Foyle Branch Activities & Events
Northern Ireland Chairman, Victor Haslett, admires the volunteer award presented to
Nancy Warnock recently at the 50th anniversary AGM of the UK MS Society in Birmingham. This was a fitting
recognition of a lifetime of service to the local branch. Nancy continues to serve on the branch committee.
Marie McGinn is presented with an inscribed glass volunteer award by the Chairman of
Omagh Council, Mr Alan Rainey, on behalf of the Northern Ireland Society at the recent awards event in
the Mellon Inn. Marie is secretary of the branch.
Nancy's service was also recognised by the Northern Ireland Society. She was
presented with the award by Alan Rainey
Some of the Foyle contingent engrossed in the presentations
2003 Christmas Dinner
Ravenous revellers getting in the mood for a thoroughly enjoyable evening
PAINTING COMPETITION SUCCESS
Geraldine
Catterson,
Pauline McCartney, Raymond & Marie were among the large attendance at an exhibition of prize-winning
paintings by Pauline's sister, Margaret Irwin. Margaret, who has MS, won 1st prize in a UK wide
competition. Margaret is in the front row beside Marie. Click on
Members' Page to view examples of Margaret's
work
WESTERN BOARD MS NURSE
Fiona Mullan, (centre of the back row) the recently appointed
MS Nurse for the Western Board area, is pictured with some members
of the Thursday Group on 2 October 2003. Fiona is based in Altnagelvin
and attends clinics in Omagh and Enniskillen. The post is jointly
funded by the Western Health & Social Services Board and by
the branches in Derry, Strabane, Castlederg, Omagh and Enniskillen.
TACTICS CONFERENCE STRABANE - 13 September 2003
The attendance showing their appreciation of a drama presentation
during the very informative and enjoyable cross-border conference
organised by the MS Tactics Group. The main event during the
morning session was a presentation by Susie Cornell from the
Cornell Centre in London. Susie has MS and covered a very wide
range of health, diet, treatment and self management issues.
Practical workshops covering support, relaxation, training and
employment and carers were presented during the afternoon in
addition to the topical drama presentation. The project was supported
by Area Development Management Ltd and the Combat Poverty Agency
and was funded by the European Union under the Programme for
Peace and Reconciliation.
YOUNG ADULTS WEEKEND IN DUNDALK
10 members attended a brilliant weekend for young adults in Dundalk.
They did the branch proud, providing two teams & finishing
1st & 2nd in the quiz. Webmaster wonders if his eyes are
deceiving him but he is assured from a normally reliable source
that all fully qualify as young adults, although one participant
admitted to webmaster that his/her? own qualification was through
the process of regression back to childhood.
SUMMER DINNER 5 JUNE 2003
A record attendance enjoyed the annual summer dinner
in the Waterfoot Hotel
THE 42nd ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE FOYLE BRANCH took take place in Foyle Disability Resource Centre, Glen Road, at 3p.m. on 14 May 2003
Officers & Guests:Seated from left: Michael Heverin, Vice-Chairperson;
Kathleen McCloskey, Mayor; Peter Eakin, Chairperson: Standing:
Guest Speaker, Margaret Kelly, Western Health & Social Services
Board Director of Nursing; Terry McNamee, Branch Development
Officer; Moira Leitch, Welfare Officer; Damian McKenna, Treasurer
& Katie McAteer, Secretary.
The Mayor was welcomed by Peter. She brought greetings from Derry City Council. She congratulated the branch on recent developments and extended best wishes for the continuing work of the branch. Detailed reports were presented in a businesslike manner by Terry, Moira & Damian. A highlight of Terry's report was the announcement that a specialist MS nurse, based at Altnagelvin & jointly funded by the Western Health & Social Services Board and the five local MS branches will be appointed within months. Moira's report included a reference to the work of the welfare committee in providing funding to members for housing adaptations and specialist equipment with Foyle Trust providing 50% funding for some of these grants. The extent of this funding by the branch was reflected in Damian's report as was the fact that overall the committee had an overspend of £29000+ for the year. Despite this, Damian was confident that resources would be found to continue providing the the high level of support for members. In her address, Margaret Kelly informed the meeting that the specialist nurse would take up duties around July/August and would work as part of the regional team and a local specialist team in close cooperation with the neurological services, community services & GPs as well as providing hands on care to patients throughout the Board's area. The Board also intends to appoint 2 GP facilitators for neurological conditions whose role would be to link with GP colleagues and specialist MS services. The elections followed and the outcome can be viewed on the Who & Where We Are page. Refreshments were provided by Nancy & her team.
Part of the attendance
INTERACTIVE NON-RESEARCHERS' FORUM 2.00p.m. Saturday, 8th February 2003
A novel session took place on the Saturday
afternoon of a two
day research forum at which people with MS, their carers &
friends, had an opportunity to express their views on current
research and to suggest new areas for research. Their suggestions
will be assessed by professionals from the research community.
Professor Ingrid Allen, second from left,
with some of the Foyle Branch members who participated
ST VALENTINE TABLE QUIZ
The St Valentine Table Quiz on Thursday, 13 February 2003 was a hugely enjoyable event for the hopeless romantics who picked up the roses, chocolates, champagne and more modest alcoholic beverages and smelly stuff as well as for the equally hopeless romantics who didn't. Veterans of the quiz scene felt betrayed by the discovery that Popeye was acquainted with Caesar's treacherous 'et tu Brute?' and that Pluto never heard of Popeye and is not even the farthest planet of the solar system from the sun. Maurice insisted that matters were outside his control and pointed the microphone at an absent colleague but Damien was there to pick up the £200 plus raised for the society. Thanks to Long's Supermarkets & Sunflower Alley for their generous donation of prizes.
MS TACTICS PROJECT
The N. I. MS Society & MS Ireland have established a new joint project known as MS TACTICS with EU Peace & Reconciliation funding to provide programmes with special emphasis on newly-diagnosed, adult & teen-carers, couples and mens groups across the border counties of Derry, Tyrone, Fermanagh, Donegal, Leitrim & Sligo. The coordinator is John MacGinty ( 00353 74-9125017and it is administered by two part-time administrators based in the Letterkenny (Geraldine - 00353 749125017) and Strabane(Ann - 02871 882077) offices. A 3-day teen-career activity break has already taken place and another is planned for April in Fermanagh. Mens group meetings have taken place in Foyle, Strabane, Letterkenny and Donegal and others are planned for Omagh on 25 February and Enniskillen on 10 March. Anyone interested in any of these is invited to contact Geraldine or Ann. The project will also provide accredited counselling and facilities skills under the auspices of the N.I. Open College Network.
Tactics group meeting: Standing Lto R: Elma Harron (Castlederg), Charlotte Lowry (Castlederg Chairperson), John Mac Ginty ( MS TACTICS Coordinator), Anne Duffy(Strabane Office Admin), Danny Mc Quillan (Development Officer MSNI), Patsie Baxter (Omagh), Terry Mc Namee (Development Officer Foyle MS), Kathleen Morris ( Strabane), Joan Elliott (Fermanagh). Seated L to R: Francis Dolan (Castlederg), Olive Fulton (Omagh Chairperson), Josephine Tinneny (Regional Community Worker MSI), Mary Harkin (Omagh), Pat Morris (Strabane Chairperson).
Attendance, including Etna, Eimer & Terry from the Foyle Branch, at 3 day cross-border training session in Downings (27-29 May 2003)