Minutes from Poole Myelitis Support Group Meeting Present: Teresa Bryant, Frank Devine, Barbara & Barrie Houston, June Ward, and grandson Elliot, Barbara Sadler, Peter Poll, Kerry Poll (granddaughter), Robin Young, Dave Thompson (visiting friend with MS), Malcolm & Mary Plested, Andy Berry, Amy White, Mary & Andrew Bergin, Sally & Sean Rodohan. Apologies: Alan and Gill Rowe, Connie and Phil King, Sue Hyatt, Yvonne Trapp, Wendy and Ian Bruce, Katie Steadman, Judy Stanford and Lew Gray. Teresa opened the meeting giving a special welcome to Sally Rodohan (TMS Chair) and to Elliot, June and Graham’s grandson who was organising the raffle in his own very special way. (Later in the meeting she welcomed the arrival of two new members, Amy White and Mary Bergin, who had come from Chandlers Ford and Winchester and experienced very heavy traffic.) She drew attention to the display board which had a copy of the article from the Daily Mail this week about Lisa Mann, who had developed TM following on from an epidural given during childbirth. There were also leaflets about the different leisure activities available locally for the disabled. She asked that everyone should pay their £1 subs which with the money from teas and raffle would go into the branch account. Sue (treasurer) was not present, but at our next meeting it would be good to hear suggestions of items which could be purchased to benefit the group. Lew Gray (TMS Sec) has spoken with William Davis from MS head office and TM is now officially an affiliated condition to MS. This means that we hope to develop closer links with the MS Society, especially locally. The Osborn MS Centre at West Parley has agreed to our members using the facilities. Anyone who wishes to do so is asked to contact the Centre (01202 579262, open Mon, Tue and Thu) and join the MS Society. The Centre has various social activities including hairdressing facilities and use of computers. More importantly physiotherapy sessions are held, involving exercise classes and use of machines. Peter and Graham have both been assessed by the physiotherapist and Peter told us about his visit. Teresa will contact Jane, the physiotherapist and explain that the facility will be very helpful for only a few of our members, and will not mean a large increase in her workload. Dave who also attends the Centre explained a bit more the classes held there and said he felt the numbers we are talking about, would not be a problem and could easily be absorbed in to the existing sessions. We hope Graham and Peter will gain benefit from using the Centre. Sally was asked to tell us more details of the TM conference to be held on Sat 13th Oct at the Directory of Social Change, 24 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2DP, near Euston Station. (www.dsc.org.uk/charitycentre). Details of the plans for this day will follow in a separate email after a committee meeting on Aug 3rd. For the remainder of the meeting there was informal chat with tea and the drawing of the raffle. The next meeting will be on Sat 27th October at 2pm, when the speaker will be Val Mitchell, Carers development Officer for Poole Social services, and there will be feedback on the Conference on the 13th for those unable to attend. |