Winter Newsletter
2011/12
Being one of the
co-founders of SDAF I know how difficult it has been to get to
where we are today but, with help and support coming from the
Environment Agency, Optua, our own Management Committee, our
volunteers and local mainstream angling clubs namely Gipping Valley
Angling Club, then later on the Gipping Angling Preservation
Society and Hadleigh and District Angling Society, we have exceeded
all of the original aims and objectives with curtain closed on our
most successful 2011 season, we look forward to an even better
2012. Thank you to all our members and friends.
The good news continues
with more success in 2011, we were awarded a sum of £3853.00 from
Activities Unlimited, this has been used to run a project for young
people up to the age of 25 years who have varying disabilities and
disorders, some of this money has also been used to purchase
additional equipment. The Environment Agency has also awarded us
£1500 towards a new project and additional help towards running
costs, we are also grateful to the Stowmarket Lions Club have
recently awarded us £250. We are very grateful to all above named
organisations who have, in the current world economic climate,
given so generously, thank you.
SDAF has been invited to
set up stalls at numerous charity events throughout the 2011 summer
months. John Grose invited us to all of their Ford Motability
showcase days, which were manned by Terry Reynolds and his good
wife Gay, we are grateful for John Grose’s continued support.
Invites were also received from Activities Unlimited Showcase/Open
Days, again our thanks go to Terry and Gay for manning the stall.
The last Activities Showcase Day was held at the Kesgrave Community
Centre, where Terry, Gay, Andrew and I were kept very busy all day,
no doubt helped by the fishing game and special biscuits and sweets
made and provided by Gay Reynolds. Terry and Gay have also
supported us at some of the Suffolk Foundation open days, a special
thank you to the whole Reynolds family.
This year the Joe Flinter
Memorial Match, which took place on Friday 19th August
saw 30+ of you turn out in respect of Joe, who was of course our
Wendy’s husband. Joe loved his fishing and I know he would have
been proud and grateful of your respect as was Wendy and her family
who laid on a super buffet for us all along with our sausage and
chips. It was a memorable and very special day for everyone. Our
thanks go to Wendy and her family who were all kept very busy,
especially Hannah and Connor!!!
The Suffolk Disabled
Anglers’ Forum is now a member of SAVO, (Suffolk Association of
Voluntary Organisations) who will provide some of our necessary
training courses such as first aid, child protection, disability
awareness along with many other membership benefits to numerous to
mention. Our volunteer CRB applications will also be handled by
SAVO.
Our recent application for
membership was accepted by Sported, an organisation that offer help
and support to voluntary and community sport organisations to
become business savvy. Sported also offer its members funding
advice and opportunities, long-term this membership is going to be
very beneficial for SDAF.
It has been a pleasure to
witness the success of 2011 it would not have been possible without
both a good management committee, who all work very hard behind the
scenes and you our members, so thank you for giving me this very
welcome boost.
Our 2011 AGM was once
again held at Optua House, Claydon on Friday 11th
November, where the meetings elections for officers took place. The
following were elected by both those attending and post:
Chairman/Secretary : Ian
Wood
Vice Chair: Terry
Reynolds
Treasurer: Wendy
Flinter
Membership Secretary:
Wendy Flinter
Publicity & Fund
Raising Manager: Andrew Townsend & Terry Reynolds
Minutes Secretary: Colin
Canham
Although I have re-elected
to serve as your chairman I will be working behind the scenes in
2012, but I will of course be there to help when needed
That’s about it for
now, hope you had a Happy Christmas and New Year and
we’ll look forward to seeing you all again in 2012.
Ian.