Secretary's Corner
March 2010
Our Branch AGM took place on the 9th February where the election of Branch Officers took place.
Probably the most significant outcome of those elections was the decision of the incumbent Branch Treasurer Steve Beckley to finally hang up his cheque book and stand down from his role. Steve has been a magnificent servant to this Branch, the former East Anglia Branch and the Norfolk Branch before that, that gives you some idea as to how long he has held this important and sometimes difficult role. Steve has always given me and the rest of the Committee one less thing to worry about in terms of Branch funds due to his ability to “just get on with it”. Expenses, invoices, annual returns all done on time and in meticulous fashion, his end of year “Chancellors speech” was a joy to behold and I’m sure some people only turned up to the AGM just for that moment. So it is not without a tinge of sadness that I offer a huge and sincere thanks to Steve for everything he has done on behalf of myself, the Branch Committee, our members and UNISON over the years and wish him every best wishes and good health for the future.
On that note I would like to take this opportunity of welcoming Wendy Senter onto the Committee as the new Branch Treasurer. Wendy somewhat bravely put herself forward for the role and I look forward to working with her in the future, I have every confidence that she will do an excellent job for our members and the Branch finances will be in good hands.
To that I would also like to add thanks to all the other volunteers that put themselves forward as Committee members once again this year for what can sometimes be a very challenging, time consuming, but often rewarding role – Thank you.
On the 28th January I met for the first time with the Trusts new Chief Operating Officer David Donegan where we had a very worthwhile and forthright discussion about the Trusts future strategic direction, partnership working and funding issues. David offered his commitment to working with UNISON on key projects and of his desire to harmonise outstanding legacy policies such as mealbreaks, annual leave, bank holiday working and deployment of relief staff to name but a few. Several dates have been put into diaries and some discussions have already taken place. We will be reporting back and consulting with members on some of those discussions, so keep an eye out for the newsletter and visit the Website regularly.
You may also have seen in recent editions of Focus East that the Trust has recently appointed 2 new Directors, Dr Pam Chrispin and Sheilagh Reavey, whose main spotlight will be in the area of patient care. Although I am yet to meet either Pam or Sheilagh, I look forward to doing so and as professional clinicians involved in the care of patients, I’m sure everyone in the Trust will be keen to see the clinical programme back on the Trusts priority agenda.
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