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It does not seem possible that Christmas is with us once again. A lot has happened in the Branch in the past year. We have had regular Branch meetings, which have been very popular; I think all our speakers this year have been very interesting and informative and from the feedback I have had it seems that our members have found them to be so.

We had a hilarious time on the night of our beetle drive and even had requests to repeat the experience ! which we hope to do next year.

We have had a coffee morning the first Monday in every month and following our members questionnaire I think these will continue. It seems that , at the moment, the consensus of opinion is to hold them only in the summer months. As I have not had all the forms back yet I will let you know the outcome early in the new year. If you haven’t sent your reply back please pop it in the post or if it is more convenient, give me a call and let me know what you think.

Based on the popularity of our Christmas Dinner we arranged a Summer Event and a Sunday Lunch. Both functions were again extremely popular so we will be arranging more next year, hopefully a Sunday Lunch near Easter and another in October and the Summer Event in June or July.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Pam Little on her election as National MSS Trustee by the Herts. and Essex Region. There were 3 candidates and Pam poled 10 of the 12 votes.

The position of Trustee is very demanding and so Pam has decided to resign as Secretary but she will continue as a member of the Committee.

As from January 1^st 2002 Sandra Kilford will take on the role of Secretary for the Branch and Ian Burns will take over from Sandra as Treasurer. As Chairman I would like to thank both Sandra and Ian for taking on these new posts to ensure the continuity of the committee.

The Committee have started making plans for next year and we have a number of flag days and store collecting days already booked. We are also busy working at raising the profile of the Branch. Over the last month we have been contacted by 4 people with MS who found out about us through the internet, so our web site is beginning to produce enquiries and is getting the message across. We are producing a bifold leaflet aimed at newly diagnosed people with MS or people in the town who have had no contact with the MS Society or the Branch. This will be going to all the doctors surgeries in the town, the hospital, physio departments, library and many other places were we feel that it would be useful. This will be available at the next Branch meeting if you would like to take a look.

I hope to see many of you at the Christmas Dinner but for those of you not attending I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and I look forward to seeing you at our next meeting.

Best Wishes

Sue