York IA

Registered Charity Number 1039683

SECRETARY'S REPORT 2009

Membership has remained about the same as last year with new members replacing those who have lapsed. This Spring at our fairly well attended AGM, Mrs Margaret Allinson, one of our founder members, stood down from the Committee. She felt that with the influx of new Committee members, she could retire in the knowledge that there were younger members to take over. Margaret had been on the Committee since our start in 1968, acting as Treasurer for some of that time, and has always been a valuable and hard working member. In addition to being presented with gifts she was also made an Honorary member of York IA, in appreciation of her outstanding long service.

At the same meeting we were informed that Stuart Bradley, our Young IA Coordinator, had taken new job in London. We sent him our thanks for the impact he had made in his three years with us, and especially for raising over £1000 by completing the arduous Three Peaks Walk. We are now looking for a volunteer to replace him.

Our speaker at the AGM was Mr Srinvas Chintapatla a surgeon at York District Hospital, who gave us an excellent talk on the latest developments in the delivery of information to patients considering having stoma, or pouch surgery. We were also indebted to Kim Lemon of Salt's Healthcare for the loan of a projector for Mr Chintapala's talk, and for showing a video demonstrating the use of their latest product, Dermacol. The meeting concluded with a presentation of Valley cushions and a training torso to York District Hospital's Stoma Care Department. This was made by Mr G. Sweeting whose wife's funeral collection had been donated for this purpose. At our October meeting we had an excellent display of Christmas and Birthday cards, along with other craft products, all beautifully made by Sue Lindup a member from Ripon. We hope she will come along to more meetings in the future.

Sadly I have to report that early in November we lost Mr Tom Matheson, our very first President until he retired. Many of our older members will remember him for his kindness and the service he gave to us. On a happier note, as I write this I am looking forward to a Christmas Lunch with members, to be held shortly in the Spa Restaurant at Scarborough, and next year we hope to have one in Harrogate. I am also looking forward to the next AGM as having reached the ripe old age of eighty, and having been on the Committee in some capacity since our inception as a Division, I shall be standing down and will be helping a new and much younger volunteer to slot in as York IA Secretary.

Brian Turner Secretary, York IA