Kendal's Local Exchange and Trading Scheme.

New Members - Hi!

245
O: Book keeping, VAT, PAYE; Exotic cushions/curtains made; house sitting; dog/animal care.
W: Decorator; landscaper, WP tuition

Members Updates.

024 - new address.
O: Art; silk painting; jewellery; cooking

222 - new address.

Members Leaving - Farewell.

214. - our oldest member, who, at the age of 95, feels she can no longer trade!

160.

91. - although leaving the scheme, plenty of advice and help is available via Jayne.

School Alternative.

017 have decided to try home education. We are looking for other 4-8 year olds (& their parents) who want to spend time together on weekdays. We are not trying to set up an education group, more an opportunity to socialise, play, go swimming, visit places and learn about life by doing things with others.

Currently, our child goes to Meadow View nursery Tues-Thurs so Monday & Friday are free to meet. After the summer it could be any day(s).

Anyone interested in exploring the options, please contact 017.

Next Newsletter: 29 April.

OTHER DATES: The steering group will be meeting a week or so before the next newsletter deadline. Give 015 a ring for date, time and venue if you can come along - everyone is welcome to have their say in running the scheme.

Gardeners Get Together - (27 Feb) if you missed this, give 112 a ring if you want to swap seedlings, plants or produce through the season as future exchanges will be organised.

Garden Party - 14 May at 014s. Get your best frock and hat out for the summer garden party (or baggy shorts if you prefer!) and come and meet other members. Also another good opportunity to swap seedlings and plants.

AGM Reports.

The AGM took place on the 5th Feb and was an evening mixing business with pleasure! - here's some of the highlights.......

...1999, our fifth year and best yet for Kendal LETS with another overall increase in trading, a shiny new photocopier, our TV debut, and our own World Wide Web site.'

The membership stands at around 160 active accounts, which probably means that there are around 200 people trading, given that many accounts cover couples / families. What must be the lowest unsubsidised joining fee in the land surprisingly still covers the cost of postage and this year the annual Kent fee to cover the admin costs was dramatically reduced.

The purchase of a photocopier drastically reduced the cash account down to a few pounds but the cost of postage and sundries is covered by the joining fee so this is not too much of a problem in the short term. The benefits of the photocopier have already made themselves apparent with the impact on the Kents accounts - the Admin account is in credit for the first time ever - over 800k! This was due to the massive saving in the cost of photocopying, the income in Kents from the new photocopier and 014's new time-saving all singing, all dancing LETS accounts software. The steering group decided that firstly the 'Start Up account' be paid off - this was the cost of setting up the scheme and was felt unfair to charge this to the small band of people in the scheme at the end of the first year but was earmarked to be paid off as soon as the admin account could stand it (250k). Secondly, refunds were made on the annual Kents subs so that no-one paid more than 8k.

The 'Benefit account' has not been used this year - see below for more info. The 'Bad debts' account shows over 900k lost to the system when members leave without earning back the Kents they have spent, although this doesn't include the amount if a cash donation is made. The meeting agreed to continue this cumulative total as a true cost rather than pay it off from the admin account.

The steering group has had new input from 112, 26 and 197 who have taken on some of the more practical needs like arranging hall hire, info in the library etc - a big thank you to them for that.

015, 014, 17 and 001 were re-elected unopposed to the Steering group and, 014 and 020 will continue as stewards. 197 and 026 are happy to continue helping out with social and publicity tasks but we still need people to take on the roll of developing these areas. 014 thanked the steering group members for their work over the last year.

058 outlined the purpose of the website and reminded us that no personal info is put on the website - we are all just numbers! Those with internet access said it was a useful resource and those without internet access were assured that they were not missing out on information - it's just quicker to get hold of. Thanks went to 058. 058 suggested that in the absence of a notice board a ring binder of LETS info in the library could include pages for urgent/in between newsletter items - these could also be put on the website.

The early summer social was well organised and attended and certainly rejuvenated the interest. There was a larger cost borne by the admin account than normal but it was felt that the results justified it. It was agreed that this process could continue in future if it was a 'steering group organised' social, although less cost would be desired. Clarification of member-instigated socials / working socials was needed. See later.

A Social Coordinator is needed! We have someone who is happy to organise the hall hire but need a person to think about what and when is needed to save the steering group having to do it all the time. Help!

Lots of scrummy food was consumed before a great slide show of Antarctica from 217. Thanks to all those that came along.

KENTS BENEFIT ACCOUNT

Just a reminder of what this is. The benefit account exists to help out members in extraordinary circumstances. If you think you need some help or know someone who does then just write or email any of the steering group.

If you have any comments about the scheme, please let the steering group know or come to the next meeting.

Socially Working or Working Socials?

Just a bit of clarification before a new year of events. The steering group usually organises 2-3 socials / trading socials a year but encourages members to organise their own events. Where members arrange there own 'open to all' events it needs to be made clear what exactly is going to happen. The following may help:

Work parties: emphasis on work paid in Kents although they are usually very social! It is probably useful to ring people offering what you want and get them to all turn up on a given day rather than to just advertise the event.

Working socials: equal emphasis on work and social, members can work to earn Kents or are welcome turning up just to be social.

Trading Social: turn up and be sociable and bring things to trade if you want.

Social: Turn up (usually with food to share) and be sociable.

For events aimed more at the Social end, the steering group will make available refreshments and possibly other resources. All members need to do to organise an event is to advertise it in the newsletter / directory and then contact the steering group if necessary. Whatever you want to call an event, it's simply a matter of being clear with people what will be happening.