of £10, but that this must
be paid for 2004/5 before outings could be attended.
SPRING CONFERENCE 2005: Lindsay Graham suggested that the Highland Council
Buildings at Glenurquhart Road, would be an excellent venue. Provisional dates
were discussed in the absence of definite funding at present and Monday 9 May
2005 was considered suitable assuming that the availability of speakers could
be confirmed in princple by Vanessa. Meanwhile Lindsay agreed to book the Council
Chamber, 2 Committee rooms and the Press room for this provisional date, on
the basis that it can be changed if problems with funding or speakers becomes
apparent.
CONSIDERATION OF MOTIONS BEFORE THE AGM: None had been submitted.
OTHER CORRESPONDENCE: Vanessa had received a letter from SCVO regarding the
closure of Voluntary Action Inverness. The position is still unclear as to the
timing and exact nature of any closure, but Susie is working towards transferring
the database and other information onto her computer. The problem of all the
ADHD information leaflets, which will soon be incorrect, will have to be addressed,
possibly by applying sticky labels, where the contact is to be or has changed.
The group acknowledged the support provided by Voluntary Action Inverness over
the last 3 years and particularly that of Carol and John over the last 6 months.
The way this has been handled by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations
locally is very much regretted by the ADHD Support Group.
Joyce Thompson, the acting Chief Officer of Highland Health Council has written
regarding the latest plans for the new Scottish Health Council. Susie has a
copy of a newsletter if anyone wishes to update themselves.
REMINDERS: Cinema visit – Sunday 6 June at Vue (previously Warner Village)
Tickets will be prepaid, but please be in queue with Committee members between
11am and 11.30am at the latest for 12.02 start. Ring Susie right now if you
can attend and give number of tickets required by your family – RING 01463
226273 URGENT!
Next Meeting – Monday 28 June for Committee 12 noon – 2 pm at Charleston Community Complex and Get together for all – members, friends, families with Martin Gent Clinical Nurse Specialist from Dept of Child and Family Psychiatry, Monday 28 June, 2004 7.30 – 9.00 pm at Charleston Community Complex. If there is a good response to this, we will hold another evening meeting in the Autumn, so please come along and show your support for your Group and our work. Thanks.
Members and folk in Easter Ross – Don’t forget the Open Afternoon/Evening at Tain Academy on Monday 7 June 4pm-9pm. We hope to use this as a focus for setting up a satellite support group in the Easter Ross area, so please come along and find out more.
Vanessa finished her Annual Report with the following extract from an article, which the Committee felt gave an appropriate summary of what the ADHD Support Group have tried to achieve over the last 3 years, and will with your help continue to do so.
‘ Let us hope that we can make a difference, not in some imaginary tomorrow
of perfection, but in the confusion of the now:
To live, out of our brokeness, and to work towards healing;
To make of our lives, an invitation, for others to live more fully and more
freely………
To see and encourage in others, what they often do not recognise as strengths
in themselves ………
To have a care for the mysteries, the troubles, even the darkness in others,
knowing that in some cases they may have travelled distances that we have not
had to go.’