Newsletter
The Membership Secretary writes -
As the year turned, there were two items of news which members welcomed. Firstly, the new constituency party, Thirsk and Malton Liberal Democrats, was formally constituted with a new committee for 2008. Secondly, there were new elected leaders at both national and local level – Nick Clegg for the Federal Party at Westminster, and Michael Beckett for our Local Party here, in a huge slice of Yorkshire which stretches from Thirsk in the Vale of York to Filey on the coast.
Choosing the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (PPC) - By belonging to the Liberal Democrats members massively increase their influence as voters – because it is they who choose the candidate. Our PPC for Thirsk & Malton has yet to be chosen, but preparations are well in hand for advertising, making the short list and organising hustings. If you have someone in mind who would make a good MP, why not persuade him or her to put in for it? Secretary Robert Adamson would be pleased to hear from you.
Pickering Liberal Club - Constituencies may change their boundaries, and parties change their names, but the club will in only two years’ time be celebrating one hundred years of commitment to the cause of liberalism. The chairman, Cllr Howard Keal, welcomes local party members from the district of Hambleton who now become members of the club too, since the party pays a block membership subscription. The club maintains an office for the use of the local party and its facilities are available for hire for functions and meetings of local groups of all kinds. For particulars apply to the secretary, Barrie Morley, on 01944 710757.
Membership - One of the duties of your membership secretary is to chase up subscriptions and look for new members. For such purposes a knock on the door is often more effective than a letter, telephone call or email. However, the vast area covered by the constituency makes it difficult for any one person to get round to everyone. If any member would like to give me a hand with people living nearby, please let me know (see below). I should be very glad to hear from you.
Elections - Our next local elections will be for North Yorkshire County Council in April 2009. There are twelve seats to be contested in our area. Whereas on Ryedale council we have eight councillors (up from seven last time) David Lloyd-Williams, who sits for Norton, is our local party’s only county councillor. To do better than that we need to get our candidates campaigning and in the news as soon as possible. As with the PPC it is local members who choose the party’s candidates. Please think about it, and contact the secretary, Robert Adamson, if you have any ideas.
David Crease
Membership Secretary Tel 01944 758990
For Your Diary -
Monday 10 November
Thirsk and Malton Liberal Democrats Annual General Meeting – 7.30 pm at the Pickering Liberal Club
Details nearer the time.
