Hello Everyone from John Minhinick, PAGE CONTENTS

FIFE BRANCH NEWSLETTER February 2020 Hello Everyone from John Minhinick, PAGE CONTENTS Thank you to those of you who attended 1. Hello from Chair John the Annual General Meeting but you’ll see later an article commenting on the small 2. Hello continued number of members who attended. What Have I Done? Whilst the main vacancies were filled at 3. Branch Coffee Morning the AGM, we would still like to hear from Coffee & Chat Group anyone who would like to join Annette and Jenny in running the social programme. 4. AGM 5. AGM continued 6. AGM continued After the festive season when you will Race Night have concentrated on spending time with family and friends, February is the month when the full programme of Branch events and activities gets 7. Donations going: in 2020 why not try something new? Glenrothes Café It’s my hope that in 2020 you will try out at least one new event or 8. Camera Club activity. For the indoor bowling and ten-pin bowling we are planning to We Need Your Advice have some come-and-try sessions where no skills or equipment is required. The walks about every two weeks are designed to cater for all 9. Christmas Cheers abilities. We are always looking for new ideas for additions to the programme and new venues for existing events and activities. 10. Useful Contacts Walking Group The Quality of Life Group would still like to see more people with 11. More Useful Contacts Parkinson’s coming along to the monthly meetings where the group can DRIG talk, laugh, share experiences, and learn to be forthright about their feelings and needs. The meeting 12. Pitlochry Theatre Trip provides a space where people with RETURN SLIP Parkinson’s can freely express their thoughts and feelings about day- to-day living, in a safe environment, free from judgment, criticism, embarrassment. The meeting is an opportunity to exchange information about what works for individuals: whatever has improved the quality of life for someone and so potentially for others. 1 HELLO FROM CHAIR JOHN continued . I have been asked questions about two professional support roles. I am aware that Parkinson’s UK (Scotland) is working on the revised strategy to cover the Local Adviser role that Ginny Glen vacated last year. I’m also aware that the NHS has advertised the vacancy on the nursing support team since Gillian Aldrich left to develop her career. The tri-fold leaflet detailing the 2020 programme will be with you soon. In the meantime here is the listing for the remainder of February: Mon. 10 th Coffee & Chat, Rejects, Kirkcaldy (10am) Thurs. 13 th Falkland Meeting (Midday) Tues. 18 th 10-pin Bowling, Bowlplex, Dunfermline (2pm) Fri. 21 st Walk - Culross Mon. 24 th Parkinson’s Café, Baptist Church, Glenrothes (10.30am) WHAT HAVE I DONE? – Mark Coxe – 07913 207057 My name is Mark Coxe and I have signed up to do an ABSEIL off THE FORTH RAIL BRIDGE on the 10 th of May this year. Now, have you ever had second thoughts? Well as nobody wants to stand in for me, it looks as if I’ll have to go through with it. After all, all the money I raise will go to Parkinson’s UK Fife Branch funds. No seriously folks, I’m now looking forward to it, especially as it won’t require too much effort, unlike the effort put into completing Janet Kerr’s Challenge last year. Hat’s off to you, Janet! In order to get into the swing of things, no pun intended ! I have been watching a few films as part of my rigorous training programme as you can see. THIS IS SURE TO BE A CLIFFHANGER! Please visit my JustGiving (This looks e-e-e-e-s-y) and help make my exploit worthwhile. It’s not until May, so there’s plenty of time to save up or maybe even give more than once! Alternatively, I’ll wander around with a Sponsorship form, so stop me and force some cash into my hand. I won’t keep you in suspense, waiting for another training photo, for too long. Sorry about the puns and if you want me to stop, dig deep. https://www.justgiving.com/thislookseeeesy- Coxe?utm_source=Sharethis&utm_medium=fundraisingpage&utm_content=thislookseeeesy- Coxe&utm_campaign=pfp-email&utm_term=rZ4QdXnBy . 