Awareness Raising and Communications Group Meeting Minutes

Meeting on 9th July 2008

at Sara Drew's House, 63 Yonder Street OSM.

Present: Cathy, Sara, Jan.
Apologies: Clive, Beatrix

1) Internal Comunications:

Please can all working groups to keep each other updated via the steering group meeting to make sure events are spread out well with no clashes etc.

Minutes of working group meetings need to be posted to the web site via Robin Dixon so that information is freely available to all.

Groups need to communicate via the steering group about spending plans that draw on SO funds unless activiites are expecting to be self financing.

2) The outreach part of awareness raising (giving talks).

This job has been largely done by unfolding events re oil prices and the economy as well as climate change issues. Now is the time to put energy into the visible projects of the working groups -as their work IS awareness raising and will attract people in.

We therefore decided to put on hold a schedule of awareness raising talks, ie Hot Potato idea (unless any one especially wants to organise it) and put energy into other working groups.

3) Community Interest Company.

Cathy has offered to take this on and complete the process of getting us registered as a CIC following steering group agreement that this is the way forward. NOTE the Governing document of SO is a suitable basis for working groups to apply for funds –as long as it is dovetailed through the steering group.

4) Newsletter (and e-mails to web site) currently being done by Helen to great effect. Need to confirm who carries this on at next steering group.

5) We decided that we would meet occasionally as needed and have not set an immediate date for another meeting.