WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020

Dear Members

We are pleased to up-date you and to let you know that our HPSMG Committee has been meeting via Zoom and looking towards a positive way forward for 2021. Due to the pandemic, it has been a difficult year for everyone and in order to follow Government guidelines we had to abandon most of our 2020 programme of Speakers and Events. We realise we still may not be able to meet up again at Field End School until spring, however, we are now planning ahead with Speakers and for much needed garden visits for 2021. Committee has decided to carry over all paid-up membership fees from 2020 to 2021. This means:

NO FEES WILL BE REQUESTED FROM CURRENT MEMBERS FOR 2021

We would like to ask members if you would be happy to try one or two Speaker meetings early in 2021 via Zoom.

PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED TO JOIN A ZOOM MEETING
PLEASE EMAIL US AT: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We would try to make it as simple as possible for you to join us on Zoom.

Other Groups have had very successful Zoom Speaker meetings but we need to know if we would have enough people who would join in Speaker Zoom meetings. Therefore, it is vital that you let us know by email as soon as possible before we can go ahead.

AGM 1 February 2021: We must, however, fulfil our legal obligations by holding our AGM scheduled for Monday, 1 February 2021 which will have to take place via Zoom. We will need to be quorate for this meeting, therefore, we would ask for as many members as possible to join us on Zoom for our AGM and to vote. We will try to make this as straight forward as possible and we will send out the papers and more information to you via email in good time beforehand.

In advance of the AGM we really must ask you to consider joining us on the Committee. For the group to continue we really must have additional help on the Committee.

• Membership Secretary Vacancy: We are saying goodbye and a big thank you for all her work to, Devica Donovan, our Membership Secretary, who is moving away and that post on the Committee will have to be filled. If you feel able to offer to take on the role of Membership Secretary, or to join us on the Committee as a general Committee member, do please let us know.
• First Aider: The Group also requires a First Aid Certificate and a First Aider. If anyone is able to act as a First Aider for the Group we would be grateful to hear from you.
• Conservation Scheme: It has been over a year since several members collected plants for the conservation scheme. Philippa and Linda distributed the plants and Linda has reported that she is delighted that the 2 specimens she collected have done so well under close scrutiny during lockdown. It would be good to have more news on progress of our conservation plants and we would love for those who took part to contribute to a future newsletter. A short article or photographs would be welcome. Philippa and Linda would appreciate any feedback and will also be able to report back to the national office.
• Membership Fees: As mentioned above, Committee has decided to carry over all paid-up membership fees from 2020 to 2021. Therefore, NO fees will be requested for 2021. Due to pandemic restrictions, this has been an extraordinary year and we realise that members have not had value from membership fees this year. However, HPS national have advised that national membership fees will need to be paid in 2021 in the usual way direct to them. Of course, as the restrictions are gradually lifted next year, we will resume our monthly meetings and plant sales with Brian. We will keep you informed and will very much look forward to seeing you all again.

We are always pleased to hear from members at any time with feedback, but particularly after ‘lockdown’ if anyone has any ideas for future meetings, outings or any garden stories or photographs. It has been a year when the joys and benefits of gardening have been recognised by so many more people - and which we hope to continue to share together as a local group.

Please keep safe and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year. 

Lynn Ronayne-Belhadj
Chair, HPS Middlesex Group