WILFORD COMMUNITY GROUP

The Tenants and Residents Association for Wilford

Minutes of a Sub-Committee De-briefing Meeting held

On Tuesday 29t^h June 2004 at 7.00 pm at 85 Main Road, Wilford

Present: Kate Clark (KC)

Josie Foster (JF)

Val Mathers (VM)

Glynis Storer (GS)

Apologies: Janet Raymond, Dave Boulton and Brian Hardy

This was a de-briefing meeting to ascertain the measure of success the Garden Open Day had been.

The one fact that was glaringly obvious, each person said that if this event were to be undertaken in following years more help was required on the day.

Jobs should be allocated prior to the event with a relief to take over so the person running a stall or the refreshments could take a break. This would leave the person, whose garden was open, to concentrate on attending to the visitors, answering the numerous questions that are usually forthcoming.

Advertising:

This seemed about right and VM thought the banners very professional, generally it was thought perhaps one would have been sufficient.

Many of the visitors were local and we were all well supported by our friends.

Having it open at 11.30 am did attract visitors from Church. Although the first visitors to 3 Vernon Avenue was 11.00 am. There after it was a steady flow coming through, peak period was between 1.00 and 3.00 pm.

Alan Foster tried to keep a tally of visitors although not 100% certain, he counted something like 320 people through the gate.

Stalls

Crafts, Bric-a-brac, cakes and plants and refreshments - all proved successful.

Monies received after expenses have been taken and paid into the bank:

Donation to Marie Curie £1,100.00

Tombola for Community Funds £243.40

Future Plans:

Many suggestions were forthcoming for future occasions. VM suggested that we could involve the Church and make use of the Hall for refreshments. Other ideas were a flower festival when the church could be opened. Ask the schools to become involved with music and dancing displays. The various associations to be invited to participate in some capacity or other, such as Guides and Scouts etc. This would make it more of a community event. It would be like a Village Festival with the community taking more involvement.

Residents to be asked personally to open their gardens - the personal approach thought preferable to just advertising. VM and GS knew of people on Ruddington Lane and Hannah Crescent who may become involved.

It would be better to open more than just the same six gardens; we would need more involvement from other residents and somehow encourage them to open their gardens. But we must begin early enough to get it up and running and provide plants etc. We could have sold much more bedding plants it was a request from many of the visitors.

Good publicity for the Community Group to give it more of a high profile was a suggestion by KC - a photograph board with a display of photographs of this year's event taken by BH. A Photograph Board 39 x 27 at a cost of 12.99 is available from Wilkinsons and KC offered to make the display. PC Nigel Brown said this had been done at Clifton with great success. It could be displayed this year in local shops or the library, and show how successful and well supported the event was with the amount of money raised for Marie Curie. JF suggested this would be better discussed at the next committee meeting and see what other members opinions' were before any firm decisions were taken.

All in all it was a good result and everyone had enjoyed the day.

The meeting closed at 8.15 pm