Members' Newsletter November 2017

AGM

Our Annual General Meeting took place on 10 October and Poole Labour now has a brand new 14-strong Executive Committee to carry out the day-to-day work of the party. The minutes of the AGM are available to read or download on the Useful Information page on this website.

Vacancies for Vice Chair (Campaigns) and Diversity Officer

Since the AGM, two vacancies have arisen as follows: Vice Chair (Campaigns). This post should attempt to:

• Put together a campaign plan that should focus on key priorities for the CLP.

• Motivate members, supporters and volunteers and develop the capacity/organisational ability on the ground.

• Work closely with Party Officers, neighbouring CLPs and existing structures to ensure that an effective, coordinated campaign is delivered in the area.

Diversity Officer. This post should attempt to:

• Make sure that disabled, BAME and LGBT members are included in all of the party’s activities and that meetings are relevant and accessible.

• Reach out to communities through local campaigns, and working with appropriate organisations in the constituency to engage disabled, ethnic minority and LGBT voters and highlight issues of concern.

• Recruit more disabled, BAME and LGBT members into the Labour party and helping to make sure that those members can make the jump from member to activist.

• Listen to communities’ views and ensuring that they are reflected in Labour’s policy making.

Any member wishing to nominate themselves for one of these roles should therefore do the following:

1. Send their name and the names of a proposer and seconder (who must also be members of the Poole Labour Party) to secretary@poolelabour.org.uk

2. Send a supporting statement of 250 words (if you wish)

3. Closing date for nominations will be 1 December and if more than one nomination is received, an election by secret ballot will be conducted at the next members’ meeting (see below)

National Day of Action

Poole Labour will be taking part in a National Day of Action on Saturday 25 November. This comes just three days after the Autumn Budget and will focus on the poor economic record of the Tory Government. Join us outside St John’s Church on Ashley Road (opposite Waitrose) anytime from 11am to 1pm. Help to get out leaflets, knock on doors or simply show your support.

Members’ Meeting

The next all members’ meeting will take place on Tuesday 5 December 2017, 7-9pm, St George’s Church, Darbys Lane, Oakdale, Poole, Dorset, BH15 3EU at 7pm. The main items for the meeting will be as follows:

• Presentation of draft electoral strategy followed by breakout sessions and discussion

• Guest speaker: Jim Buchanan RMT followed by questions

• Conduct of elections for Vice Chair (Campaigns) and Diversity Officer

More details to follow, along with the papers for the meeting. In the meantime, we also want to hear from you about the issues of local concern that you would like the party to pursue, either through campaigning or as part of our local election strategy. Please send any ideas or suggestions to secretary@poolelabour.org.uk prior to the meeting.

Red Revue

Poole Labour are hosting a New Year Social to beat the Tory Blues! The Red Revue will feature music, comedy, pub quiz and performance - and help to raise some much needed funds for the local party. The event takes place on Saturday 20 January, 7pm till late, Smugglers Run, Ashley Road, Poole. Tickets priced £5 which can be bought on the door or will be available at the members’ meeting on 5 December.

Zero Tolerance to Sexual Harassment

The Labour Party has a zero tolerance approach to sexual harassment and takes complaints of this nature extremely seriously. As part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring members are free to engage in political activity and debate in an environment where they feel safe, the party has recently developed a specific procedure for dealing with complaints of sexual harassment. A copy of the policy can be viewed here Sexual%20Harassment%20Policy.pdf

We Are The Lions, Mr. Manager!

We Are The Lions, Mr. Manager! is the story of the Grunwick Strike of 1976-78 and the inspirational strike-leader Jayaben Desai, one of many newly arrived British passport-holding Asian Gujurati workers expelled from Uganda and Tanzania four years before. A group of workers in a backstreet London factory stood up to their bosses and kick-started one of the longest and most important industrial disputes in British history. This performance takes place at the Lighthouse Theatre, Poole, 8pm on 16 November. Tickets priced £14.25 plus concessions.

If there anything in this communication you’d like to discuss further, don’t hesitate to get in touch either through email secretary@poolelabour.org.uk or my phone on 07432575251. In Solidarity Neil Duncan-Jordan Secretary Poole Constituency Labour Party