Newsletter of the January 2020 Issue 126 Golden Cap Association (West Dorset)
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Newsletter of the January 2020 Issue 126 Golden Cap Association (West Dorset) © Photo R Dunford President: Chris Walliker Hon. Life Vice-Presidents: Derek J Parsons TD; Roland Moss Chairman: Gordon Simmons Treasurer: Mike Nicks Secretary: Margaret McClellan Please A Voluntary Association of National Trust Members & note the Volunteers. AGM on Founded in 1978 to promote & prosper the work of the 30 March is at National Trust. 2:30pm www.goldencapnt.org.uk not 7:30pm - 1 - From the Chair . Your On New Year's Day, I took my dog Millie for a walk around Golden Cap Association Langdon Wood. Weather-wise it was not the best of days. Dull, grey, misty and very wet and muddy underfoot. I was surprised needs - and delighted - to find the car park nearly full. People milling around everywhere. From the very young to the not so young YOU - all kitted out to combat the weather. And dogs of course, by the dozen. There was an infectious enthusiasm abroad; an enthusiasm for the place where we had all gathered; an enthusiasm the National Trust needs to capture and nurture if we are to thrive in the years ahead. All in all, it cheered me up no end; just knowing that what Now! we do is so worthwhile and has that kind of impact on people's lives. We know we have your support as: This is my last 'From The Chair....' report as I intend stepping down at the AGM in ü you belong to this group; March. By then, I will have served on the committee for over twelve years in various ü you go on the outings in the summer which are organised for you capacities; Secretary, Vice Chair and, most recently, Chair as well as looking after by David Smith and his team; publicity. And I'm pleased to say we do have someone willing to take over from me ü you come to our winter talks programme organised for you by subject to the approval of the AGM. Stepping down does not mean my enthusiasm Sarah Nicks; and commitment to the NT is diminished in any way. Far from it. I simply believe that ü you also come to the social gatherings (meals and Quiz) committees need new blood to bring in new ideas and new ways of thinking. organised for you by Valerie Gierth and her team; For my part, it's been a most enjoyable ride. It's been a great privilege to be your ü you buy tickets for the raffles organised for you by Veronica Chair, working with the best bunch of people I've ever met on a committee totally Smith and Marjorie Aird. dedicated to doing their best for members. It also allowed me to get to know many In order for all this to continue we need a Committee to keep it of you a whole lot better - a big bonus for me. And it would be remiss of me not to running smoothly. mention the unstinting active support of our local NT team, Believe me, that is gold dust. ● Gordon Simmons, our Chair, will be stepping down at the AGM in As regards highlights, celebrating our 40th Anniversary on the Golden Cap estate March. He also handles Publicity; surely has to be one. Another has to be helping to preserve the identity of our region ● Margaret McClellan, our Secretary, has indicated that she will be by challenging a proposal to merge it with a neighbouring region. stepping down within twelve months. On the downside, recent years have seen the demise of several neighbouring Whilst we do have a willing volunteer to be Chair we will need a associations. So we need to guard against that happening here. Secretary in the not too distant future. So, if you use a computer and have taken minutes before – you have the necessary skills! Elsewhere in this newsletter you will read that our secretary is contemplating stepping down, possibly later this year. More immediately, Mick Holgate our technical In the past we have carried a vacancy for Vice-Chair for 3 years support 'guru' for the last twelve years is also standing down in March. I would and when Gordon leaves we shall again need a Vice-Chair also therefore urge you to consider what you may be able to do, either on the committee someone to organise Publicity. or as a helper, to make sure we remain a strong and vibrant association. We have a very good membership of around 400 – surely there is In closing, I would like to thank each and every one of you for your help, support and someone with the skills to take on the roles of Technical Support kindnesses over the years. Without you we are nothing. My best wishes to you all for or Publicity or Secretary for a couple of years. the best of good health and fortune in 2020. For further information please contact the Chair Here's hoping the goodwill I experienced at Langdon Wood will be sustained – Gordon Simmons – 01308 863577 throughout the new decade. Gordon Simmons - Chair The views expressed above are solely those of the author and should not be construed as those of the Golden Cap Association or the National Trust. - 2 - - 3 - Membership Golden Cap Association (West Dorset) I should like to remind you all that Subscriptions for 2020/21 are due on 1st Renewal of Annual Subscription 2020/2021 April 2020 and remain at the current rate of £6.00 for one person and £9.00 for two people living at the same address. (For three people living at the same Title(s) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (Block Capitals Please) address the subscription is £12.00.) Name(s) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Payments made by Standing Order save the Association time and money as well Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ as being an easy option for our members – once set up, the Standing Order will continue to make an annual payment until such time as it is cancelled. I would _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ be very grateful, therefore, if those of you who do not currently pay this way Postcode _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Tel No _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ would consider doing so. The necessary form is on page 5 of this Newsletter. All you have to do is complete and return it to me and your subscription will Email address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ automatically be collected from your bank on 1st April 2020 and annually NT Membership No. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ thereafter. Please complete and send the form to me WELL BEFORE 1st April I enclose £ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (subscription) so that I can forward it to your bank before the payment is due. I consent to the above data being used for communication purposes only If you wish to continue paying by cheque, could I please ask you to use the by the Golden Cap Association. [It is important that this box is ticked.] renewal form on page 5 and forward it to me, together with your payment, no later than 1st April. Cheques post-dated to 1st April can be sent now if you Subscriptions are due on 1st April. Subscriptions are £6.00 for one person and £9.00 wish. A separate receipt will not be sent - your membership card is your receipt for two at the same address (£12.00 for three). Please make your cheque payable and that will be available at the talk on 27th April or posted shortly after. to ‘Golden Cap Association’. Please hand it in at any Association meeting or send by post to Mrs D Coleridge, 115 Victoria Grove, Bridport DT6 3AE. If you already pay by Standing Order please do not complete the renewal form on the next page. You can see on the front of the 2019/20 membership If you wish to pay by Standing Order please complete both forms. card whether you pay by Standing Order or Cheque. If you're still not sure ring me to check - 01308 424431. Standing Order Form This form supersedes all previous Standing Orders in favour of Once your Membership fee has been received, your membership card giving The Golden Cap Association of the National Trust details of the illustrated talks and other events will be issued with the April To _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Bank plc ) Name and Newsletter.