Seniors Network - Start a forum

What Geographical area should the Forum cover?	Local authority area Neighbourhood
Who are the members?	organisations only individual members only mixture of both
Where are the members likely to come from? What organisations can help to recruit?	Recreational clubs eg bingo Lunch clubs Pensioners' associations (eg British Pensioners, Pensioners' Voice. Retired workers' associations (eg trade union retired members associations, firms' retirement associations) Churches Tenants Associations Black and Ethnic minority groups (eg Afro Caribbean club, Indian and other Asian groups) Disabled peoples associations Help the Aged, Age Concern and other voluntary groups,
How to publicise the first meeting?	publicity libraries post offices supermarkets circularise organisations newspapers local radio
What to include in Leaflets & posters?	brief aims venue date, speakers
What speakers?	MPs - councillors Council - main officials Help the Aged Age Concern, pensioners' organisations
Venue considerations?	central area accessible by public transport parking available disabled access acoustics (Dont forget the hearing aid loop, microphone)
Who can you ask for help?	Pensioners' groups Age Concern Help the Aged Council of Voluntary Service Regional Forum Regional & National Umbrella organisations eg National Pensioners Convention
First steps?	draft constitution names and addresses of people attending meeting set up executive committee size?
Executive committee?	Chairperson Vice chairperson Secretary Treasurer Minute secretary Newsletter editor? publicity officer? other?
Continuing success -
Possible issues? (begin by focussing on something of interest to local people!!)	community care community health local transport environment roads pavement lighting housing welfare rights leisure and recreation education equal opportunities National pensioner Issues
Campaigning activities?	publicity action petitions lobbying?
Taking issues to the council meeting?	Identify responsibility (which councillor or official) Meeting -- informal or formal?
Talking to the council?	have regular meeting - quarterly? establish informal relationships invite attendance at committee meetings? obtain council minutes, reports etc
Talking to other public organisations?	NHS Transport undertakings residential homes gas, electricity boards other voluntary organisations
Reporting back to members?	committee Forum inform media other interested organisations
Making friends with other organisations?	good contacts information exchange shared aims and activity
Good organisation?	regular meetings - both committee and open meetings provision of information > >committee >Forum, >other pensioners >general public motivate members by interesting meetings hold proper elections to committee regular reporting
What Training?	committee skills training of volunteers public speaking structure of local government finance and funding
Checking up? Measuring success?	annual report record of work evaluate work - success, failures - why? attendance at meetings - numbers, organisations reaching out to non-attenders? reaching out to housebound? valuing ourselves - a year's good work?

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