SEEFoE Meeting, 4th April 2006

Agenda

1. Minutes of last meeting
2. Apologies for absence
3. Meeting venue
4. Southend High Street Event Review
5. Next campaign/event:
   • Possibly target Mark Francois, Rayleigh High Street?
6. Other Campaigns
7. AOB

Minutes for meeting held on the 4th of April 2006 Balmoral Community Centre

The next meeting of SEEFoE will be on 2nd May at the new venue, 7.30pm

Present: Kim (coordinator), Sue, Irene, Alex (secretary), Tracey, Jon, Sarah, Keith, Michael and Anna

1. Minutes of last meeting: Approved.
2. Apologies for absence: Eileen Peck, Steve Jordon, Peter and Denis Walker, Elizabeth Griffiths, Michael Downer. We now have eighteen members.
3. Meeting venue: The next meeting and all future meetings will take place at a new venue, 16 Queens Road Southend-on-Sea.
   The way to the venue; The new venue is next to HMV between the two jeweler’s shops, down the alley. At the end of the alley is the new venue. The new venue will be free of charge so allow us to keep our money for other things. It is also bigger, more comfortable and has tea-making facilities.
4. Review of Southend High Street campaign: We gave away all 400 of the energy efficient light bulbs and sent 200 completed questionnaires to Essex Energy Advice Centre, they were pleased and have offered to support us on future campaigns. During its lifetime each light bulb used will save ½ a ton of CO2 from entering the atmosphere. We also got 145 Big Ask postcards sent to James Dudridge and David Amess. FOE had only had 72 previously so we doubled their total postcard count! Some of our respondents managed to get their light bulbs but not fill in a postcard for the big ask. It is very important on the next campaign that we make sure everybody also signs one.
5. Next Campaign: The next campaign, continuing with the efforts in Southend, will target Mark Francois and hit Rayleigh, on the Saturday 29 April 2006 (dates agreed by attendees)We need to get 150-180 postcards signed to, FoE expect an MP to sign up more quickly if they receive this amount of postcards.
6. AoB

   FOE Questionnaire: we were sent the Friends of the Earth yearly Questionnaire, so we could say what we thought of our group and look at areas that may be improved. A number of questions - including “How inspired is your group?” “How skilled, how well do we work together?” were answered on a scale of 1 to 4, with the group agreeing to each answer.

   We need to investigate on line campaigns by FoE.

   Look at obtaining as many different leaflets concerning other topics surrounding climate change such as biodiversity, flooding and drought, which may entice more people to our campaign stall in Rayleigh

   John asked for volunteers to deliver leaflets in Bradwell supporting the building of the wind farm (emails will be sent with more details). The response is required by 24th April.

   We discussed the weekly e-mail forum at FoE ‘Climateles” and whether we should get it/join, all agreed yes.

   South East Summer gathering is Saturday 6th May. (email Kim for further details)

   The SEEFoE bank account is still unopened but we are working on it!