2 BRANCH COFFEE MORNING – DATE FOR YOUR DIARIES – SATURDAY 18 th APRIL 2020 Our annual Coffee Morning will be held at the Corn Exchange in Cupar from 10 am on Saturday 18th April 2020. Although it might seem a long way off, we would appreciate it if you could start thinking about collecting items for our stalls now. This year we are introducing an unwanted, new or used but in reasonable condition ‘ Handbag and Scarf ’ stall so please check out your wardrobes and spring clean in our direction! The other stalls are ‘Home Baking ’, ‘Books ’, ‘Tombola ’, ‘Bottles ’, ‘Raffle ‘and ‘Crafts ’. Please note that there is no ‘bric-a-brac’ stall again this year so PLEASE NO BRIC-A-BRAC. Please start bringing your items for the stalls to any of our meetings, e.g. Falkland, ‘Coffee & Chat’ Get- togethers, Glenrothes Cafes, Bowling Sessions or simply ask any committee member to collect them from you. Last year we had a very successful Coffee Morning thanks to the hard work and generosity of our Fife Branch Family. The Committee really appreciated your support before, during and after the event so let’s hope we are as successful this year. COFFEE & CHAT GROUP – Frances Copeland – 01383 822668 and Evelyn Maxwell – 01592 267432 Hello everyone and best wishes for 2020. We hope that all our regular Coffee and Chat members are ready to meet up for the first time in the new decade on Monday 10 th February in ‘ REJECTS’, KIRKCALDY on Monday, 10 th February 2020 at a time that morning to suit yourself between 10am and 12 noon. We would also be delighted to welcome any new members who have never been with us before. Come along to enjoy the company, the coffee/tea and of course the chat! Also if you have time a look round the store, the sale items look great bargains! For your diaries we have listed the ‘ Coffee and Chat ’ dates for the rest of the year. Please pass these dates on to everyone you think might like to join the group. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to call either myself, Frances Copeland (tel. 01383. 726383) or Evelyn Maxwell (tel. 01592. 267432). Kirkcaldy Dates at Rejects Dunfermline Dates at Dobbies 10 th Feb., 13 th April, 8 th June, 10 th Aug. 9th March, 11 th May, 13 th July or 14 th Sept. Parkinson’s UK is the operating name of the Parkinson’s Disease Society of the United Kingdom. A company limited by guarantee. Registered in England and Wales (00948776). Registered office: 215 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 1EJ. A charity registered in England and Wales (258197) and in Scotland (SCO.037554) 3 FIFE BRANCH AGM – Thursday 24 th January 2019 Over thirty members including members of the committee were present at our annual AGM in the Dunnikier Golf Club, on Thursday 24 th January, 2020. Many thanks to all the members who sent in their apologies. John Minhinick welcomed all present and introduced our special guest from Parkinson’s UK (Scotland) Alice Hall, our Volunteer Co-ordinator, who would be leading our elections and talking to us later in the meeting. A minute’s silence was observed in remembrance of all our members who had sadly passed away since our 2019 AGM. John then presented his Chairman’s Report. He thanked his 2019 committee members for their support and hard work. He also thanked Parkinson’s UK staff members Ginny Glen, Chloe MacMillan and Alice Hall who had all given invaluable support to the Fife Branch throughout the year. Ginny had recently taken early retirement and John wished her well. John also thanked the Fife NHS Parkinson’s Nurses for their outstanding service and support. John reported that Gillian, who had moved onto pastures new, had been presented with a voucher as a thank you gift from our Branch members. The recruiting process is underway to fill the vacancy. 2019 had been another active year for our Fife Branch. Falkland was now attracting between fifty and sixty people. The ‘ Coffee and Chat ’ drop-in meetings and the Glenrothes Café were now well established and well supported and it is hoped to widen these opportunities into the Levenmouth and East Neuk Areas but this would require a few volunteers to come forward to develop these initiatives Our existing Young Persons’ Group continues to have regular monthly meetings. Congratulations were given to Janet Kerr who had been celebrating her fiftieth birthday with a year-long physical and mental 50/50/50 challenge and had raised over £6000.00, of which half will be coming to our Fife Branch Funds. £1000 was also given to Parkinson’s UK by Clarity, Beauty, Health & Wellbeing, Dunfermline, thanks to its contact with one of our members, Alan Chapman, who gave an interview to the local press. Well done Alan. John reported that recently our Indoor Bowling and Ten Pin Bowling numbers had dropped and that in order to attract new members, there would be a few taster sessions organised to allow members to come along and have a go! Look out for details of these special sessions. The very successful and interesting walks organised by our Walking Group could also do with attracting new members.

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